Looking at life from a different perspective can be a challenging lesson to teach young children. But this is how you can help your child shift their mindset from being focused on the center of self, to an observer of the world around them. This can be done through play and invites the possibility to engage others, objects, and landscapes in a creative way. Playing with perspective supports the notion that we are not limited to seeing things from one viewpoint. We can go beyond our limitations of what we see by using the inventiveness of our imagination.

Looking through a different lens can also help to shift a negative state of mind as it interrupts the way we see our surroundings in the immediate moment. Think of different perspectives as a cognitive brain exercise, in order to see things from a different aspect, we have to look outside the box and help shift attention from self to others. It is a social and emotional skill that requires empathy and understanding.

This activity can also be used as a tangible emotional self-regulation tool, pick up the butterfly and go for a walk when emotions are heightened, to take a look at life from a different angle.

Materials You Need to Craft Your Own Butterfly Perspective Lens: 

  • Recycled box

  • Black Marker

  • Box cutter

Directions to Make the Butterfly Perspective Lens: 

1. Cut out one side of the box

2. Draw the shape of a large butterfly

3. Cut out the wings of the butterfly

4. Take your butterfly on a walk, discover the world through a different perspective

5. What do you see?

Check out the easy-to-follow video here!

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear it! Sign up to contribute your story on our Voices Network.

Hi! I am an author, founder and educator. I have a Bachelor of Media Communications, Bachelor of Elementary Education Degrees as well as an Early Childhood Montessori Certification and in the process of completing a Master of Education. I live between New York and Byron Bay. I'm the mama of Grace, Theodore and Little Dude! 

If you had to choose between working harder or working smarter, which would you pick? If you’re a busy, tired, hardly-sleeping parent, we’re betting smarter. There’s good news for you! “Research from my NeuroFit lab shows that short five-minute movement breaks help you stay focused and remember more,” says Dr. Jennifer Heisz, author of Move The Body, Heal The Mind. This means that even though mom-brain is very, very real, little bursts of exercise will help lift that fog. What’s more, Dr. Heisz adds, “During the first 10 minutes of movement there is an increase in oxygenated blood flow to the brain, especially to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which governs our working memory, mental flexibility, and self-control.” 

Whether it’s five minutes or thirty, giving yourself easy ways to keep active will have lasting benefits way beyond simply burning calories. We’ve tested a variety of short, simplified workouts geared at busy parents, all of them at or around just 15 minutes long. Read on to get moving.

 

The NeuroFix Workout

Thomas Yohei via Unsplash

We love this one because although it is high-intensity, it requires no equipment or devices. Do it several times and you'll have a 15-minute (or so) routine you can take anywhere.

Jumping Jacks for 30 seconds 

Mountain Climbers for 30 seconds 

Skaters for 30 seconds

High Knees for 30 seconds 

Repeat 

Where to find it: Pre-order Move the Body, Heal the Mind here

Mom on the Go

Madison Lavern via Unsplash

Mom on the Go offers seven, short, thematic yoga practices designed to energize your body. Follow the 28-day program for postpartum recovery including pelvic and core exercises, or just pop in and do a reinvigoration yoga session.

Where to Find It: Mom on the Go

The 15-Minute HIIT Metabolism Booster

iStock

This quick 15-minute workout uses your body weight to boost your muscles and your metabolism—no gym equipment required! 

Where to Find It: Fitness Blender

The Tabata Cardio Workout Plan

Bruce Mars via Unsplash

This fat-blasting workout plan is as effective as most longer workout sessions and combines two proven fat-loss techniques— metabolic strength and Tabata training. You'll work every muscle in your body (especially your abs!) in a fraction of the time!

Where to Find It: Shape

15-Minute Bounce-Back Dance Cardio Workout

Danielle Cerullo via Unsplash

This high-energy step-by-step dance routine will make you forget you're actually working out! 

