Whether you are a full time stay at home mom, or a parent/caregiver watching small children on a rainy, trying to figure out how to help your little ones burn off some of that boundless energy is good for them and you. If you decide to keep them home, know that there are benefits to creating a family routine. There are some parents that prefer a more free range parenting style and I incorporate a little bit of that. But for the most part, I prefer structure with breathing room. Fitness is integrated into our family goals and has become a vital part of our summer homeschooling routine.
I was initially introduced to Kids HIIT Workout and Apple Jaxx through my son's PE teacher, Coach Rio, during his virtual coaching sessions with the students this spring. It's been a great addition to keep us moving throughout the summer. I found Sports Kids on You tube and Mark D. Pencil's music has been a family favorite for almost a decade. These exercise have become a fun part of our daily routine and the children have gotten into them so much, they request them and have coached me through them when I wanna punk out!
Jumping Jax Cardio Kids Fitness with Coach Scott
My children really enjoy this one as well. I love Coach Scott's infectious energy in the video. He does a great job motivating, highlighting their strengths and teaching them to respect their body's needs. He encourages them to stay hydrated during the workout, and because of the ranges of flexibility in the participants, children and adults can see what the exercises look like in beginning and advanced stages without feeling pressure to do it one way. I also appreciate that he shows them how to do resistance training with what they have at home. We didn't have free weights at one time that were light enough for the little ones to use, but he shows them how they could workout effectively with what they have, even if it's a water or Gatorade bottle.
Little Sports Exercise For Kids
What We love. It's an animation so they kind of feel like they're watching a cartoon while they work out. Also, it is extremely clear and to the point. The children can clearly see, the name of each exercise they're doing, how many more reps they have to go before they're done, How far along they are through the course of the work out and as they approach the end of a set, a thumbnail pops up on the lower right screen so they can get in position for the next exercise or rest period. I also love that there are lots of videos to choose from and you can focus on different body groups in each video. This has been another gem.
Mark D. Pencil
This music will have the children jamming so hard they'll forget they're learning! One song that teachers children how to walk quietly in the hallway had the same beat as the Whisper song—don't worry parents, the clean lyrics are loud and clear. The counting to 100 song had all of my children counting to 100 effortlessly by age 2.
No matter how you slice it, stay at home parents have busy schedules. Sometimes finding time for exercise can be the first thing that gets scratched off of the schedule in an already packed homeschool environment. On those days that you are tempted to sleep in and ditch your early morning work out, consider reclaiming your daily exercise time, by merging it with learning time with your children. It's a win win situation. Who said learning couldn't be fun?