Of Course, Your Workout Can Be Like Child’s Play!

“Hey Dad, is it my turn yet to use the computer?” my six-year-old son shouts at me. I try to contemplate how there are fitness mothers out there who are able to get their workouts done, while they involve kids as tiny as one-year-old in helping mommy get through her workouts not by “leaving her be,” but by becoming part of the workout itself… all the while, (gasp), having fun themselves.

That’s right. There are mothers bypassing child labor laws by using children in their routines as weights, dumbbells and kettlebells, often times holding the baby tight as they do a set of squats, or placing the toddler on their back as they do push-ups. But please don’t call the local authorities just yet.

There are two things going on here; one: children are learning the fun they can have while working out and two: grown-ups are learning that workouts can be found and accomplished almost anywhere, anytime. People are becoming assertive in finding ways to get the job done, and in this case the job is physical wellness.

I have heard people comment, “Impossible! My kids would never stay quiet or follow what their mother is doing.” But these people fail to understand that children do not look at the workout as work, but as a way to have fun with mommy, to be just like mommy and well, just to have fun. In the process, they are learning the valuable lesson of being active. Is this so different than putting a kid on a trampoline and telling them to, “jump around?” Of course, kids don’t really understand the whole concept of being in shape, but every child knows, it’s fun to jump around.

As adults, we should remember that the best workout is one done with childlike enthusiasm, and in this case, the mother we please is ourselves. The mothers in the video demonstrate that just because their children are home doesn’t preclude them from enjoying a workout. In fact, quite the opposite. I have found the best workouts are often spontaneous, spur of the moment decisions we make.  A chair can be a step climber or two chairs can become a triceps dip machine. A child, a jump rope, two cans of beans can all be turned into workout cues. Look around… The possibilities are endless.

The biggest complaint I hear is that when people come home from work, they are too tired to work out. Then, it all comes down to “can’t” or “won’t.” If you take a moment to think about it, you may find the motivation you need to do something that every child knows is just plain fun.

Now please excuse me, I must get off the computer before my son has another melt down.