Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in houston, TX

5 great (and economical!) ways to exercise with kids

June 02, 2009

When school ended, so did my easy routine of dropping off my four year old at the preschool and hitting the track adjacent to her school's playground. As energetic and run-happy as my kids are, they aren't terribly conducive to an easy fitness routine. I prefer working out outdoors, and also try to forgo a gym membership to save money.

So how can a parent balance work, parenting and working out? On a budget?

Here are my favorite ways to keep fit during the summer with kids:

1. Morning bike rides

I put my little one in the bike trailer and my older one is pretty bike proficient. We ride around the neighborhood for a good 20-30 minutes. I have a route that I know we can do. By the time we get home, the kids have enjoyed a nice adventure, and they are both ready for some quiet play.

Note: How many calories you burn in any activity depends on your size, how you do the activity, and other factors. So keep in mind that all of these calculations are for me and how I exercise. I've linked you to the calculator so you can figure it out for yourself---the calculator has tons of different activities, so feel free to deviate off my list and find your own!

Since I'm usually with kids, I'm not that speedy. So I used the Calorie Burn Calculator and found this:

Bicycling, slow (10-12 mph) for 30 minutes: 202 calories

2. The swimming pool

Afternoons in Houston are too hot for much more than swimming in a pool. If I get in the pool with the kids and swim around like they do, it's a pretty good workout. I'll hang on the side and do some kicks and stretches, too, for good measure.

Using that same Calorie Burn Calculator, I found out that swimming isn't too bad, even if leisurely!

Swimming, leisure for 30 minutes: 202 calories

3. Yoga

I record---for free---yoga programs off the television. I try to do yoga every day. The kids and I all gather in the living room and do our level best at yoga poses.  We all enjoy it and cheer each other on. Plus it really builds strength and flexibility and I swear it turns every frown upside down (at least in our family).

The Calorie Burn Calculator tells me: Yoga for 30 minutes: 135 calories

4. Take a walk

Walking and biking have always been easiest with my kids when they were little. I could strap them in with a couple of toys and snacks and easily get my 30 minutes of exercise. As they got to preschool age, I'd extend a carrot: after Mom's walk, we'll play at the park. Our local park has a nice path that winds around the playground.if I chased kids on the playground, I figured that just added to the exercise.

The Calorie Burn Calculator says (for me):

Walking with a stroller for 30 minutes: 84 calories

Walking, slow (2 mph) for 30 minutes: 84 calories

Walking, moderate (3 mph) for 30 minutes: 118 calories

Walking, fast (4 mph) for 30 minutes: 135 calories

Walking with a baby or load for 30 minutes: 118 calories

5. Tennis

If I swat balls and run back and forth, the kids have a great time chasing balls, we've had some fun, and I've gotten a good workout. Our local park has free tennis courts, and it's not too hard to find a time they are open that works with my schedule.

The calculator says tennis is a great activity for me: Tennis (singles) for 30 minutes: 236 calories

The best thing about any of these activities is that it's good for you and the kids, and you can work it around your schedule---which we all know can vary day to day. We all know we need exercise and activity every day, and I know how easy it is to say there's just no time, money or way to do it with kids. But if you open your mind and eyes, I bet you find a lot of great ways to get a workout.

Bonus idea: Do you have stairs in your house? Sometimes on those "trapped inside due to summer storms or summer heat" days, we need something to get the "willies" out! I have a little "jumpoline" that is invaluabl, but we also have the Ball Stair game that is fun and gets in some exercis. It's sort of based on Bocce Ball. We try to roll our balls furthest down the stairs without hitting the bottom. Then we run up and down the stairs retrieving the balls for another round.The calculator claims I might burn as much as 202 calories on this. Mor eimportantly, the kids get their "crazies" out.

Super bonus: Don't forget housecleaning burns calories too. And so does each step you take. If you're ever curious how much you are on the move, you can usually find pedometers pretty inexpensively. You will probably be surprised how active you are! I was!

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