(Akiit.com) Most people would agree that parents have a duty to ensure their kids remain fit and healthy. They also need to do the same thing for themselves. The last thing anyone wants is to become unfit and pass due to ill health while they’re children are still young. So, it’s vital that all Americans work hard to ensure their family has a fighting chance. Today, we’re going to spend some time highlighting just some of the activities you might like to consider. We’ve tried to choose things that are suitable for the entire family, regardless of your situation. None of these suggestions will break the bank, but they will turn your unhealthy lifestyle around. So, consider each of them in turn before deciding on the best course of action. You’ll thank us in ten years time when your kids grow into healthy and independent adults.
Build a home gym
Most people don’t want to get bogged down with a monthly gym membership, and that’s understandable. So, why not take the time to buy some equipment and create a fitness room in your home? You could spend an hour each day working out with your children and teaching them some valuable lessons. With a bit of luck, they will remember the things you say and gain an understanding of the best 
ways to stay in shape. Just make sure you don’t push them too hard until they’re ready. You don’t want your kids to spend too much time lifting weights and building muscles. However, you do want them to use a running or rowing machine as often as possible. That will encourage their bodies to shed a healthy amount of fat, and it will also increase their stamina. You don’t have to spend a fortune on equipment to make that happen. Just check eBay and other auction websites for second-hand items.
Go for long walks in the countryside
Walking in the countryside is a fantastic idea for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it gets your kids away from their games consoles and encourages them to appreciate nature. They’ll get to breathe clean air and spend time enjoying the beautiful scenery. Secondly, walking will help to improve their fitness levels and ensure they don’t get out of breath all the time. So, you just need to perform some research into the best locations near your home. If you live in a city, you might have to turn the experience into a day trip. However, most people reside within a couple of miles of walking routes and open spaces. Make sure your kids wear the right clothing and footwear, so they don’t injure themselves. Also, you should check the weather before you leave home in case you need waterproofs. Do that once each week, and you should notice a vast difference.
Arrange action-packed weekends away
Maybe you’d like to create memories with your kids that will last a lifetime? Arranging action-packed weekends away could be the solution. Perhaps you’d like to head to the mountains and spend a couple of nights camping? That’s a brilliant idea because you’ll get to teach your little ones how to survive in the wild. You’ll show them how to build shelters and start fires, and they might even encounter some unusual animals. Just ensure you research the locations thoroughly. If you’re heading to an area where bears are present, you’ll need to take precautions. It’s also sensible to take a first aid kit in case anything goes wrong. You should consider investing in a satellite phone for the same reason. You never know when you might need to call for assistance, but we can guarantee you won’t have any phone signal. That’s called sod’s law.
Join a sports team
Joining a sports team as a family will help you to learn how to work together. It will also teach your kids how to interact with their competition. You just have to search online to find local organizations suitable for all ages. They guys at USA Rugby and other sites help to simplify the process. You could spend your Saturdays on the pitch playing football together, and then your Sundays on the courts playing basketball. The possibilities are endless, and you just need to consider their interests. In most instances, you won’t have to pay much to join a team. You just have to purchase kits or uniforms and cover the weekly training session costs. Who knows? Maybe your kids will develop a talent for the sport and want to take things further? You could start something that will get them into college and help to change their life one day. At the very least, you will increase your family’s fitness levels.
Encourage your kids to cycle
Cycling is one of the best ways for young people to stay in shape and work their muscles. So, you should buy them a bike and encourage them to use it as often as possible. The specialists who run the St Augustine BMX track have said that to people for years. Many other organizations of a similar nature have said it too. If you want to go a step further, you could see if your kids want to join local cycling clubs. That would result in them making lots of new friends and getting more involved with the activity. Many associations arrange trips all over the country to different tracks and routes. So, you might end up having to pay travel and accommodation costs every couple of weekends. However, you won’t mind doing that if you know your children are doing something worthwhile. Anything that keeps them away from their computers is a good idea at the end of the day. Call of Duty might seem exciting to them, but it does nothing for their well-being.
Ask their school or ideas/assistance
The school your children attend will have information about exercise and fitness opportunities. Indeed, they might even run some programs on the weekends or during holidays. Some will also recommend trainers who can help. So, getting in touch with them and asking questions is sensible. They might manage to provide you with some information you’ve overlooked. They might also have contact details you can use to get the ball rolling. If you don’t know much about fitness, the people working at the school will provide you with lots of useful info. When all’s said and done, the biology and P.E teachers spend a long time learning about how the human body works. So, it stands to reason they are the best people to ask if you need advice. You won’t have to pay for their guidance, but it could make all the difference. Some schools won’t entertain your requests because they’re too busy. Even so, there’s no harm in asking.
With a bit of luck, the suggestions on this page will help you to improve the health of every member of your family. You just need to use some of these ideas and think outside of the box as soon as possible. Failing to become a health family could mean you all spend a lot of time at the hospital. Nobody wants that to happen because it’s stressful and often painful. So, do yourselves a favor and put more emphasis on exercise right now. You also need to ensure your kids eat healthy meals as much as possible. Don’t stress if you’re not an amazing chef because there are lots of recipe websites and YouTube videos you could use. Whatever happens during the next few months, we wish you the best of luck. We also hope you manage to turn things around soon because the summer is fast approaching.
Staff Writer; Susan Ross