Commentary by Kathleen Connelly
In Fishers we have had two snow days off of school already. The first the kids and I hibernated like bears due to the cold temperatures but the second day was warm enough to send my kiddos outdoors. Yay!
It got me thinking about what I am going to do with these kids all winter to keep them active? They are participating in sports like gymnastics and basketball. If you are like me though you don’t let your kids spend the remaining hours of the day playing Madden 15, despite my son’s pleas, or watching movies. I am also aware of many adults that made the New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I don’t like that resolution but that is a topic for a different day. I do think adults can improve their own activity while finding activities for their kids, too.
Recreation Unlimited has open hours to play on their swing set equipment, basketball goals and trampolines. Adults play for free when you pay for a child to play. What about indoor rock climbing? Adults and children can learn and have fun climbing indoor walls at Climb Time Indy or Hoosier Heights in Indianapolis. My 9-year-old son has started to enjoy laser tag and this is another activity that the whole family can play together. Skyzone in Fishers offers open jump hours all week for adults and kids. Even if you have toddlers, an adult can jump with a purchased toddler ticket on Friday mornings
The bottom line, we don’t have to hibernate during these winter months and the chosen activity doesn’t have to be just for the kids. One of my favorite quotes is by Charles Shaefer, “We are never more fully, more completely ourselves or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play.”
Kathleen M. Connelly is a certified personal trainer and health coach through American Council on Exercise. For health and fitness consulting, individuals or corporations, contact Kathleen at [email protected].
