by Brad Armstrong – Pacific Ninja Gym –
Summer is but a memory, the fall has almost come and gone and winter gets closer and closer by the day. As the weather deteriorates and the temperatures drop we all tend to go inside and hibernate, especially children and teenagers. With temptations like video games,YouTube and social media, screen time tends to rise during the winter months. Sitting inside and staring at a screen all day will bring on depression and make you feel lethargic. Getting outside and enjoying nature helps boost serotonins and produces endorphins, putting everyone in a good mood.
Living on Vancouver Island, my motto is “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices.” If we didn’t go outside because it’s raining, we would never go outside. Make sure everyone has proper footwear and exposure gear so you can still go and enjoy beautiful hikes through our West Coast rain forest trails. The more kids are interested in nature, the more time they’ll want to spend outside. Maybe buy a book that identifies local trees, mushrooms and wildlife. Walk through your neighbourhood trails and beaches to see how many different species you can identify, and learn some of the interesting facts about the wildlife. You could even go as far as building owl or bat boxes to try to bring some of the wildlife into your own backyard.
Try making your backyard a more interesting and inviting place to spend time. Get your kids out raking leaves, trimming the trees and getting everything ready for winter. With the popularity of TV shows like American Ninja Warrior, a great way to get kids outside is to build obstacles in your backyard. Using cheap and simple things like PVC rollers to test their balance, rope hung from tree branches to swing from, or maybe a slack line between two trees is a great way to get started.
I remember many years ago before Xbox and PlayStation we used to go outside and ride our bikes around the neighbourhood until mom called us home for dinner. A great “retro” way to stay in shape could be as simple as riding a bike, scooter or maybe, for the more adventurous, a skateboard. Fresh air and exercise will help build the immune system and keep the household healthy all winter long.
On the ugliest winter days there are always indoor activities that will promote fitness and be fun for the whole family. Maybe an afternoon in the pool at the local recreation centre. Jumping off the diving board or swimming to the bottom to pick up rings, even treading water is lots of fun … just don’t tell the kids that it’s great exercise as well!
Maybe your town is lucky enough to have a local ninja gym. Here the whole family can workout together and build strength, agility and balance. There is nothing like running up the Warped Wall pretending to be your favourite ninja from the television show.
What would winter be without a trip to the local skating rink; we are Canadians after all. Skating is a great cardio workout and builds strong muscles in your legs and ankles. Or when’s the last time you went out bowling? It has many benefits, such as hand /eye coordination and balance.
Getting away from technology will help enhance creativity, improve your mood, lower stress levels, build social skills, and promote physical activity. So do your best and get your kids away from their screens; everyone will benefit from it.
