Working out with a small child
Shaavo89
Posts: 68
I have a very active 4 year old. I have him all the time, its really hard to do cardio with him. Any suggestions on how to do cardio and keep him interested? He likes going for walks and such but running not so much. Not sure how to get him to like it and my cardio be complete for the day. Suggestions? Anyone else have this issue?
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His legs are probably too short to keep up with an adult's stride. Stick him on a bike so he can keep up and race him around the block.0
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His legs are probably too short to keep up with an adult's stride. Stick him on a bike so he can keep up and race him around the block.
Right, they are but I try to high step and he runs a little. Man he can not grasp the concept of pedaling and steering or we would be all over that! Hes getting it slowly, so hopefully soon we will be able to do that!0 -
I have a very active 4 year old. I have him all the time, its really hard to do cardio with him. Any suggestions on how to do cardio and keep him interested? He likes going for walks and such but running not so much. Not sure how to get him to like it and my cardio be complete for the day. Suggestions? Anyone else have this issue?
My 5 year old loves doing Hip Hop Abs. CRACKS me up.
Could he play on a playground while you did cardio around the playground? That's what I do with my 7 year olds, but they're a little older. I never let them out of my sight though. We have a fairly small park that is off to the side and secluded... no one really goes there.0 -
His legs are probably too short to keep up with an adult's stride. Stick him on a bike so he can keep up and race him around the block.
Right, they are but I try to high step and he runs a little. Man he can not grasp the concept of pedaling and steering or we would be all over that! Hes getting it slowly, so hopefully soon we will be able to do that!
If you got a park with a sidewalk that circles the park, you can still do your running while your son plays at the park. or your can jog while he learning the concept of pedaling and steering.
Or you can run ahead a little and run back to your son (while he is walking) or may have him kick a ball and you run after it.0 -
You guys have great ideas! We don't have many large parks but I can just do more laps than with a big one! And he loves the park! So this might work out great! He's a more do it himself type of guy so it might take a while for the bike riding lol0
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I have a very active 4 year old. I have him all the time, its really hard to do cardio with him. Any suggestions on how to do cardio and keep him interested? He likes going for walks and such but running not so much. Not sure how to get him to like it and my cardio be complete for the day. Suggestions? Anyone else have this issue?
My 5 year old loves doing Hip Hop Abs. CRACKS me up.
Could he play on a playground while you did cardio around the playground? That's what I do with my 7 year olds, but they're a little older. I never let them out of my sight though. We have a fairly small park that is off to the side and secluded... no one really goes there.
I bet that is hilarious! Maybe he would do that with me!!0 -
I do Walk Away the Pounds videos while my 3 year old watches/participates/plays with the extra stretchy bands. I only let him play with the bands while I'm working out so that makes it extra fun. Or I'll do the video upstairs while I put on a TV show for him downstairs.0
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Bench press him? He may also make a good kettlebell for swinging. JK0
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Bench press him? He may also make a good kettlebell for swinging. JK
HAHA!! If I could I would! He is 60 pounds and tall! lol0 -
I would always take my daughter to the school track. She would play it the "sandbox" (long jump pit) while I ran. I probably looked like an idiot but I put her in a jogging stroller until she was 5, it was the only way I could get a workout it some days.0
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I tried working out with children, but it's really hard to stick them onto the barbell.0
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My son recently turned 6, I totally understand this!
Sometimes we play tag, he gets to tag me 10timea and I get to tag him once before he is supposed to tag me again. It makes it more fun since its summer and we use squirt guns to "tag" each other. We also try not to run in the straight line
LOTS of laughs!!
Its actually my sons favorite game with me so even when I don't want to do cardio, I end up doing it, lol0 -
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
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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 am soooo bad with typos forgive me ...grrrr0 -
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!0
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We used a Strider balance bike for my 4 yr old. He would push with his legs and then glide some so he didnt get as tired when we went on runs around the neighborhood.0
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When I had little kids, I went to a class at night when they were asleep or exercised at home before they woke up. Exercise is your time, not time for the 2 of you. You won't get an efficient workout if you're babysitting and the child will not like it.0
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I have 5-year-old twins and believe it or not, when I take them to the park and play hide and seek for a half an hour I get seriously winded. Between racing them to base (I'm mostly the chaser) and just chasing them around the playground (because they never want to run straight to base!..that would be too easy for them
) I know I'm getting just as out of breath as when I jog around the neighborhood.
