Fitness for the Non-Athletic Child

        It is a truth, universally accepted (in Texas anyway), that organized sports are the “is-all end-all” of a young person's life. The most important thing a child can do to secure the pride of their parents is to bring home a trophy that says they beat the other guy. If that trophy happens to be in football the child is positively idolized. Imagine my dismay when I discovered this belief, and compared it to my own ideas of whole child health.   

I have never been entranced by sports and not one of my children is athletically-inclined. I am not a native Texan - obviously - so I am really not bothered by it and my children are my pride and joy for many reasons that don’t involve a ball. That said, the fact remains that it is still important for my children to be physically active to have healthy bodies… So what can I do? There was a time when soccer was something they loved but playing outside in the heat of a southern summer is not an option for my temperature sensitive littles. 

We had to get creative. 

It is useful to know that an activity does not need to be “organized” in order to burn calories. It does not need to be done as a team to build muscle. It doesn't need to be during certain hours to count as part of their school. In trying to find ways for my children to get their "phys ed” class, I have discovered many excellent exercising options! 

Option number one; Bicycling. This is both my ten and twelve year-old’s favorite thing to do right now. They will ask every day if they can go ride up and down our street (which is on a hill!). Because, right now, the heat is still in the triple digits, they have to wait until the sun has gone down and they ride until it is time for bedtime routines to start. They love every minute of it.

Option number two; Swimming. We do not own a pool but we do have a YMCA membership and all four of my kids love swimming. It is a good exercise for hot days because the water, naturally, helps the body stay cool. Even in temps over a hundred, my kids will stay in the pool for over an hour splashing and racing. The water provides an excellent resistance workout and is great for core muscle strength. Many YMCAs (or similar clubs) have indoor facilities so you can still enjoy them after the weather turns chilly.

Option number three; A trip to the arboretum or museum. If you don’t have a free option for either of those a trip to Ikea or the mall will do just as well - the goal is to go somewhere that requires a good deal of walking but keeps you entertained while you are there. You can easily meander ten-thousand steps in any of those places and BAM! You just walked a mile! 

Option number four; Bowling. Granted, it is not a high-calorie-burning activity but it is a sport and a lot of fun. It is something that children as young as three or four can enjoy and it teaches balance, control, patience, and focus. You can even build up your biceps a little! It is good for when the weather is too hot or too cold to be outside. It is also something that can be done as a family. There is a fantastic nation-wide program called “Kids Bowl Free” that allows for exactly that - kids get two free games, every day, all summer long! There are no requirements to sign up and bowling alleys all over America honor the program. My family has been doing it for years and it is wonderful. 

Option number five; Go on an adventure like Sophia and Grayson in The Adventure Letters! There are places all over your home state to explore and many of them will get you active. When our family first moved to Texas we discovered a place called “Dinosaur Valley” and we spent hours outside, walking in the footprints of real dinosaurs, exploring both nature and history!

There are so many good options for getting your kids active even if they don’t enjoy organized team sports. I would love to hear some of your ideas and suggestions for keeping kids healthy and moving on days that are too hot or too cold to be outside! Please share some of your thoughts in the comments below!