Where to Find It: YouTube

15-Minute Jump Rope Workout

Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels

This jump rope routine only has five moves, but is sure to get your heart racing!

Where to Find It: Real Simple

The No-Equipment Necessary Plan

Mark Adriane via Unsplash

Take it back to basics with this 15-minute beginner workout— with no equipment necessary!

Where to Find It: YouTube

Sculpting Kettle Bell Workout

Jess Tinsley via Unsplash

Just two kettlebells and 15 minutes are all you need to get in this body-sculpting workout. 

Where to Find It: Women's Health

The 15-Minute Runner Workout

Bruno Nascimento via Unsplash

This quick runner workout focuses on tightening and toning your body with moves like jump squats and mountain climbers. 

Where to Find It: Women's Health

Low Impact Cardio Workout

Matthew LeJune via Unsplash

This low-impact cardio workout is a great way to exercise your whole body without worrying about any injuries!

Where to Find It: YouTube

At-Home Barre Workout

madison lavern via Unsplash

Can't make it out to a barre class? This 15-minute routine you can do right from your own living room!

Where to Find It: Greatist

Bonus Fitness Hacks

Need a few more fitness hacks to work into your routine? Try these, from lifting your baby to sprinting the stairs!

Where to Find Them: Tinybeans

—Kaitlyn Kirby

 

RELATED STORIES:

Mom-Friendly Fitness Programs to Jump-Start Your New Year

5 Great Online Yoga Programs

11 Ways to Get Fit without Going to the Gym

15 Minute Workouts That Actually Work

Empathy is the foundation of positive, fulfilling connection with others and has the power to decrease conflict by increasing kindness. It’s one of the most important things we can teach our children, but what exactly is it? Throughout the years, psychologists and neuroscientists have come to understand that there are several facets to empathy, including:

  • Feeling what another person is feeling, which is called emotional or affective empathy.

  • Putting yourself in another person’s shoes to take their perspective and see their point of view, called cognitive empathy or “perspective-taking.”

  • Taking action to help others based on your understanding of another person’s feelings and perspective, which is called compassion or behavioral empathy.

It’s also important to know the difference between sympathy and empathy. While “empathy” means feeling with another person as their equal and trying to understand their situation, “sympathy” means feeling concern (or pity) for another person’s misfortunes, which may create a power imbalance between people and keep them from truly connecting. In cases where we don’t have enough knowledge to put ourselves in another person’s shoes, we can practice curiosity and model it for our children. Modeling curiosity by having conversations and asking questions can provide valuable insights as to why a person might feel the way they do in a given situation.

So how can we teach kids empathy?

Educators and parents can create experiences that help kids exercise their ability to empathize with other people. In particular, educators can help students learn about and investigate their own points of view, appreciate different perspectives, and cooperate and communicate in a respectful, positive manner. In addition to modelling, there are a number of other things we can do as adults:

1. Teach Perspective-Taking
Use transformational moments or “teachable moments” to teach perspective-taking and cooperation skills. Whether through examples that happen between students in the classroom or conflicts in the book they’re reading, use these moments to encourage students to reflect and practice seeing the situation from other points of view.

2. Integrate Empathy Practices across All Subject Areas
Weave empathy into your day-to-day learning. For example, during reading, you can easily model and practice perspective-taking for characters in stories. I often find free empathy resources and activities on Empatico, which has “Empathy Book Club” activities that I use to guide in-class discussions to help my students relate to others’ emotions and experiences:

3. Model Active Listening & Respectful Communication
Establish norms of active listening and respectful communication at home and in the classroom. This includes learning about how body language, facial expressions, and tone can impact one’s interactions. For example, I try to actively listen to my students and children by making eye contact with them, focusing on what they’re saying (rather than thinking about what I want to say next), and using nonverbal cues like nodding.

