Get Active with Your Family These Last Few Weeks of Summer!

 School may be back in session but that does not mean your family’s summer activities have to end. Take advantage of these last few weeks of the season with impromptu outdoor games and activities that will bring your family closer and get them moving.   

 Physical activity is important for the health of each and every member of your family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week and children at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. 

 In addition to helping improve health, being active together can help build family bonds and create long-lasting healthy habits. Whether you’re playing tag or participating in a family walk – you’re creating memories your child will treasure forever. 

 So here are a few simple tips for getting your family active to take advantage of what’s left of summertime:

·      Participate in Local Community Events: Research and take advantage of free community events in the Atlanta area your entire family can enjoy. For example, The Coca-Cola Family Field Day will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the World of Coca-Cola in Pemberton. Your family can enjoy field day activities like trike races, six-legged races, a bubble ball push fitness bootcamps, and more. 

·      Create Your Own Family Olympics:  Invite your extended family over and create your own Olympics, with games such as relay races, flag football, potato sack races, or any activity that will get everyone moving.

·      Take a Day Trip to Local Hiking Trails:  Burn up to 600 calories by taking a one-hour hike. And you don’t have to go far from home to do it. Within 60 miles of the Atlanta city limits, you will find numerous hiking trail options. Some of the most popular include the Stone Mountain Mountaintop Trail which climbs to the top of Stone Mountain (the largest piece of exposed granite in the world) or the Kennesaw Mountain Trail, a mountain trail climb just over a mile with old roads and original Civil War embankments.

·      Have a Splash in Water: Swimming can be a great form of low-impact aerobic exercise for people of all fitness levels. Georgia offers an abundance of both man-made pools and natural swimming holes. 

Any activity will work, so long as you are moving and having fun with your family.  And if you don’t get out while summer’s still around, being active is a year-round affair. Look at Patch.com and other local online calendars for other things you can do year-round to keep your family active and healthy.

Kristen Smith is a registered dietitian in Atlanta, GA with over 8 years experience.  Kristen has been quoted in several news articles and has been seen in TV appearances including Good Morning America.  She is the founder and contributor to the blog 360FamilyNutrition.  She is a consultant for food and beverage companies including the Coca-Cola Company.