Working Out With Little Ones

As a parent you might not always have the time to hit the gym, especially if it means trying to find a baby sitter so that you can go. So, understandably we try to resort to at home workouts. There are thousands upon thousands to choose from ranging from Aerobics, Yoga, and P90X DVDs to Sports workouts via video games or even just doing your own simple routines like push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches. Even trying to find the time to get these workouts in can become challenging, especially if you have little ones at home. I try to wake up early enough to get my workouts in before my little one wakes up or, more often than not, I do them at night after she's gone to bed. However, that doesn't always go to plan either. So sometimes I end up with a miniature workout partner. Sure it changes the routine and maybe the intensity a little bit, but it's a wonderful way to spend time and bond with little ones and it can be a great way to help promote a healthy and positive interest in staying physically fit.

Keep in mind that anytime we interact with our children we are given the opportunity to make an impact on them. It's up to us to decide if we want that impact to be positive or negative. So when my toddler wonders into the living room when I'm midway through an EA Sports Active 2 workout. I don't tell her to go play in another room or tell her to get out of my way. I encourage her to do the workout with me. Any attempt she makes at trying to hold poses or run in place is encourage with cheers and high fives. By doing this I am reenforcing the fact that mommy does want her around and and that she is doing a good job at working out. This boosts both herself esteem and creates a positive experience when it comes to doing exercise. My daughter enjoys these moments so much that she has been known to come and take me by the hand and say, "Come on, Mommy! It's time for exercises!" Which is a great motivator for me as well! (Even if it is during the third quarter of the Steelers game)

It's great to involve your children in healthy habits such as physical activity and structured exercises, but just keep in mind that they are still children and their attention span might not last for a full 20-45 minute workout, and that's okay too. My Little one picks and chooses the exercises she joins in with me and for the ones that don't interest her as much she goes and plays with toys near by where I can see her. This morning as I was doing Mountain Climbers my little one crawled under my face and was looking up at me giggling and smiling while I completed the exercise! What a great way to workout! She even added to my workout by creating extra resistance for me while I did some reverse crunches, of course she didn't know that's what she was doing she just thought she was having fun sitting on mommy's belly while I did my crunches.

Imagine how different the message would be to my daughter if I made her feel unwelcome during my workout routines or if I constantly criticized how she was doing the exercises. What would her view of the importance of exercising be if when she came joyfully bounding over to me and announced "It's time for exercises!" if I would grown and tell her I'd rather finish watching the football game. What message are you sending your child in whatever it is you are doing today?