I think there is something fundamentally wrong with a school year that begins before Labor Day Weekend. I’ll just throw that out there to start, ok? One of my uncles was a teacher and I have a very clear memory of the coffee mug he used. It said: The 3 best things about being a teacher: June, July and August. August is part of summer, and to go back to class mid-month is just weird to me.
In our district it isn’t too bad. The boys go back to school on the 27th which means they are in school 3 days and then have a 3 day weekend, but whatever. (Can you tell I’m oddly cranky about this Labor Day Weekend thing?)
The switch from laid back summer schedule to scheduling your day with a stopwatch can be a drag for everyone. Swimming, surfing, bike riding will be replaced by lots of sitting, reading and writing. The question becomes: How do you keep your kids active and healthy as their schedules get so crazy busy?
1. Go ride your bike.
I know that it won’t work for everyone, but we sure do an awful lot of shuttling the kids back and forth. How about letting the kids ride their bikes to get where they’re going? So many schools have cut P.E. programs. A little bike riding each day is a good thing.
2. Take a quick walk as a family after dinner.
It doesn’t always work to sit down to a family dinner, but on nights when it does, let the dirty dishes sit for 20 minutes and take a walk around the block. It’s a great way to extend family time and moving, is moving… you don’t need to power walk. A stroll is just fine. Even if your kids are in organized sports, you aren’t necessarily kicking a soccer ball as a family. This isn’t too strenuous, but still reconnects you as a family.
3. Keep healthy snacks on hand.
One of the things that can be problematic about “healthy snacks” is that they aren’t always convenient. Kids would rather grab a bag of chips than stop and cut up some fruit or cheese. Any time you c an prep these healthier options ahead of time will make it more likely that your kids will help themselves. (Also? You can help by not even buying the crappy snacks in the first place. I’m just sayin’.)
There are a lot of foods masquerading as healthy, but are often filled with chemicals and preservatives, so do make sure you read labels and check things out. Organic is usually a good way to go. Horizon Organic is a great choice for this. You can check them out on Facebook for specials and coupons, and can follow them on Twitter and Pinterest.
What are your tips to help your kids stay active and healthy once their schedules pick up? Are you ready for the school year?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.
Thank you for your kind words and suggestions, Vivienne. I’ve just started to follow your blog. I, too, can remember getting three solid months of summer as a kid-I grew up in North Carolina. I played in the creek, bare-footed too and came in way after dark with the lightning bugs. You’ve made me good! Thanks again!