4. Encourage Self-Regulation & Empathy
Work on making “self-regulation” a daily priority. A large part of self-regulation is the ability to be aware of your emotions and manage your reactions to feelings and situations. Teach students strategies like “body breaks,” focused breathing and “mindful minutes” where students focus on something that encourages calmness. If students are able to successfully self-regulate, they are more readily available to be empathetic towards others.

5. Design Purposeful Learning Experiences
By contextualizing learning in a way that connects classroom instruction to real-life experiences, students can apply new skills as they learn them. I’ve used Empatico to connect my students (and my own children!) with other kids across the globe for collaborative, virtual experiences that allow them to practice empathy skills with peers from different backgrounds. During class exchanges, we discuss and compare issues within our own communities. From there we come up with ideas of concrete things we can do to make a difference. In these experiences, the classes I am working with bond over what they are passionate about, what the issues are in their community and their volunteerism. It is a powerful exercise of empathy.

Empathy has the power to be an absolute game-changer for how future generations interact and connect. It is one of the most important things we can teach our students and children. At its core, empathy means feeling with another person and understanding their situation. It requires that we open our minds and become vulnerable enough to relate to others at deeper levels. It also entails acknowledging the other person’s humanity, that they are equally important as we are, and that their feelings are equally valid. When we do this, we can truly feel with another person and empathize with them. This process is what ultimately strengthens the connection between two individuals; therefore, enriching lives and making the world a better place.

 

Brittany McMillan is a wife, mother of three, and teacher in British Columbia, Canada teaching middle school. She is dedicated to helping her students and own children grow into empathetic, good humans. She also loves fishing, adventures, meeting new people from around the globe and riding bikes with her family.

Bust out the bicycles and snap on the helmets at San Francisco first-ever bike park! Located in SF’s Excelsior neighborhood (near the Cow Palace), McLaren Bike Park has been a welcomed addition to both the neighborhood and the local cycling community. Scroll down to read more about what you can find there!

The History of McLaren Park

Almost ten years in the making, the just under half-acre McLaren Bike Park is packed full of fun for youth mountain bikers and BMX riders. The bike park took over a city parking lot in McLaren Park, across from San Francisco Unified School District’s Science Resource Center. This long-neglected spot was often full of trash and went unused by the neighboring community. The addition of the McLaren Bike Park brings a safe spot for kids to exercise and hone their bike riding skills.

Photo: McLaren Bike Park

The Pump Track

The inner section, called the pump track, includes dirt mounds and steeply-banked turns. Designed for intermediate to advanced riders, traffic on the pump track is multi-directional so riders need to be aware of their surroundings when riding there.

The Skills Trail

Surrounding the pump track is the skills trail loop. Here, riders from beginners on up can practice turns, braking and navigating other riders on the trail.

The Future

Currently the park is open for drop-in riding where staff will be available to provide free assistance with bike riding skills. In the spring, the SF Recreation and Park Department will offer programming on site including classes like Bike Park Etiquette – Introduction to Park Riding; Bike Park Basics – Introduction to Pump Tracks; and Bike Skill Building – Introduction to Riding Elements. In the summer of 2018 you can expect to find their bike camp taking up residence there.

This is just the beginning for McLaren Bike Park. The pump track and skills trail are phase one of the project that will add cycling trails to eight acres of the surrounding property.

 

McLaren Bike Park
2050 Sunnydale Ave.
San Francisco, CA
Onlinemclarenbikepark.com

Photos courtesy of the author except where noted. 

Why does being a woman have to be so complicated? I stood in front the mirror this morning in jeans and a bra, just staring.  This body of mine is just a body.  Over the course of the last couple of years, I have been trying to figure out how to give myself a pass for how I look, again. There has been unemployment (twice), moving (three times), changing jobs (three times), loss of my dad, the tail end of a bad marriage, a divorce, and a traumatic event.  I ate a lot of feelings.  But instead of focusing on the good, like the fact that my body is still capable of getting me anywhere I want to go without assistance, I make derogatory comments and hope people laugh with me. I’m so much more than my physical self yet I, as well as many other women, get caught up thinking about the body. We must find balance, but where is it?

