GoGo SqueeZ

Mother’s Day is almost there and running or walking a race is a fun and healthy way to celebrate this very special day. Active.com’s team put together a great comprehensive list of Mother’s Day runs and walks around the U.S. Many of them include kids’ races, so your little ones can join in the fun. The distances tend to range from half a mile to a 5K.

What’s the best way to get your kids excited about the race ?

Kids model what we do. When they see their mom being active and exercising, they will want to do it too. Make sure you bring some GoGo squeeZ pouches with you, it makes the perfect portable snack while running. But you don’t have to use traditional exercises like sit-ups and push-ups to get your kids to be active. Just play with them. Play tag, hopscotch, hula-hoop or jump rope with them, or make an obstacle course in your backyard. Most important, make it fun. Children are never too young to be encouraged to be active. Just like us, kids need to be active most days of the week.

For more information on how to get fit with your children, visit Active.com and join them on Facebook !

Missy Chase Lapine, author of Sneaky Fitness and The Sneaky Chef ( @sneakychef ), was recently interviewed on Momlogic and she gave out some of her magic. Her secret to get your kids moving…”Trick ‘em” !

With children obesity as a major public health issue and new report revealing that kids are spending almost 8 hours a day watching TV, playing video games or surfing the Internet, it’s no wonder we’re all concerned about keeping our kids moving and burning energy outdoor. I think it is important to introduce some fun exercises and fitness into your child’s everyday life and it’s really complementary to feeding your little ones with healthy snacks.

Missy’s method is pretty simple and consist in engaging kids in games and activities that keep them moving. Here are the top sneaky ways to get teens exercising :

1. Walk the talk, talk the walk : If my daughter Emily wants to text with her friends on a portable device, I want her up and moving. I do the same thing. When I talk on the phone, I don’t sit down, I pace around the room. Pretend the chair is on fire and you can’t sit in it.

2. Have an exercise ball : For at least part of the day, I replace the chair in front of the computer with an exercise ball. It help kids strengthen their core muscles.

3. No mindless munching : The rule at my house for the kids and for me is no food in front of the TV. You have no idea how such a simple change can have a positive effect on your health.

4. Turn your living room into a playroom : If you have the room, put a mini trampoline or one of those sit-upon bouncy toys wherever you have the television. Don’t tell your kids they have to use it. But you can bet your kids will be bounding their way through “American Idol.”

Get more information on how to get YOUR kids moving at The Sneaky Chef and buy the book on Amazon.com now !

Image courtesy of Code Poet