Avoid a sedentary summer with these tips
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Instead of letting your kids doomscroll or veg in front of the TV or video games all summer, foster a sense of fun with physical activity. It’s not as hard or as expensive as what you may think.
Stock up on their favorite craft supplies. Creative pursuits help keep their minds nimble to avoid the “summer slump” when they go back to school.
“Everyone has different interests, like painting, coloring and drawing,” said Kimberly Whitcomb, certified personal trainer and one-on-one fitness leader in Wolcott.
Break out sidewalk chalk or washable sidewalk paint to draw hopscotch grids, bicycle paths and artwork to share with the neighborhood.
Instead of buying a lot of different sporting goods, invest in a few basics, like the aforementioned sidewalk chalk, jump rope and a ball.
“You can play all kinds of games with a rubber bouncy ball,” Whitcomb said. “You can throw it, kick it, play soccer or foursquare.”
Use whatever objects and sporting goods you have around the house or garage.
“Set up goals with objects or use spray paint to make lines for soccer, baseball, football, frisbee or even tennis can be fun at home,” Whitcomb said.
Print out a nature bingo card from sites like www.thebestideasforkids.com/nature-bingo for younger children to identify things they find outside. Activities such as this keep kids moving and encourages observation skills.
If your older kids are ready for a little independence and you feel comfortable with them biking by themselves, Whitcomb suggested planning a route, ensuring they have a charged cell phone with them and having them check in both before they leave and when they return home.
“This will give teens some freedom and trust within safe guidelines,” Whitcomb said.
Try a phone app that can track family members for extra peace of mind and remind your kids not to have both of their earbuds in, as that can make them less aware of hazards.
Whitcomb added that many personal trainers can provide fitness routines or workouts for teens as well as adults that they can perform with a trainer or at home or a mix of both approaches.
“Especially if your teens are athletes, this can keep them in the game for their sport,” Whitcomb said. “It gives them something to focus on and they can keep up with their sport. There’s accountability with it.”
Staying active in ways that help them improve for their sport this fall is a win-win. Although YMCA summer camps have filled all their slots (mark your calendar to inquire in January for next year!), “the Y” still has plenty of opportunities for recreation for children.
“We do have apart from camps a wide array of things like family programming where kids can come in with a family member and do things like messy play, gymnastics and sports,” said Stefanie Noble, vice president of marketing and communications for Downtown YMCA in Syracuse. “People’s schedules may change with school being out and families are on a different schedule but keeping movement as part of their life when the kids don’t have gym class. Our schedule is updated all the time with classes and events going on.”
The site is www.ymcacny.org/locations/downtown-ymca.
In addition, check out the New York Parks website (www.parks.ny.gov) for more places to recreate. The site allows searches by location and amenities such as disc golf, fishing, swimming and more. Although some parks charge admission or parking fees, borrowing an Empire Pass from your library saves on these expenses.