Almost 13 years ago, I was 38 and was continuously telling myself that I didn’t want to turn 40 looking the way that I did. I was extremely overweight. I had some very bad habits. I made everyone around me think that I was okay with my weight. I used to talk about not having any health problems and I was going on dates, so men didn’t seem to mind. I don’t believe that anyone likes or enjoys being overweight. Anyone overweight that tells you that they are truly happy, are lying to you. I know because I was there, and I was one of those people lying to you. My inner dialogue was so much different.

Turning 40 wasn’t important enough, though, because 40 came and went and I still looked the same. Unfortunately, all I did was gain more weight after turning 40.  I stayed overweight and continued with conflicting internal and external dialogue through age 40, 41, and 42. 43 was the point when things started to change for me, physically. After a very emotional conversation with my parents in January of 2014, I started walking the next day and gave up eating sugar and a lot of things that would turn to sugar after eating them. It was somewhere between low carb and ketogenic.

Even after one hundred pounds of weight loss, I was still figuring out the mental part. A lot of people only think about the physical part of weight loss and don’t ever address the mental part. Aside from physical illnesses or certain medications, there millions of other reasons for weight gain and lack of ability to lose weight. We need to tackle the reasons why we gained weight and why we continue to hold on to the weight.

Are women ever truly happy with the body that reflects in the mirror? Honestly, no. After I lost my weight, I thought that I would never question my body again. I will admit that I questioned it far less than I had in previous years, but the questions were still there. The problem is that women do not ever look at their bodies through their own eyes. We look at our bodies through the eyes of media, through the eyes of men, through the eyes of other women, through the eyes of the 5th grade bullies, through the eyes of their love interest, etc. Women are consistently being set up to question themselves. Women are not allowed to be content with their own personal perfection.

Perfection related to anything is relative. What this means is that we all believe that “perfect” is something different. My point of perfection might be complete crap to someone else. The part that makes this so ridiculous is that I believe we all know this, yet we still set similar goals of perfection. The idea of perfection is something that all people need to let go of. The reason I say this is simple. We never reach the point of perfection in our own minds, let alone what anyone else thinks about what we are trying to accomplish. I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “you are your own worst critic.” It’s true and that is why we never reach what we believe is our personal perfection. We sabotage ourselves by believing that we have never quite gotten to perfection, when our lives, our bodies, our love lives, our whatever, is just where they are supposed to be. Instead of worrying about perfection, we need to start trusting ourselves more. We need to be dialed in to feelings of greatness. If it feels great, then it probably is. Take weight loss for instance. You have a goal to weigh 125 pounds and you have worked incredibly hard to get there. You changed your eating habits. You exercise regularly. You feel more amazing than you have in years, but you have been sitting at 128 pounds for months. And? What makes 125 more perfect than 128 pounds…absolutely nothing!  Everything is telling you that 128 is the sweet spot, so what’s the harm in listening to the universe and nothing else?

 

I am a single mom of three beautiful daughters ages 29, 20, and 15.  At 50, I am recently divorced and making a career change.  I'm trying to put my BA and my MA to use finally!  My life hasn't always been easy but I feel good about the future!

We all know that kids playing outside is a good thing (and a bonus when you’re trying to get dinner on the table). They return from their forest frolics and playground romps with rosy cheeks and big smiles. Have you ever wondered why? To get to the bottom of this mystical transformation, we sat down with three experts to suss out the benefits of outdoor play. Read on to shed some light on the topic.

1. It improves focus.

tung256 via PIxabay

Parents, raise your hand if you’ve ever mistaken your kiddo for the Energizer bunny because they’re always on the go. As Megan Fitzgerald, the Co-Founder and Chief Learning Officer at Tinkergarten explains, this need to move has to do with kids’ developing sensory systems. They’re learning to take in information and integrate it. And when it comes to stimulating environments, the ever-changing outdoors provides that just-right balance that kids need—not too much and not too little stimulation.

