Call to Action

Resolve to Stay Active Through the Winter

by Rae Pica

I'm very big on goals and resolutions, and one of the resolutions I love to see families make – and keep – is to be more physically active.

Considering the amount of time I spend at my computer, it hasn’t always been easy for me to practice what I preach. But the spring before last I discovered the joy and ease of going for a walk at the start of each weekday morning. It quickly became something I wanted to do and missed when I couldn't. So, as the temperatures plunged below 20 degrees here in New England and I discovered that 16 degrees was my limit for tolerating the cold, the question became: What now?

The answer came in the form of an old love: dancing. I simply put Ricky Martin or Ozomatli in the CD player and take to the living room floor for 25 minutes! My heart pumps, the endorphins flow, and if I close my eyes I can even imagine I'm on a tropical island somewhere!

So, if you're also a wimp when it comes to winter but want to make sure you and your family stay fit, here are some ideas:

• Set aside time every day for active indoor play. Make sure there's someplace where you and your child can safely move -- where knickknacks and sharp corners aren't a concern -- and do some dancing yourselves. You might also put on a march recording, or break out the pots and pans, and hold a lively "parade" around the house. Play an energetic game of Follow the Leader, or set up an obstacle course using furniture, empty boxes, a jump rope, and other props.
• If you've purchased active toys, be sure they're not neglected in favor of more sedentary toys and games. Play Twister as a family, join your child in juggling colorful scarves, and time yourselves to see how long you can keep a balloon in the air!
• Join a program like Gymboree, ensuring both social interaction and physical activity on a weekly basis.
• Bundle up and go outside! If I can go outdoors when it's above 16 degrees, so can you! Take a walk, play in the snow, catch falling snow on mittens or pieces of black construction paper. You can even give your little one a child-sized shovel so she can "help" with the driveway or walk!

Physical activity and spending time outdoors are both essential to your health and to your child's. Don't let him get the impression that, for three months during the year, neither is possible!