Keeping your family fit can often mean a lot of expense, such as expensive gym memberships. And then there’s also the added expenses of the summer holidays! An easy way to cut back on the costs of keeping your family fit is to incorporate exercise into your daily parenting routine this summer.
Whether it’s making an investment in family bikes, finding free swimming pools, or checking out the thousands of free parks available, it’s easy to get your exercise while saving money this summer.
No. 1: Invest in Bicycles
Rather than pay for monthly memberships at the gym for your whole family, invest your money in a set of family bikes. This will work out far more cost-effective in the long run. It will open up opportunities to combine your exercise with days outside in nature. It will even give you the option of extended bike riding holidays.
Bikes are a great way to get your kids away from their screens and gadgets this summer. So pack a picnic and find some off-road trails to explore!
You Can Buy Great Brand Kid’s Bikes on Amazon
Amazon offers a lot of great options for kid’s bikes, including Schwinn and Strider kids’ bikes. We have bought bikes for our grandkids from them.
No. 2: Uncover Some Swimming Holes
America’s swimming holes might just be its best kept secret. From Mississippi to Arizona, the US is brimming with canyons and waterfalls. And they are home to some amazing small, natural swimming pools for families to make the most of. Many are off the beaten track, so finding them is as much of an adventure as the actual swimming. But trust us, it’s worth it. And swimming outdoors is so much fun, it won’t even feel like exercise!
No. 3: Find the Free Parks
Hike or bike the many beautiful free national parks scattered across America.Hike or bike the many beautiful free national parks scattered across America. From the stunning Yosemite in California to Acadia in Maine – where you can rent a cheap kayak and do some seal and whale watching – there’s plenty of outdoor fun to be had.
Many of these nature parks will have free events on over summer – as well as affordable activities for you to get involved in once you arrive. The National Park Service has spent over 100 years aiming to protect the biodiversity of these parks. This would be a great way to immerse your children in mother nature while educating them about the importance of conservation.
No. 4: Team Up for Gardening
If you’ve decided that you don’t want to step out of the comfort of your own home to get your workout this summer, simply venture into the garden. But take the kids with you!
Pulling weeds and planting flowers can burn up to 400 calories per hour. And it’s much more fun than an hour-long jog! Plant some vegetables at the beginning of the summer and the whole family can watch them grow over the weeks.
Then, when they’re ripe for the picking, get the kids involved in the kitchen as you whip up a culinary storm – teaching them the value of homegrown produce and how to avoid unnecessary fatty foods.
With a bit of luck, you will instill a lifelong love of the healthy hobby of gardening in your children.
No. 5: Use Your Imagination
If you want something completely free this summer, why not set up a family-style Olympics in the back garden? From rugby to rounders, setting up mini-circuits is a great way to get your children up and exercising while enjoying some quality family time as well.
So there you have it, the 5 best cheap ways to exercise with your family this summer!
Maggie wrote a very helpful post with 7 Simple Steps to Teach your Child to Ride a Bike.
If your child is still too young to ride a bike, consider taking him or her along on your bike! Read our in-depth post, 7 of the Best and Safest Baby and Child Bike Seats, with Reviews and Videos.
Post by Rory Nicolson
Post by Rory NicolsonRory Nicolson is an enthusiastic rugby fan and blogger for Rugbystore, the world’s leading rugby equipment retailer – helping aspiring athletes and committed rugby players up their game.
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