Saturday, June 13, is Family Health & Fitness Day, which is celebrated the second Saturday in June each year. This fun, yet purposeful day promotes the importance of parks and recreation in keeping communities healthy.

At MidAmerica Orthopaedic, we’re encouraging you to celebrate this day, on your own or with your family, by getting active while practicing safe physical distancing.

This year’s theme is “Parks Build Healthy Communities”. Whether you prefer to participate in virtual programs at home, from the comfort of your neighborhood, or in local parks where state and local ordinances allow, there are plenty of ways in which you can get up, get moving, and get active with your family.

How the Outdoors Promotes Family Health and Fitness

Parks and recreation provide inclusive spaces for people of all ages and abilities to focus on health, wellness, and physical activity. The benefit of spending time outdoors is not a new concept, but it is still being studied and developed today. Numerous studies show a connection between physical and mental benefits to spending time in green spaces.

A recent study found that 83% of U.S. adults agree that visiting local parks, trails, and open spaces is essential for their mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the same study, 59% note that it is very or extremely essential to be able to walk, jog, hike, and/or bike, with parents even more likely to feel this way at 68%.

How to Involve Your Family in Celebrating Family Health & Fitness Day

When planning your family activities, remember to make this a fun event. It’s important to teach kids that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying the outdoors is meant to be a fun activity. This will help them develop a positive attitude about health and fitness throughout their life.

If the activity isn’t fun, it’s going to be a challenge to get and keep them on board. Consider these tips to actively involve your family in ways that will be enjoyable to them:

• Let each member of your family pick an activity they would like to partake in.
• Encourage everyone’s selections– don’t discourage their choices unless they are not possible or dangerous.
• Allow the family to vote on keeping an activity to maintain everyone’s participation. If one activity isn’t favored by everyone, allow its creator to choose another option.

Ideas for Celebrating Family Health and Fitness Day

If you aren’t sure where to start, begin by considering these 5 ways to celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day.

1. Enjoy a Walk at Your Local Park or Neighborhood

Walking is one of the easiest and best things you can do for your physical and mental health. If you have children who enjoy wildlife, visit a nearby trail and make it a discovery expedition for different types of flowers, amphibians, or even fungus. If sticking to your neighborhood, you can each choose a random object or color to search for while walking. Keep track of your findings by awarding points to make it a little competitive if you like.

2. Go for a Bike Ride

Bike riding is great on its own and doesn’t require any extra fluff to make it an enjoyable experience.

3. Play Frisbee, Capture the Flag, or Fly a Kite

These “oldies but goodies” are a lot of fun and can easily involve the whole family. You can enjoy these at home or at a local park – anywhere with a nice, open clearing. Create a large circle with your family to pass the frisbee. If you have a big family, consider getting more than one kite so boredom doesn’t set in while waiting for turns.

4. Take a Virtual Fitness Class

Virtual fitness classes are widely available right now, many of them free of cost. Find one by searching on YouTube or if you have a membership with a local gym or YMCA, check their website or social media pages. Let the whole family vote on which class(es) to take. It could be yoga, dance, aerobics … the possibilities are vast. If possible, you can even move the class outdoors by setting up a laptop or projector screen.

5. Check for Locally Organized Events

Family Health & Fitness Day is organized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). They work to promote the creation of sponsored and local community events in honor of this day. Connect with your local parks to see if they are promoting any ways to celebrate safely. You can also do an online search for local events to participate in.

Keep the Healthy Mindset Going

If this will be your family’s first time partaking in fitness together, consider making it a part of your everyday life. Now is a great time to explain to your children how safe and fun activity benefits their health, well-being, and promotes healing. Think of this day as a jumpstart to a lifelong commitment to you and your family’s physical and mental health.