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Work-out Ground or Play Ground?
by: AndreaDow
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Word Count: 432
My husband and I recently moved to a new neighborhood
and are enjoying checking out everything the area has to offer. Great shops,
grocery stores, movie theatre and parks all within walking distance have kept us
busy. Yesterday we ventured to an open grass area that led us to a playground.
Despite not having kids yet, we are still kids at heart and thought we should
give the playground equipment a try and reminisce about our youth. The more we
played around, the harder the simplistic looking equipment got and the more I
started thinking how parents could get a workout while they take their kids to
play. This would certainly help to overcome one of parent’s most common
complaints of having “no time”. Make sure the equipment looks well maintained
and has a soft surface like wood chips, sand or spongy mats. Here are a few
basic ideas: Remember, SAFETY FIRST!
- Use the bench for
push-ups, step ups, tricep dips (check my earlier link to the outdoor workout to
see these moves in action).
- Sit on the bench and
have your child balance on your shins. Do a basic knee extension (legs will end
up parallel to the ground). The further down your child sits (do not sit by the
ankle if over 15 pounds), the more resistance is created. Make sure you are
sitting up straight with abdominals pulled in and up along the spine.
- Engage in a simple race
of one piece of equipment to the next with your child.
- The overhead ladder
is much harder than when you were a kid. Try the ladder yourself or assist your
child by holding them to workout your upper body.
- Skip from one end of
the playground to the other or add lunge walks. Kids love the challenge of
going backwards, too!
- Hop in place or use
a jump rope.
- Using the overhead
ladder, work on pull-ups. If you cannot do a pull-up with your legs off the
ground try bending your legs and lightly placing your feet on one end of the
starting platform (this is where kids start off from).
Be a kid, have some fun and get creative. The options
are endless! Bring some water and healthy snacks, too. You just may find
yourself throwing a fit when it is time to leave.
Rating: 1.00
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