Fun Ways to Become a More Active Family
Affinity Health shares easy ways of staying active as a family. Being physically active as a family is good not only for your physical health but your mental health, too!
What are the Family Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle?
As leading providers of family medical insurance in South Africa, Affinity Health advises that there are many advantages to leading an active family lifestyle. Benefits include strong muscles and bone development, as well as managing chronic disease symptoms.
Your family can work together to prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce obesity risks and improve sleeping habits. Staying active together also provides an opportunity to spend quality time together as a family.
“As parents, it can be difficult to find the inspiration to get everyone up and moving. However, children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day to live a healthy lifestyle,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.
“As the saying goes, ‘practise what you preach’. The first step in getting your family off the couch is to strive to be an positive role model for your children. If they see mom and dad being active and enjoying it, they’ll be more inclined to want to join in!”
How to be More Active as a Family
Get Everyone Involved with Housework:
Make general household work a game or incorporate it into your family routine. Include children in all facets of the cleaning process, including vacuuming, picking up toys, changing bedsheets, weeding the garden, and even mowing the lawn.
Indoor Recreation:
On rainy or cold winter days, have some active indoor activities scheduled. Hide and Seek, Simon Says, and Duck Duck Goose are excellent indoor games for children. Alternatively, put on your raincoats and boots and enjoy playing in the muddy puddles!
Play Games:
Take a trip down memory lane and introduce your children to classic childhood games like hopscotch, follow the leader, or grab a skipping robe and start jumping. These are fantastic games to play in the garden, and you can be sure the entire family will have a good time.
Take in The Fresh Air:
Hiking, visiting local parks, or simply going for a walk around the block go a long way to getting those extra steps into your day. Remember, being active doesn’t have to be expensive; simply get out and discover the hidden gems in your city.
Wash the Car Together:
In addition to giving your wheels a sparkly face-lift, scrubbing and polishing is good exercise. Best of all, kids will love getting wet and soapy.
Set A Limit for Screen Time:
Limiting your family’s exposure to television, video games, and other forms of screen time is an excellent way to encourage physical activity. Children are more inclined to play outside if the iPad is out of reach.
Choose Age-Appropriate Activities:
Ensure that all activities are appropriate for the whole family. Hiking, for example, is not recommended for toddlers or young children because they get exhausted and bored quickly. Choose shorter routes or ones with fewer hills or invest in a baby sling or toddler carrier that either mom or dad can wear.
Go on A Monthly Adventure:
Each month, try to schedule at least one exciting adventure. Visit a farm, go to the zoo, swim, or try something new like miniature golf.
Before making any huge dietary, exercise or health-related decisions, the best thing to do is to speak to a medical professional. This can get costly, but that is why Affinity Health is here to make healthcare and advice accessible and affordable.
Affinity Health can provide you with either a day-to-day plan, a hospital plan, or a combination of both for total peace of mind. Your family can also benefit from added optional benefits.
About Affinity Health
Affinity Health aims to provide premier quality, affordable medical insurance to South Africans. We strive to give our clients peace of mind and the highest standard of service when they are faced with injury or illness. We work to deliver innovative solutions that are simple, cost-effective, and proven, so our cover is structured to ensure that you get exactly what you need. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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