F I T in Family Time

• Life at home can get busy. Balancing your family’s activities can be challenging. When planning your family’s day, remember that it’s important to Fit in Family Time! Schedule time for your family to be physically active together every day!
   
• Being physically active will improve your children’s health, help them achieve and maintain a healthy weight, increase their self-esteem, help them concentrate, and sleep better.
   
• Being physically active as a family creates opportunities to talk, have fun, and grow healthy together.

Getting Started:

• Fit in Family Time schedule time every day to do something physically active together.
   
• Involve the whole family have family members take turns choosing an activity to do together each day.
   
• Set family physical activity goals use a family calendar to track your progress and reward your success.
   
• Have fun!!!

10 Ideas to Fit in Family Time

• Go for a walk after dinner and talk about your day.
   
• Take the dog for a run around the park.
   
• Put on music and dance together.
   
• Play catch or frisbee in the park.
   
• Organize a neighbourhood parents versus youth soccer game.
   
• Let your son or daughter help rake the leaves or clear the snow.
   
• Use sidewalk chalk to play a game of hopscotch.
   
• Have family theme nights try a Walking Wednesday, a Skating Sunday or Screen Free Tuesday.
   
• Volunteer to take your son or daughter and their friends to the park.
   
• Encourage your children to sign up for intramural sports at school.

Adapted from Ottawa Public Health, Physical Activity Team (2005)
www.ottawa.ca/health