Exercise Ideas For Parents Of Toddlers
beatingobesityforlife
Posts: 121 Member
What are some good exercise ideas for someone with a toddler? Or any links I can check out. Thanks everyone!
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Replies
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Hi, it's really difficult to find the time to exercise with a toddler but I've found if you get them to join in they love it. If you have a wii or a kinect then I highly recommend the game just dance for kids. Your toddler will love the fun songs, dance routines and colours. It's not like the normal just dance as it has actual kids dancing and not an avatar. It's a fab calorie burn for you too as there's lots of jumping and twisting. Your little one will think your a cool mum too
If you want workout just by yourself then I recommend jillian michaels 30 day shred as it's only 20 mins and very effective. 0 -
I wish I had some ideas ... I just do it before they wake up in the morning ...0
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I'm with Dani (Haycock) on the wii dance - the kids love it. You can also get "the best fo Wiggles" and "Wow that's what I call nursery rhymes" seriously you might laugh but it's all jumping twisting etc and all fun songs to sing along too. enjoy. x0
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My son is 7, but I babysit a 2 year old, and I either workout before she gets here at 7am, or I use her as resistance. Chuck her on my front or back and do lunges or squats while singing a song. Lay down on my back and "bench press" her. Stand her on my feet, and sit up to blow raspberries on her cheeks. "race" whenever we are outside. Turn on silly music and dance with her. This all works for the older kids as well lol0
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My advice -exercise before they get up or after bedtime if you can. I have 2 under 3...it's a challenge, but it can happen. Also, don't forget - playing with the kids, silly dancing, walking, all that kind of stuff - it all burns calories!
If you can't fit in a "formal" workout - fit in what you can. It's about MOVING!!0 -
I always burn more during the "carry me, I'm tired" phase of our walks- putting an extra 40 pounds on my shoulders does the trick!0
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My 3 year old likes doing weights DVDs with me (not for the whole thing, but for part). I have tiny little dumbells (1-2 lbs) and she likes to copy.
She also likes trying to do aerobics with me.
As a rule though, I workout after she goes to bed....it's just easier that way!0 -
I put my 3 year old on his bike, put my 1 year old in the stroller and go for a really long walk! Sometimes we stop at the park and run around with a soccer ball. Usually they're so busy climbing on things and I'm constantly chasing after them that it becomes a pretty good workout!0
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jogging stroller
take them to the park and play (not sit and watch but get up and play)
have a play yard place them inside with them toys and do a dvd
dance / or zumba all the kids even the baby likes to move to music
I have a 7year old 5year old and 16month old and get 60-90min in 5days a week0 -
I have two VERY different kiddos. A two year old and a three year old.
If I get out 30 Day Shred, my son tends to immediately go find something to do that he shouldn't be doing. My daughter, on the other hand, is the model child, stretching out next to me on the yoga mat and attempting every move I do. (Proof that we need to be careful what we are showing our daughters by our actions!!!!)
I bought a bike trailer. My daughter falls asleep in it, or chills with sunglasses and a cup of milk. My son is a constant stream of questions and starts yelling if you don't answer. And the questions start basic, then turn into I-just-want-to-drive-you-crazy-with-obvious-questions. "Why is the sky blue? Can you bike all the way to Oklahoma to see Great Grandpa? Can you bike to a park? Why not? Can we go get ice cream? Why not? What is that? A house... what's a house?" *Bashes head against handlebars*
I have gone for little walks with them, but I have a creepy neighbor, so I don't like doing that much, either. But sometimes we will go to the park in town, and then go for a "treat" at the gas station or cafe or walk to lunch..... we get a little walking in, usually carrying my two year old for half of it, and then return to the park for a little more playing. And that nearly ALWAYS results in a nap.
Maybe swimming? We have a outdoor pool in the summer locally, and my son starts swimming lessons this week. We got 20 extra admission tickets, so I really should start using them....0 -
I'm interested to see replies on this. I know I should do it before my 2 year old gets up but hes up at 6.30am and I don't want to get up any earlier and by his 8pm bedtime I just can't be bothered (something I need to change I know). When my wee mans up and i'm exercising he doesn't give me any peace and i'm almost always chasing him off to play cause e doesn't want to join in& thats not really fair on him either so i'd love smething we can do together apart from walks or running around0
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I have two boys (ages 3 & 8) and I find it very hard to get a workout in some days. My youngest is always into everything, and is up fairly early. I just have to get it in when I can. Sometimes I can let them watch TV while I do a DVD, sometimes I do it when my younger one is napping, sometimes when my husband is with them after dinner, today it will have to wait until they go to bed as we have an extra kid for the day and my husband is out of town. I may not be consistent with the time of day I work out, but I started the 30 Day Shred and I'm going to finish it! Hoping that will be a great way to change my thought pattern and move from "I work out some days" to "I work out every day"!0
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I'm interested to see replies on this. I know I should do it before my 2 year old gets up but hes up at 6.30am and I don't want to get up any earlier and by his 8pm bedtime I just can't be bothered (something I need to change I know). When my wee mans up and i'm exercising he doesn't give me any peace and i'm almost always chasing him off to play cause e doesn't want to join in& thats not really fair on him either so i'd love smething we can do together apart from walks or running around
We have nearly the same schedule here. Except I'm usually tucking them in around 7:30, honestly. Sometimes I cram in 30 Day Shred or something similar during naptime, but the oldest is moving away from napping.... which is tragic, honestly!0 -