Fitzgerald points out that both kids' proprioceptive system (our sense of body awareness that plays an important regulatory role) and vestibular senses (related to balance and our sense of spatial awareness) are fully engaged in outdoor play. Whether they’re on the playground or walking along a trail, kids are doing the hard work of moving their bodies (think jumping, pushing, bending, swinging), which means both of these ultra-important systems are activated. The result? Those systems get turned on, so kids are better able to focus.

2. It encourages creativity.

iStock

If you’ve ever seen your kiddo turn a simple stick into a magic wand, bake a pinecone pie or jump from rock to rock to avoid the “lava” below, you know how imaginative they can be. When kids spend time in nature, they’ve got lots of room (both literally and figuratively) to imagine and create. Beyond proving just how adorable our kids are, creative play is important to their development. According to Fitzgerald, spending time outside promotes the kind of flexible thinking that helps kids generate new ideas. That’s why that simple stick can be a fishing pole, a knight’s sword or a pencil that makes amazing dirt drawings. The possibilities are endless—and that's the point.

3. It engenders empathy.

Trinity via Pexels

Alongside all this creativity that comes from imaginative play, kids can explore empathy through it too. As it turns out, fresh air and blue skies are the perfect backdrops for this type of learning. By pretending to be that bee flying from flower to flower or a squirrel chasing another around the yard, kids make a connection with the animal they're pretending to be, according to Fitzgerald. And oh, the things they’ll think of when they do! Imagining the experiences of other creatures, especially those smaller than themselves, builds cognitive empathy in kids. It helps them understand different emotions and recognize them in other people. And most importantly, Fitzgerald notes, it leads them to care for and about others.

4. It cultivates curiosity.

iStock

If you've got kids, you know how much they love to ask, “why?” As in, "why is the sky blue?" "Why can’t I do that?" "Why are you so tired all the time?" (We think we know the answer to that one). When kids play outside there’s a lot of natural wonder and curiosity around them.

Leah Carlson with the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, Washington sees the effects of time spent outside on kids’ curiosity every day. Often kids in the program create their own stories about what they see around them. And within those stories, kids learn to recognize patterns and ask important questions. They may notice animal tracks after a rainfall that weren't there before or that they can hear certain birds in the morning but not in the afternoon. Noticing these little differences (or similarities) leads them to formulate questions and develop ideas of their own. In other words, they get to both ask and answer their own "why" questions.

5. It improves mood.

a happy girl who heard inspiring words
iStock

Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s the vitamin D boost that comes with playing on a sunny day. Or maybe it’s the endorphins from all that exercise they’re getting. Whatever it is, all three of the experts we spoke to emphasized that time spent outside improves mood. According to Derrick Soong, MD, FAAP with Virginia Mason Medical Center in Issaquah, Washington, playing outside “helps to improve mood” with the bonus of “reducing the risk/severity of depression and anxiety.”

Another part of that mood elevation is the calming effect nature has on people, kids included. Remember that vestibular sense we mentioned earlier? Research has shown that when it’s activated (think: sliding, spinning, swinging) it helps to keep you calm. Calmer and happier kids? Count us in!

6. It builds problem solving skills.

Charles Parker via Pexels

When it comes to life skills, our kids can never have too many. The fact that they can build foundational problem solving skills while on a hike, riding a bike or climbing at the playground? That’s what we call a bonus. As Carlson explains, spending time in the outdoors connects kids to nature, community and themselves and can have a profound effect on the way they approach the unknown. It gives them the chance to plan, prioritize, try different solutions, even negotiate in a safe environment. In the end these skills leave kids more resilient for the future.

