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Fitness Management Tips For Mothers and Children
Posted Friday, 8 April, 2005
Kathrine Switzer is the author of Running and Walking for Women Over 40 (St. Martin’s Press), an Emmy-award winning TV commentator and a former winner of the New York City Marathon. This is part of a series of her proven tips to encourage women to Take Fitness to Heart.
Running and walking are excellent ways to stay fit, but mothers with young children or preteens may find it difficult to incorporate an exercise routine into their busy schedules. RYKA’s Kathrine Switzer offers the following tips to help mothers find the time for exercise and fitness.
- Childcare help: Share childcare with your exercise partners. If you all have small children, develop a schedule that rotates childcare evenly so no one misses consecutive workouts.
- Make deals with neighbors: If your close neighbor does not have kids, or like to run or walk, she can be of help. Arrange a tradeoff – if she watches your child while you run, then you can do the same, or pick up groceries or wait for a delivery or repairperson for her.
- Start early: Consider buying a “baby jogger”. Children love being a part of your run or walk, and once your child outgrows it, you can pass the baby jogger along to a friend of relative.
- Bring them along: Take your children along to the high school track. While you run laps, they can play on the infield where you can easily keep an eye on them.
- Run/Walk with your children: Take preteens or teenagers along on your workout. By making your run or walk a family activity, not only will you ensure that your children are engaging in a healthful activity but you also get some quality time together. They can bike or roller blade alongside, too. This will set a good example and establish healthy habits for a lifetime.
- Complementary workouts: Does your husband or partner run or walk? Arrange complementary workout schedules, so each of you can exercise and watch your children.
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