People say it's hard work chasing a toddler around all day, and trust me, it is! I know from experience. Crawling around on the floor, picking play dough out of your carpet, and making sure the munchkins don't fall down the stairs or out the window isn't exactly a day at the beach with a piña colada in hand. And yet playing eye-to-eye with your little one can also mean a lot of sitting if you're not careful. Here's how to stay active while watching you're little ones.
1. Naptime and Bedtime Workouts
If you're anything like me, once you've gotten your toddler to sleep, all you want to do is pour yourself a large glass of wine, take your pants off, and binge-watch Game of Thrones. But bedtime or naptime for her is prime time for a workout for you. I like to binge-watch GoT while jumping rope or bouncing on my mini trampoline (sometimes also called "rebounding-" it's really good for you!)
If you're anything like me, once you've gotten your toddler to sleep, all you want to do is pour yourself a large glass of wine, take your pants off, and binge-watch Game of Thrones. But bedtime or naptime for her is prime time for a workout for you. I like to binge-watch GoT while jumping rope or bouncing on my mini trampoline (sometimes also called "rebounding-" it's really good for you!)
2. Wake Up Early
It's hard, but it's also worth it. If you can get yourself out of bed before your bundles of joy wake up, you can get in a quick workout, shower, prepare yourself for the day, make breakfast, and enjoy those beautiful, calm and peaceful wee hours as the sun rises.
It's hard, but it's also worth it. If you can get yourself out of bed before your bundles of joy wake up, you can get in a quick workout, shower, prepare yourself for the day, make breakfast, and enjoy those beautiful, calm and peaceful wee hours as the sun rises.
3. Take at Least One Walk a Day
Put your little one in the stroller, or strap her on yourself, and get outside! The more you can get out, the better, but aim for at least one walk a day. Always try to go a little farther than you did yesterday, or try adding more hills. Pushing a stroller up those things is a real workout.
Put your little one in the stroller, or strap her on yourself, and get outside! The more you can get out, the better, but aim for at least one walk a day. Always try to go a little farther than you did yesterday, or try adding more hills. Pushing a stroller up those things is a real workout.
4. Get Up and Down the Stairs
My toddler loves to go up and down the stairs. My mom taught her to crawl up when she was very little and then how to back her way down. At 18 months, JK was walking up and down on her own, as in, look mommy no hands! She regained her senses and usually asks for my hand now at 21 months. She also loves to bomp down the stairs in her bottom. Bonus: the more you go up and down, the more in shape you're going to be, trust me! Try taking her downstairs to play for a while and then mix it up by going back upstairs for a snack or to play a different game. If you don't have stairs at your house, go somewhere that does: the library, the mall, a friend's house, and try it out.
My toddler loves to go up and down the stairs. My mom taught her to crawl up when she was very little and then how to back her way down. At 18 months, JK was walking up and down on her own, as in, look mommy no hands! She regained her senses and usually asks for my hand now at 21 months. She also loves to bomp down the stairs in her bottom. Bonus: the more you go up and down, the more in shape you're going to be, trust me! Try taking her downstairs to play for a while and then mix it up by going back upstairs for a snack or to play a different game. If you don't have stairs at your house, go somewhere that does: the library, the mall, a friend's house, and try it out.
5. Make More Trips
Do you try to grab every grocery bag and carry them all in at once? You may think you're giving yourself a good strength workout, but taking more trips to the car is actually better for keeping you active. Cargo > strength. Use this idea everywhere: instead of picking up all the toys and carrying them all over the house, grab a couple that go in one room and take them, then come back for toys from another room. You may not always have time to do this - - it is more efficient to grab a basket full of toys and take it all over the house, but when you do have the time, it's a grear way to sneak in some extra movement.
Do you try to grab every grocery bag and carry them all in at once? You may think you're giving yourself a good strength workout, but taking more trips to the car is actually better for keeping you active. Cargo > strength. Use this idea everywhere: instead of picking up all the toys and carrying them all over the house, grab a couple that go in one room and take them, then come back for toys from another room. You may not always have time to do this - - it is more efficient to grab a basket full of toys and take it all over the house, but when you do have the time, it's a grear way to sneak in some extra movement.
