Workout Wednesday: In the Shadow of Mommy!

Todays workout is for the cooped up kiddos!  I know that usually as soon as I go downstairs to work out is when my attention is then suddenly needed on my son.  It never ceases to fail that this happens!  We have our workout area setup next to where all of the toys are, but lately Traycen has been interested in working out also and wants nothing to do with the toys.  He is officially what I consider Mr. Independent lately!  Now this is great that he has so much independance, until he tries to pick up a dumbbell that is too heavy or run the exercise equipment alone!  Yikes!!! So, I have decided to include him in my workout time if he is around.  Since he is becoming so independent, I have made little stations for him to do while mom works out that allows him his independence.  He gets to do his stations while I do my workout!  Take a look at some of the exercise stations for him that I created for him to do.

Warm up:  We just bought this used treadmill from some friends. Traycen is allowed on it, only when mom or dad are down there with him and at a very low speed obviously!  This is what he says is his "warmup walkout!"

Station 1:  10 jumping jacks  and count out loud! I counted with him as he did them so we could do it together!

Station 2:  Take a medicine ball or ball any size ( as long as they aren't lifting it ) and have them straddle sit on the ground with it.  Start out with the ball close to them and then roll the ball forward stretching out their torso.  Do this 5x as well as counting out loud!

Station 3:  Crab walks since they are already on the floor.  I just told him to go across the mat and then back two times.  He thought is was pretty cool then asked if we could watch a real crab do this later on.

Station 4:  Hold your balance!  This is a great way to teach them balance and patience because that's what it will take.  He switched back and fourth from each foot, holding his hands out each time.

Station 5:  Weights!  Because every kid sees a parent pick up weights and they want to be the same as mom and dad, although our weights are way to heavy.  I went to the store and found little 1 lb. weights for him so he could have his own.  This probably is his favorite thing and built his confidence in what he could do by himself.  Have your child hold one of the weights with two hands and hold it down and then pull it up to their chest.  I wouldn't suggest having the weights go above their head at all, just in case of an accidental drop:( This exercise was more about being cool because mom and dad have weights so he wanted some too!

This last picture was because he wanted to do a headstand.  Definitely make sure your kids are only doing this when you are around so they do it correctly and don't hurt themselves.

Hope you get to try some of these out with your kiddos!  Remember to be creative.  Kids at this age want to do what your doing, so include them.  What a great way to get them interested in wanting to work out and stay healthy at a young age!

Till next time,

Cooped Up Cowboys Wife Kirste