New Year, New You: Resolutions for the Entire Family!

New Year, New You: Resolutions for the Entire Family!

Posted by WinterKids on Friday, January 10, 2014

New year, new you! Have you made all your New Year’s resolutions? Are you sticking to them? If not, it’s not too late to make a new one. This year, challenge yourself to spend more time with the kids by getting out and participating in more family activities together. Too cold and snowy, you say? No way! Bundle up in your new winter threads and get out there. You’ll be glad you did!

The holidays have come and gone and you still have the bittersweet memories of your kid’s faces when they were opening presents and excited that they received everything on their list. Even though there is no longer Christmas music playing, it doesn't mean that winter is over. It's just beginning! Bring back that holiday spirit and build a snowman with your kids. Have fun with it and get creative! Make a snowdog or a snowman replica of dad. Put clothes on your snowman. Give him a cowboy hat. There are endless possibilities to what you can make all while spending quality time with your children. When you are done, you can celebrate with warm hot chocolate, the kind with the little marshmallows… mmmmm.

SnowTrails-SnowTubing-KiddoDouble_DSC_3492We also encourage you to take the kids sledding (after several inches of snow, of course!). At many ski resorts and snow-tubing hills, you don’t even have to lug your sled up the hill: lifts or rope tows do the job for you! We realize that not all of you may live in states with ski resorts or snow-tubing hills; however, if you do, you definitely need to try one out with the kids. They are tons of fun! If you do not have snow-tubing hills in your state, kick it old school and buy some inexpensive sleds and find a good snowy hill nearby your home. Invite along the neighbors, bring the dog, or just go alone with the kids. After hours of running up the hill, your kids will be all tuckered out and you will have unintentionally gotten some exercise yourself. It’s a win-win for everyone!

It’s possible that the snow has already melted in your state, or you haven’t gotten any at all. Try your hand at something new if you haven’t already, and take the kids ice skating! Fairly inexpensive and offered outdoors or indoors, ice skating is a recreational sport that is fun for people of all ages. You have the choice to either bring your own skates or rent them, and most rinks have instructors that provide group or individual lessons. Make sure to wear warm winter clothes that are easy to move around in and will not get heavy when wet. You want to be flexible and not too warm. Skating is exercise, so your body will get warmer once you move around on the ice. Remember to keep your balance and have fun!

Last, but definitely not least, for a very special family winter adventure, take the kids for a guided snowmobile tour. Offered at various different locations (check the internet and local listings for locations in your area), snowmobile tours are a fun and exciting activity that last from a few hours up to a full day. Tours are usually offered at different skill levels for a 2-hour tour, a half-day tour or a full day tour, while most even include lunch. Not only will the ride be fun and exhilarating, you also will get to experience beautiful site seeing, including unique geological features, epic wildlife, and majestic mountains. Be sure to check the age limitations as some places allow passengers as young as 5 years old and others require children to be a little older (drivers also must be 14-16 depending on location). Included in the tours are instructions and provided safety equipment. After a day of family bonding and taking in breathtaking scenery, you will have created lifetime memories for you and the kids to share forever.

What are your favorite family winter activities? We’d love to hear your suggestions!



Categories: Kids' Health

Tagged: Family Fun, winter, family activities, fitness for families, healthy

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