6. Yoga
I hesitated to put this one on the list because it's pretty misleading. If you search yoga with toddlers, you'll find videos and pictures of moms and their kids blissfully doing yoga together. I don't know who these people are or what sedatives they've given their children, but it's more like... start in child's pose. Toddler will come over and yank your head up by your hair because she thinks you're going to sleep or otherwise just being weird (which you kind of are, to be fair.) Next you'll do some cat/cows which will make your toddler giggle because you look super silly sticking your tummy and butt out like that. Go up to downward dog. Toddlers actually love this one and will mimic you. Trying putting each leg in the air for a split. Then you'll go into plank and lower yourself to the ground for cobra pose, at which point your little one will climb onto your back to ride you like a pony. You may be motivated to try and do a push-up with her on your back from watching those internet yoga moms, but your toddler will probably decide to move or let go mid push-up or perhaps try to stand up on your back like some sort of acrobat and promptly fall off you, bump her head and begin wailing loudly. She might even have a bloody lip. Your yoga session is now complete.
I hesitated to put this one on the list because it's pretty misleading. If you search yoga with toddlers, you'll find videos and pictures of moms and their kids blissfully doing yoga together. I don't know who these people are or what sedatives they've given their children, but it's more like... start in child's pose. Toddler will come over and yank your head up by your hair because she thinks you're going to sleep or otherwise just being weird (which you kind of are, to be fair.) Next you'll do some cat/cows which will make your toddler giggle because you look super silly sticking your tummy and butt out like that. Go up to downward dog. Toddlers actually love this one and will mimic you. Trying putting each leg in the air for a split. Then you'll go into plank and lower yourself to the ground for cobra pose, at which point your little one will climb onto your back to ride you like a pony. You may be motivated to try and do a push-up with her on your back from watching those internet yoga moms, but your toddler will probably decide to move or let go mid push-up or perhaps try to stand up on your back like some sort of acrobat and promptly fall off you, bump her head and begin wailing loudly. She might even have a bloody lip. Your yoga session is now complete.
7. Use Your Little One as A Weight
Although this works better with babies, there are times when you can trick your youngster into being a piece of gym equipment if you make her think you're just playing a game. You can alternate holding her upside down and lifting her upright a few times, you can swing her through your legs like a Kettleball, or just curl her with your biceps. You may even be able to do squats holding her. When she tries to squirm out of your arms, just think of the shake weight that was popular a few years back.
Although this works better with babies, there are times when you can trick your youngster into being a piece of gym equipment if you make her think you're just playing a game. You can alternate holding her upside down and lifting her upright a few times, you can swing her through your legs like a Kettleball, or just curl her with your biceps. You may even be able to do squats holding her. When she tries to squirm out of your arms, just think of the shake weight that was popular a few years back.
8. The Tiny Trampoline
Get one. Begin jumping. After about 5 seconds, your little one will come running over yelling "Mine! Mine!" She will hijack the trampoline and you'll have to hold her hands while she jumps. When she gets bored and wanders off, begin jumping again. Compete 3 sets of 10 repetitions.
Get one. Begin jumping. After about 5 seconds, your little one will come running over yelling "Mine! Mine!" She will hijack the trampoline and you'll have to hold her hands while she jumps. When she gets bored and wanders off, begin jumping again. Compete 3 sets of 10 repetitions.
9. Just Pick Her Up and Spin Around in Circles Until You're Both Dizzy
You've pretty much given up at this point.
You've pretty much given up at this point.
10. The Park
One of the best ways to stay active is to get your kid active and then just chase her around. I love going to the park when it's not too busy and going up the stairs with her and even down the slide, through the tunnel, across the monkey bars, and finishing off with a few minutes of hard leg-pumping swing action (make sure no kids are going to run in front of you if you do that.) Do other parents sometimes look at me like I've lost my mind? Yes. But sometimes they look at me like whoa she just went across the monkey bars! Or sometimes they give the swings a try too, and before you know it you've made a friend.
One of the best ways to stay active is to get your kid active and then just chase her around. I love going to the park when it's not too busy and going up the stairs with her and even down the slide, through the tunnel, across the monkey bars, and finishing off with a few minutes of hard leg-pumping swing action (make sure no kids are going to run in front of you if you do that.) Do other parents sometimes look at me like I've lost my mind? Yes. But sometimes they look at me like whoa she just went across the monkey bars! Or sometimes they give the swings a try too, and before you know it you've made a friend.
Whatever you decide to do, know that it's important to take some time for you and your body. It's hard work, but being active can and will give you more energy, help you get more restful sleep, and make you feel better all over! Good luck. You can do it!
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