I am taking them tonight with my new heart rate monitor. I want to see how many calories I am burning while playing hide and seek with them...just for fun to see what it will be. I'll have to post on here tonight what it was. :happy:0 -
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This is why I get up at 4am everyday...so I can get my workout in while my daughter is still sleeping. I couldn't imagine trying to get a workout in while she was awake/running around. Love my daughter to death, but I definitely would not want her "participating" in my workouts or having to try to watch her while I get it done. Kudos to you that can do it though.0
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Bench press him? He may also make a good kettlebell for swinging. JK
don't slam them on the floor....they may have bounce but they also break a little easier than the plates0 -
Just don't let him spot for you.0
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When my kids were very small I went for long walks with one in the jogger and one in the pack.
When they were a little bigger it was exer-saucer and me on the treadmill with Baby Motzart on the tv.
Older yet--they played at the park while I did laps around.
Once soccer and baseball started I did laps around the fields while they practiced. Some moms and I traded "watching" the little ones and alternated laps so I didn't have to drag a reluctant child with me all the time. Or if it was paved they brought a bike, scooter or big wheel.
About 3 years ago when they were 7 and 10 they did Insanity and Yoga with me..not the whole thing but they really liked it --especially when they were better than me.
Now I get up and workout in the am and have only a very friendly, attached to me puppy (lab) to deal with.
Don't get hung up on expecting the kids to behave every time. Be flexible, open, creative and invite them to participate or watch as quietly as they can so they know you put yourself first at least once a day. Also...be open to the fact that with kids it may take you 90 min to do a 45 min workout...0 -
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I generally do most of my running at lunch and one long run on the weekend. But there are times i will take my 6 year old running with me. It sounds like my 6 1/2 year old is a lot smaller than your 4 year old but he can run with me... I started by signing him up for fun runs (the color run, ugly sweater run, etc.) and some races have kids dashes. I even signed him up for a kids mud run (think warrior dash down sized for kids) it peaked his interest in running. On cooler days he can run a full 5K with me. On hotter days we do more of a run/walk and typically only go 2 miles. But when he was smaller I would do the run around the park...yeah like 25 laps around the park, not fun, but got my miles in for th day that way. Once he gets more efficient on the bike I will probably run while he bikes. 0
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you can do intervals, run to a spot (wait for him) and not too far maybe between two telephone poles signs or something like that depending on where you live. Once he catches up walk for the same distance then do it again, so its a mix and not too much running.0
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I used to babysit my little cousin, I'd turn on a radio and we'd just dance around. I worked up a sweat and then when we were done dancing he'd be ready for a nap :]
Don't forget kids get their exercise by playing - get some running in by playing tag with him, purchase a bike attachment or wagon for him to ride in, or take him swimming! You could also see if there are gyms in your area with anything available for kids - the gym I used to go to had kid's group programs for 30 or 60 minutes so the parents could get in a workout.0 -
I used to babysit my little cousin, I'd turn on a radio and we'd just dance around. I worked up a sweat and then when we were done dancing he'd be ready for a nap :]
Don't forget kids get their exercise by playing - get some running in by playing tag with him, purchase a bike attachment or wagon for him to ride in, or take him swimming! You could also see if there are gyms in your area with anything available for kids - the gym I used to go to had kid's group programs for 30 or 60 minutes so the parents could get in a workout.
That would be awesome! This sad little town I live in has nothing cool like that.... Maybe a bike with an attachment would be a good idea!0 -
I'm a teacher, so during the summer I have "Theatrical Three" and "Terrible Two" at home with me when I'm off. I've found that I can usually get a 45 minute workout done during their nap time or after they go to sleep. I usually do workout videos at home.
During the last 5 or so weeks of the school year, I started working out in my classroom after school. I'd just cover the window on my door, as not to attract gawking students, pop in my workout DVD and go to town. This was really good because I'd have it done before I got home, so the " don't wants" never had a chance to set it.0 -
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.0
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