Summer is here, the weather is beautiful. Slather on the sunscreen, pop on a hat, grab a bottle of water and get outside!
Corinne Cutler, Exercise Specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network has provided a list of 25 ways you can increase your outdoor activity. Challenge your family and friends to see how many of these outdoor activities you can complete this summer:
- Turn off the television and go for a family walk around the neighbourhood.
- Take the dog for a walk each day.
- Take a Frisbee and head out to the park for a picnic.
- Dig into gardening! Plant a garden and get everyone to help out with their own special section.
- Rake up the leaves and take turns jumping into the pile.
- See if the local museum or historical society has a brochure of historical walks in your neighbourhood or town. Go out and explore together.
- Take the time to explore a local attraction on a road trip.
- Run through the sprinkler on a warm day.
- Take a Frisbee, soccer ball, or baseball along on the road trip.
- On a windy day, go to an open field and fly a kite.
- Make your weekly family social activity, active! Go to the park instead of the cinema.
- Plan "walk and talk" outings with your friends and their children. This is a great substitute for going for coffee.
- Plan an active family vacation. Try hiking, camping, or swimming.
- Get a bicycle carrier (and helmets for everyone) so the whole family can go for a ride together.
- Play catch at a local park.
- Learn how to hacky sack.
- Get some chalk and play hopscotch.
- Plan a family hike through a scenic park.
- Challenge your children to a basketball, volleyball, tennis, or baseball game. They'll love the idea of playing and competing against you.
- Explore different leash-free parks, even if you don't have a dog.
- Go to the neighbourhood playground and help your children to climb and swing.
- Go bird watching. See how many birds you can spot.
- Take a moonlight or flashlight walk in the evening. Go stargazing.
- When your children are learning to ride a bicycle, put on your running shoes and run along side or hop on your own bike. Support them and teach them proper bicycle safety while running with them around the block.
- Allow your children to include friends when planning some physical activities. This will encourage their peers to be active as well.
Reference : Healthy Alberta
