Playground Workouts

When my son was little (and not so little), I'd just play with him on the equipment. Oftentimes, we'd end up with a whole swarm of kids playing as well; Tag, hide and seek, many many many "monster" games (don't touch the lava!, pirates are coming!, pretend to be a bear! no, a seal! no, a _____), cartwheel races, handstand competitions, blind man's bluff. Then we'd kick the soccerball around, play basketball... and by the end, I'd be absolutely pooped... but I'd have run, climbed, jumped, swung for faaaaar longer / doing soooo much more than standard exercise routines. Actually keeping UP with a whole swarm of kids is a REAL challenge!

As he's gotten older... he comes along with me on long walks (he rides his razor or skateboard or bike because it's more fun for him than walking 6mi, he used to like running them, but he prefers rolling, these days)... and due to a dirth of childcare at the beginning, and because it's just plain fun later... I looked for sports we could do TOGETHER. Instead of me sitting and watching. Swimming and Snowboarding and Basketball. I can't keep up with him anymore, and he's starting to get to the age where soon he'll be peeling off with friends (turning 10 this year)... but I'm still out and doing!

I power walk laps around the playground. Sometimes I do dips in front of a bench. That's pretty much it. We might race - quick sprints up a hill if I am feeling particularly energetic. The rest of the time I push them onthe swings or sit on my boo-tay!

Hi there,
A few months ago, I found a few youtube videos on workouts at the park. You can look on youtube and find a bunch. Here are a couple that I've liked/tried..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNK6CZKHUFE&list=PLF9B...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVjniLICeUk&list=PLF9B...

Again, there are a lot of videos you can find to give you ideas and get you motivated. Plus, exercising at the park might help you get warmed up if your kids want to go to the park during the winter :)
Good luck and Happy New Year!

Yep, but I'm antsy. Power walk, Monkey bars, Jumping Jacks in between pushes on the swing, Stretching while we're playing in the sand or grass. I want my daughter to see me active and I've got to get it in where I can. We get the ball out and play soccer and I run and get the ball as much as she does... maybe run a little farther when we're playing catch.

My son is 2.5, so I basically just chase after him. It's good cardio!! I got a soccer ball and some cones for this spring. I figured we could play soccer, and some other kids would like to join in.