Family Exercise: Walking Together Can Be Fun!

We enjoy bicycling as a family, but when we want to get out of the house quick, get some exercise, and spend time together, we take a walk. Walking with a 7 year old complaining the whole time about why he couldn't ride his bike is not enjoyable! So, we incorporate scavenger hunts into our walks. Even our two year has a good time! This is a great way to let your kids know that exercising is important, but can be fun too!

Scavenger Hunts On-the-Go - Everyone takes turns naming something that you have to find such as a red door and after you find that, look for something else. This can be easy or as difficult as you want to make it. When I walk with my two year old, I tell her to look for a tree and she is so excited when she finds trees (which are everywhere!)

Scavenger Hunts - Make a list before you leave and try to find everything before you get home. Here is an example list from the last time we walked: 2 dogs (1 had to be barking), 4 squirrels, 20 birds, 3 bunnies, 2 bicycles, 3 flags, 5 cars (red, blue, silver, black, yellow), and 3 people. We found everything except for a yellow car and 2 of the 3 bunnies.

Scavenger Hunt Collection - Get a brown lunch sack for each child and write several things on the front that they have to find. When they find the items, they put them in their bag. Some ideas would be: 3 pine cones, 1 feather, 4 different leaves, a blade of grass, penny, 2 inch stick, and dandelion.

Scavenger Hunt Sounds - Choose several different sounds that everyone should listen for while walking. The list may include kids playing, car horn, siren, birds chirping, dog barking. This is fun and you can actually enjoy the sounds around you.

Note: You may need to alter your list depending on where you live. If you live in an urban area, you might include 3 yellow cabs, 2 ladies with glasses, 5 men with ties, 1 mailbox, 2 flags, the numbers two, six, nine, a sign with the word eat, and a fire truck. The sounds you listen for will be somewhat different also.

Have fun! Exercising together as a family should be enjoyable so that your children develop a life long habit. There is nothing worse than doing an exercise routine that you despise. It is always nice to find new and different ways to make exercising fun!