7. It encourages healthy habits.

Anete Lusina via Pexels

As parents, we’re always trying to pass along healthy habits to our kids. It’s why we puree kale alongside their applesauce and sing Daniel Tiger’s greatest hits to our tantruming toddlers. Turns out that playing outside can pass along many healthy habits to our kids, too. As Dr. Soong explains, outdoor play “helps provide children with the exercise they need to maintain a healthy weight.” Playing outside is the ultimate stealth workout for kids. Whether they love playing soccer, hiking or surfing, outdoor play can help them stay healthy as they grow.

—Allison Sutcliffe

 

RELATED STORIES: 

18 Places to Find Incredible Outdoor Art

Jumbo Lawn Games That’ll Get Everyone Outside

50 Fall Activities to Jump Start Your Favorite Season

If you’re looking for a fun way to get the kids outside for their daily dose of sunshine and exercise, how about a treasure hunt? Create an adventure deep into the wilds (of your backyard or even indoors) following a map that just might lead to something grand where X marks the spot. From how to set the stage to how to create a map, we’ve got everything you need to know. Gather up the little mateys; it’s time for a pirate treasure hunt!

Set the Scene

Meghan Rose

The first thing you need to do is set the scene. If you’re a born storyteller, you can make up a wild tale to spin at bedtime. Something about how you’ve been waiting for them to finally be old enough to hear the tale of how you came to be the owner of a secret pirate map that you suspect might lead to a treasure. Then let your imagination lead you! Perhaps you were exploring an old pirate ship and found this old map tucked away in a hidden nook on the ship.

If your kiddos are young, you can go crazy with a tale of having been taken captive and held hostage by a brand of brigands and narrowly escaped with your life, and you happened to tuck this map in your boots as you got away. Or, if you’re no Meryl Streep, the story can be simple and just as effective. Perhaps you bring out an old book that looks dusty and musty—as if it might hold a few secrets, and let them discover the map for themselves.

Create a Map

Meghan Rose

Next, you’ll need to produce a map!  It’s pretty easy to make one that looks fairly authentic.  You can either draw one (with specific clues about where you’ll be hunting) or print one out that you find online.  Then to age it, follow these steps:

  1. Tear the edges off in a ragged shape.
  2. Crumple the paper up and smooth it out.
  3. Steep a couple of black tea bags in a cup of hot water.  Pour this over the map in a baking dish and let it sit for about 15 minutes, or until the color you like is reached.  Pour off the tea.
  4. You can let it dry naturally, or add a layer of “age” to it by drying it out in a low (200 degree) oven.  Watch to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Not feeling crafty?  Inexpensive maps are readily available online.

Where ‘X’ Marks the Spot

Meghan Rose

Where does this treasure hunt take place? The short answer is anywhere! It can be your backyard, or a park, the woods or even at home. You can tailor or draw your map to fit the location, but unless your kids are older and more sophisticated, it won’t really be necessary. Kids are so much better at suspending belief and playing pretend than we are, they’re usually willing to play along. Some imaginative kids will even start embellishing the story for you (Or digging out a compass and spyglass to help hunt.)!

Don’t Forget the Treasure  

Pirate Treasure Hunt
Meghan Rose

Of course, you’ve got to have a treasure! Again, this can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. The Oriental Trading Company, a drug store, discount store or craft stores are all great places to get treasure and pirate goodies. Mix in a bag of “gold” (aka pennies) and some “gems” (rhinestones from a fabric store), and you’re good to go!

Don’t forget something to hide the treasure in. It could be a treasure chest if you happen to have one lying around, but a wooden box, cloth bag or old tin works just as well. Rub it up with dirt, hide it in a backpack (or bury it in the backyard), and away you go! If you're doing this outdoors, don't forget your shovels for digging. 

