Keep Your Family Active “School’s out for the summer. No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks!” Now run, and play and BE ACTIVE. Okay, so that is not part of Alice Cooper’s infamous summertime song, but it is an important part of the summer to consider. By the end of the school year, many families are ready to temporarily retire their full, action-packed schedules for a more relaxed and less hectic summer break. While everyone can benefit from a little rest and relaxation, it is also important for children and families to stay active to prevent poor habits from developing as the summer progresses. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children should be involved in “moderate-to-vigorous physical activity” at least one hour every day, while adults should be getting at least two hours and thirty minutes of moderate physical activity each week. People of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities can benefit from regular physical activity. Some of the long-term health benefits that have been associated with staying physically active include stronger muscles and bones, an increase in self-esteem, an increased ability to deal with stress, an improvement in sleep, a better overall outlook on life, a decreased risk in developing type 2 diabetes, a decreased risk of depression, an improved ability to maintain a healthy weight and an increase in life expectancy. Here are some great ways to keep your family active over the summer break while still having fun and allowing everyone time to recharge after a long school year. Encourage outdoor play Encourage your children to go outside and play, and join them! Take a bike ride together, kick the soccer ball around, shoot some hoops, go for a run, play a game of tag or take a nature walk through the woods. Remember to have fun, stay positive and keep everyone well-hydrated no matter which outdoor activity you choose. And don’t forget the sunscreen! Take advantage of local resources Many local pools and recreation centers offer summer memberships, which can provide countless hours of physical activity and fun for you and your family. The county park authority can be a great resource for finding both indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities, and many local programs and camps promote and incorporate physical activity into their daily curriculum. Plant a garden Gardening is a wonderful way to stay active, get everyone outdoors to enjoy and appreciate nature and work together as a family. Although 20 Additional Fun Ways to Stay Active as a Family: 1. Go on a scavenger hunt 2. Take a hike 3. Play in the sprinkler 4. Visit a local playground 5. Have a dance party 6. Play laser tag 7. Take a long walk at the beach 8. Go roller skating or rollerblading 9. Play Capture-theflag 10. Visit a local bounce house 11. Take your dog for a walk 12. Visit the zoo for the day 13. Visit a local indoor ice skating rink 14. Catch fireflies 15. Jump on a trampoline 16. Play Hide-n-Seek 17. Have a water balloon fight 18. Try indoor rock climbing 19. Spend the day walking around D.C. 20. Go Geocaching Over Summer Break By Sarah Young many consider gardening to be a peaceful and leisurely hobby, planting and maintaining a garden requires a lot of work. Involve everyone in every part of the process, from digging and planting to watering and weeding. You will be amazed at the amount of pride (and physical activity) that you and your family will experience from this rewarding activity. Plan an active vacation While everyone looks forward to a relaxing day at the beach or poolside, summer vacations also present unique opportunities to try out activities and adventures that your family may not be exposed to on a regular basis. Try something new. Take the family out to explore together while on vacation, whether it be Staying Active continued on page 31 2013 • Issue 4 Piedmont Family Magazine 19