Sweating It Out at Home

CEBU, Philippines - It is a fact that family members are no longer as physically active these days as in the time past. Both parents are at work outside, doing jobs that require little physical movement. The kids at school or left at home spend indeterminate hours watching TV or glued on their gadgets.

On weekends at home, the parents are just too tired to take the kids out on some physical activity. Even simply hiking to a nearby hill or park is already some feat to do. The worse thing is – inactivity builds on itself; it soon becomes a habit.

There’s actually no excuse for not sweating it out. If going out of the home to do some physical activity is not possible – especially at this time when the rains have come – the household itself offer a lot of ‘physical’ opportunities.  Yes, there are many things to do around the house for good physical exercise.

The good thing is, these household activities are not only good physical exercises – but practically beneficial as well. For example, assigning the kids with some house chores will not only get them physically busy but leave the house in good order as well. Daddy can do minor house repairs and mommy do the cooking, with the assistance of the bigger kids.

General housecleaning can be made a regular weekend family project. The kids may be assigned to sweep or mop the floor after mommy and daddy have rearranged the furniture. The bigger kids may clean the ceiling, using a sturdy ladder.

As soon as the house interiors are done, the troop may head out to the yard. There’s a lot to do there, too. The lawn may need trimming or the idle pots may now be planted anew, especially with the rainy days on. 

Even such chores as doing the laundry together can be made a family exercise time. Everyone, parents and kids alike, may help rinse the pieces from the washing machine and in hanging these on the clothesline outside. The same goes for setting the table at dinnertime.

Many house chores can be made fun – not only for the kids but also for the parents – to do. And doubly beneficial too. The kids will learn really useful skills, and the parents will no longer be as laden with work. And, best of all, the home is united in its own upkeep.  (FREEMAN)