A Family That Exercises Together: The Last 50 Yards

Physical activity is a great way to build healthy bodies and strong family bonds. Like my sons say: “On your mark, get set … Hey, come back here!”

The frozen sticks crunched under our feet as we walked along the hiking path near our home. As we got closer to our destination, our strides quickened. The excitement in my stomach told me that it would not be long now before the great event that took place each time we walked together as a family. As we passed the playground where my sons used to play when they were younger, they, too, now had that sense of anticipation as we moved closer to the paved sidewalk.

No longer able to contain myself, I broke into a full sprint, as the sidewalk also doubled as our starting line. With a giggle and a shout, my two sons joined me in the mad 50-yard dash for our van.

Surely this would be the day I would arrive first! Before I tell you the end of this great race, I have a question for you. When was the last time you raced your children?

Any time spent with our family is important. Watching movies, playing board games and reading stories are great; but if you want to take it to another level, how about a little physical activity? It’s good for them and beneficial for you too. Depending on the age of your children, playing inside or out has its advantages.

Making that move

Studies at Memphis State University and the University of Tennessee explored the metabolism of our children. Researchers were surprised to find that the metabolism of children was actually lower when watching television than when resting or sitting around bored! Compounding this is the fact that, while sitting in front of a screen, they more often than not were consuming high-fat snacks.

So, how do we move our children from a state of inactivity to motion-filled activities? Well, a good place to start is with our own example. Introducing our children (and, yes, ourselves) to an activity that takes us out of the house and to the court, field or trail can be exciting and healthy.

The key is finding something everyone can do at a particular level. There are many activities to choose from, and you can be as creative as time, resources and finances allow. Depending on where you live and the type of climate in your area, consider activities like jogging, inline skating, cycling, swimming, tennis, basketball, dancing, soccer or cross-country skiing.

Learning and teaching the basic skills and rules is important. Then once you’ve got the basics, have at it! Though they may never tell you, children and teens actually enjoy it when their parents join in. I never knew my mother was such a great softball player until we played together on a team!

Those wonderful benefits

The reality today is that many of us are tied directly into technology. From iPads to smart phones, our day can easily be consumed by technology. Our children are learning at a young age to embrace all types of technological wonders, yet there is one “wonder” that is just as important, and that’s playtime with the family.

Physical activity is good for a young heart as well as an older one. The American Heart Association suggests that teens should raise their heart rate through exercise to achieve more efficient pumping of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Exercise is also good for the muscles and arteries. Playing and exercising also allows the family to chat and spend quality time together.

“On your mark, get set … Hey, come back here!”

This was what my sons would always say as I did my level best to begin sprinting as the word “go” was coming from their mouth. Sometimes I would catch them completely by surprise, and they would always chase after me yelling and laughing at the same time!

Now that you’re at the end of the article, you may be wondering who won the race between me and my sons. Let’s just say a third place finish for me wasn’t that bad! As I see it, we all won. We did it by finishing and then laughing and joking about the outcome.

We ran hard those last 50 yards, using arms and legs to slice through the air and draw close to the finish line. The interesting thing about exercising is that, though you feel tired at the end, over time you can actually have more energy to face the day. Whatever activity you decide to embark upon with your children, may it be healthy, safe and fun!

Todd Carey serves as a pastor for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He and his wife, Gloria, have been married for 24 years and have two sons, Justin and Bronson. Todd and Gloria serve the brethren of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Delmar, Delaware.

For more about exercise and family togetherness, see:

• Ride Your Race to Win!
• Run to Obtain the Prize: Take All of the Spiritual Exercises Seriously
• The Gift of Attention