that is horrific - I surprised that woman isn't locked up! What a stupid idiot! Those poor babies. They should be taken away from those stupid mothers. Errrrr0 -
It depends on the toddler. Generally it's easier to do it when the toddler is asleep because otherwise you risk having your workout completely interrupted. And even if you find something that works, the toddlers will tend to get bored of it after awhile. I've been able to do circuit training a few times with my toddler though. Just do 4-5 compound body weight movements in a row, then rest two minutes, then repeat 3-4 times. My toddler will usually want to emulate the exercises which is pretty funny, and then I can play with him during the 2-3 minutes of down time. The playing is sort of like low intensity cardio to keep my heart rate up during the rest interval. Sometime you can even incorporate the toddler, like holding them up to the pull up bar and doing standing calf raises while the toddler pretends to do pull-ups.0
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My son is 7, but I babysit a 2 year old, and I either workout before she gets here at 7am, or I use her as resistance. Chuck her on my front or back and do lunges or squats while singing a song. Lay down on my back and "bench press" her. Stand her on my feet, and sit up to blow raspberries on her cheeks. "race" whenever we are outside. Turn on silly music and dance with her. This all works for the older kids as well lol
I do that with my niece... works everytime and she thinks I'm cool for it... haha!0 -
BUMP...0
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i have 3 kiddies all under schooling age so i also find it hard but i have been walking with my 4yr old and double pram for 5-7miles a day and this really helps me, i also get up early before the kiddies and go out on my bike afew days a week. i do zumba on the wii which the kids love joining in and i go to an actual zumba class 1-2nights a week when kids are in bed. i think to exercise with kids in the day its hard unless they can join in, dancing, walking and running around are your best bets!0
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I got a nice jog stroller and it has been worth its weight in exercise gold! $200 investment has lasted me 2 years and many a mile. Its big enough that my 6 yr old still fits in it.
Its called Joovy zoom.0 -
Wait, parents of toddlers need MORE exercise on top of having toddlers??0
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Oh my god, I couldn't even watch the video of the women doing baby yoga. So disturbing.0
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Running stroller. They love to ride in them and it exposes them to exercise. Hiking. Kids love to be outdoors and their weight adds some intensity to the exercise.0
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I use my jogging stroller. My loop ends up at the park, so when I'm done with my run, I get to chase him around and push him on swings.
Other than that, really anything outside, and they will help you do the workout!0 -
I used to have a mom and tots video, but I got rid of it when my VCR died. It had exercise for both mom and toddlers, plus strength training for moms using the kids as resistance. My kids are now 9, 7, and 3. I am not motivated enough to get up before them, so I have to work out with them around. I used to do it while the little one was napping, but he doesn't anymore. I use the walk away the pounds videos, and I give my little one a snack and a couple books to try to keep him out of trouble. The older ones attempt to do it with me, and are quite impressed that I can do it and they can't. My oldest commented one day about how heavy I am, now he says he can't believe how strong I am.0
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Bumping for reference later....I am a single SAHM of a 3yr old boy and really in need of some ideas like these...Thanks all for sharing!!! 0
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We walk lots (let's feed the ducks! My 3yo has no concept that the river is 2 miles away! lol) and every so often I go 'race you to that postbox' or whatever and we both run as fast as we can. I'm trying to get my nearly-2yo to walk more too, but unfortunately that slows us down a lot while he is inspecting drains, closing people's garden gates for them and so on.
We've got that just dance kids game, my daughter found it a bit hard but I should really get it out more so we can do it together. Good idea!
Generally though I just wait till they are asleep (7.30ish) and then go swimming x0 -
I work four days per week, so on those days I get up at 5 and hit the gym before work while she is sleeping. Since I work, I try very hard not to take any time away from her while I am off, so I do incorperate her into a lot of what I do (she is 2). I usually do Body Revolution after she goes to bed, but sometimes she is up later and she does it with me! We set up some toys all around my workout space and she pops in and does quite a bit of the workout with me. Honestly, I like the days she is up. It is a little distracting, but I think it is VERY important for her to see me being active because it sets a good example. This is just something we do, like brushing your teeth. She already gets that and I LOVE it. She says "yay, mommy is exercising!".
On my days off, we get up and after breakfast we break out the jogging stroller, jog two miles and end at the park. The park is her reward for jogging with mommy. She has no started yelling for me to "run faster, mommy!". I love it. While we are at the park we run around a lot, play tag and while she plays alone I stair step on the equipment. All of this has to be done by 9 because we live in Florida, so it gets hot fast. I have burned up to 600 calories on these mornings (use HRM)
It isnt easy, and I do try to do the bulk of it while she is sleeping. I schedule it in daily and just make it work. Fitting in Body Revolution after a long day of working and mothering is the hardest, but I keep doing it somehow, lol. I see and feel the changes in my body, so it has been rewarding enough to continue. I take rest days when I need them, even if unexpected. The older she gets, the easier it is, but I am worrired about when we add another kid to the mix, lol.
I would love more freinds that are parents, too... so feel free to FR me.
oh - and we also run around the yard and house a LOT, take walks and generally are very active. It is good for everyone. Sometimes for giggles I wear my hrm while playing outside and I am always pleasantly surprised how many calories I burn. 0 -
This is the most messed up thing I have seen in a long time.
And trust me, that's SAYING something.
Wow.0
http://youtu.be/1PJGeIFcO_U
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