Working out with a small child

rhonpaul

When my guys were little I did a lot of what was suggested earlier - laps around the filed while they were at practice, tag when they were smaller, backpack when tiny. I didn't see a few ideas mentioned yet.

Find a workout buddy and trade child-minding with them. You get an hour, he/she gets an hour - same day or every other, whatever works.

If you have a playground that isn't for little kids (regular one), run through all of the obstacles/apparatus while you are there. Climb the slide ladder (slide down if you want!), do pull ups on the monkey bars, sprint around the whole thing, play!

I just started doing this one myself - jump rope. I burn as many calories in fifteen minutes of jump rope as in an hour of yoga. Bring your child his/her own jump rope. Tie one end of a long rope to a post and take turns twirling (jog in place when it is your turn to twirl).

Have fun.

Shaavo89

Try a razor scooter rather than a bike. I did this with my older daughter when she was between 4 and 6 and it worked quite well for city runs. Just keep in mind that kids need hydrate a bit more than adults.

He drinks water a lot especially when playing outside. He might like a scooter! I completely forgot about scooters!

ladybuggprincess99

You guys are all great! Thank you so much! I work a lot... From about 7 am to 9 pm or so... I let my son stay up late because I don't see him a lot during the week. So I don't want to be working out and make him go do something else ya know? I need to make it fun for him too! I recently bought him a leapster maybe I will set him up with that and if he needs help with it i'll jog in place while helping. I have a nice wagon that he likes to ride in, but I can just picture myself tripping with that hitting the back of my ankles trying to run hahaha i voted against it!

My 7 year olds alternate between my iPad while I jog. You'll find something that works for you!
Edit: They play on the iPad while I jog at the track so they don't get bored. Maybe you could involve him that way? Counting laps, being a cheerleader... something. He could race you! He gets to run through the grass and you have to run the lap and see who gets to the other side first? I don't know.....

ladybuggprincess99

I just started doing this one myself - jump rope. I burn as many calories in fifteen minutes of jump rope as in an hour of yoga. Bring your child his/her own jump rope. Tie one end of a long rope to a post and take turns twirling (jog in place when it is your turn to twirl).

Unless your child is like mine... then he chases you around with the rope and tries to whip you. FASTEST MILE I EVER RAN.

jimmmer

That dude looks a bit creepy..... are you sure that's his kid?!

gracielynn1011

I tried working out with children, but it's really hard to stick them onto the barbell.

You need to get stronger tape.

LaurasClimb

I didn't read through all the replies so forgive me if this has already been mentioned...

There are a lot of great movement & music CDs out there geared toward the 4year old crowd. Put in some CDs and dance with your little one! There's some great cardio there!

Laurios

Take him to the park with goal posts (or make some) then get him to kick the ball, if he misses or if you don't save it, the ball will go flying past you and you'll have to run to pick it up. Do this for half an hour and you'll be shattered!

messpark36

I had that problem 3 years ago with my now 8 year old and now I have a 15 month old as well. With both, I have a jogging stroller and my 15 month old does okay in it for about an hour walk or run. I did the same thing with my older child. Afterwards, we went to the park so they could run around a bit. Also, the just dance games on the Wii or Xbox are good to do with them. But I'm struggling with this myself because there isn't much I can do with my little one and then it is almost impossible with them both! You just have to fit it in when and how ever you can really. Since the summer is here, I still work out most days, but I do not get to work out over 30-40 mins. most days because both girls are with me.

Shaavo89

That dude looks a bit creepy..... are you sure that's his kid?!

HAHAHA

curvykim78

I have a BOB Revolution SE stroller I run with my 4 year old in. We also go bike riding, he rides in a bike trailer. We go to the parks and ride the trails, then he gets to go and play on the playgrounds when we're finished. He also tries to do insanity with me as well.

sunnyskys2013

I have three young kids in my home so you can imagine the planning involved Wo my workouts ...ugh it's exhausting ..they're ages 4,3,2 so it would be DABGEROUS for them all to be doing my insanity workouts with me hahaa..I do let them join me in yoga !! But for me the easiest and most effective way to get through a workout without having to stop and loose my warm up is to do it at nap time with the little ones, and because my daughter age four starts kindergarten next year we purchased ABC MOUSE for her ...for me it's easy because the computer is in the same room as where I workout so for 45 minutes she working on schoolwork and I'm getting excersice ...I'm not one to say get them to sit and shut up but honestly I think abc mouse is AWESOME and it's fun for her we also work on writing and things during the day ...just a thought if that's an option for you

I have to say ABC mouse is awesome, they learn so much from it. It teaches in a way that is fun. Mine have been doing it since they were 3 and 4 . They are now 5-6 i love it when they come up and say mom did you know this..................

JenAndSome

I chased my kids around the neighborhood the other day with the older two (6 and 7) on their bikes and the 3 year old on his powerwheels 4 wheeler. We all had fun and I got a little workout in. Other than that I walk on my lunch hour almost every day.