Start a new healthy routine that the whole family will enjoy! Launch a family fitness night and make exercising fun. Here’s how:
- Hold a family meeting. Share the idea of having a fun family fitness time and the importance of exercise. Perhaps your family can rename this special time together (Family Fun, Heart-pumping Night, etc.)
- Brainstorm a list of physical activities. Allow each family member to share ideas of fun activities/games to do as a family such as walking, obstacle course, dancing, circuit training, yoga, soccer game, tag, bike ride, jump rope, etc.). Click GAMES for more ideas.
Setting up a running obstacle course for the family.
- Mark your calendar. How often and when will your family gather for some fitness fun? Be realistic with your schedule and start slow. Every second Saturday of the month, every other Friday night, etc.
- Do it! Get out there and have some family fun.
- Celebrate your active lifestyle. Create a family cheer that you say at the end each session such as “I’m healthy, I’m fit and I feel great” or “Exercise gives me energy and makes me strong!” Perhaps your family earns a healthy reward at the end of the month such as a trip to the park/pool, fruit smoothie, or new equipment (jump rope, ball, pedometer, or water bottle).
Here’s a quick game you can do with your child to reinforce letter recognition and abc order.
Putting letters in ABC order
- Use ABC letter cards or make your own.
- Scatter the cards on the floor or in a pocket chart (see photo) face up.
- Sing the ABC song with your child.
- Ask your child to identify the first letter in the alphabet. Guide as needed.
- Look for letter A in the pile and place it in the 1st pocket or place it to the top left of your work area.
- Repeat step #4-5 for each letter of the alphabet.
Tip: Remember to give your child the opportunity to try to guess the next letter on his own first. Provide support as needed.
Make the game easier:
Use 2 sets of alphabet cards. Line-up the 1st set of cards in order going left to right. Scatter the 2nd set of abc cards face up below the 1st set. Point to the letter A that is in the 1st set and have your child say the name. Next have your child find the letter A in the 2nd set (the scattered set) and place that card on the A in the 1st set. Repeat for each letter.
Make the game more challenging:
Use lower case letters instead of upper case.
What ABC games does your child enjoy?
Who says you have to sit down to do homework? Maximize homework time by exercising your brain and body with these fun fitness games: Run and Spell: Here’s a video of Run and Spell! A great game to practice sight words and/or practice words for a spelling test while getting a good workout. Place letters…
Continue Reading »
Welcome back to Helping Your Child Make Good Choices. In part one, you identified behaviors that you would like to help your child change. In part two, you will learn simple strategies for implementing positive discipline and encouraging your child to make better choices at home. Click Helping Your Child Make Good Choices Part 2 Video to learn about the…
Continue Reading »
Are you tired of nagging your child about getting up and ready for school in the morning, cleaning up, washing their hands, sharing toys, or doing homework? Let’s face it, our kids are not always going to make good choices. In fact, some of their habits can be quite frustrating and draining as a parent,…
Continue Reading »
“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are absolutely right.” (Henry Ford) How many times have you heard a voice in your house or classroom say…it’s too hard, I’m not good at that, I am not smart enough, or I don’t know how to do that? A belief is a feeling of certainty that we…
Continue Reading »
Thank you so much for recommending The Little Rose as a book to help instill positive, healthy thinking in kids. I’m delighted and honored that you mentioned my book. I enjoyed your article and especially liked your tips about helping kids use affirmations. Great ideas! Many thanks and best wishes to you!
What a great blog about building up your child’s self esteem. Thanks!