The Hunt Is On

Pirate Treasure Hunt
Meghan Rose

You can guide the adventure, or let little mateys lead the way … they’ll follow even a made-up map and find their own markers (if the map shows two trees, kids will spot two trees, or a big rock, etc). If you happen to drop a "doubloon" or "gem" for kids to find and realize they're on the right path, their excitement level will only increase. As soon as excitement wanes or tired feet set in, it’s time to scout ahead and dig a shallow hole and hide the treasure. Mark the spot with an ‘X’ and shout to the kids that the treasure must be near.

RELATED STORIES:

Life Skills! Here’s How to Teach Kids to Read a Map

No-Work Scavenger Hunts You Can Print Out Now

25 Easy Backyard Games

Pirate Treasure Hunt

Advertisement

Real talk: riding a scooter around the block for the 800th time doesn’t always pique a kid’s interest. And can you blame ‘em? You may be feeling a little bored with your go-to workout these days, too. When it comes to being active, there are endless ways families can have fun with fitness. These simple ideas will help your whole crew feel stronger, happier and healthier.

Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle is a one-of-a-kind interactive stationary bike made just for kids! Learn how Pelican helps kids stay active here. 

Make It a Group Outing

Sometimes weekends call for a change of scenery a.k.a adventures in the wilderness (even if that wilderness is just 20 minutes from your house). Look up local hiking trails you know your family has the stamina to complete with minimal crankiness. Kids and adults will get those steps in while enjoying beautiful foliage, hidden creeks, frog sightings and more. Pack a bag of healthy snacks, water, extra clothes and a first-aid kit in case of boo-boos on the go. Ask another family to join so you all have buddies to explore with.

Lead by Example

Make physical activity a normal part of life. Kids may notice that Dad always takes an early morning jog or that Mom has a heated challenge going on with her virtual cycling friends. By seamlessly incorporating fitness into your day, you can do the same for your child, too. How cool would it be to hop on your stationary bike, while your kiddo hops on theirs right next to you? Perfect for ages 3-7, the Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle is the only interactive stationary bike for kids. It offers 3 modes: free trainer-led adventure videos on YouTube, built-in audio-only journeys and play the music of your choice via Bluetooth™. While you’re riding with your favorite instructor, your sidekick will be on their own high-energy adventure, complete with cool visuals. 

Dance like No One Is Watching (but… Be Prepared for Your TikTok Star Attempts to Be Critiqued)

Instant mood booster = dancing. Get your heart pumping with a dance party in the living room and let your kids create the playlist. Sure, it may involve T-Swift on repeat (but that’s not exactly a bad thing, #amiright?). This is a great way for an impromptu energy burn at any time of day. Plus, the endorphins from dancing make everyone feel good. Freestyle or learn dances together on YouTube or TikTok and pretend you totally know the moves your little ones love. (As with most things in parenting, just fake it till you make it.) Pro tip: if your child wants to dance when you’re in between Zoom calls—do it for a much-needed workday break.

Give Exercise a “Rebrand”

Newsflash: exercise is fun. In fact, most of the time your kids won’t even know they’re getting a workout. It’s all about how you frame things. Asking your kid to take a walk will most likely be met with complaints or a hard pass. But if you get creative and call it an “animal sighting jubilee,” transform it into a challenge or motivate with a scavenger hunt... the experience will be a lot better for everyone. Your kids will be so busy keeping their eyes peeled for happenings in the ‘hood they won’t notice all the ground they’re covering with those little legs! Making obstacle courses, jump roping, playing frisbee, hula-hooping and backyard games are great boredom busters, too. You’ll feel like a kid again while crushing those calories.

Find an Activity That’s Just Right

Not everyone has the same idea of what makes physical fitness fun. Grownups and children should try out different types of exercise, organized sports or classes to see what sticks. Be open-minded and step out of your comfort zone, and encourage your kiddo to do the same. Whether it’s soccer or hip-hop, yoga or gymnastics, whatever gets your family moving and keeps a smile on your faces is a win-win.

Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle is a one-of-a-kind interactive stationary bike made just for kids! Learn how Pelican helps kids stay active here.