Karen’s recent column “Live Like a Toddler: Six Ways To Change Your Life” got me thinking about our kids and how they are always moving. A couple of weeks ago, I asked my 9 year old to join me on an outside run in the snow.

One great part about working out with your kid is that you get to talk to them about stuff when their pesky little brother isn’t tugging on you for a peanut butter sandwich. We chatted all the way to the high school and started around the track.

The other great part about working out with a child? Dylan was sprinting around me in circles, inspiring me to keep going. While the ground was soppy with leftover snow and our feet were getting wet, we laughed and ran like little kids and it sure made those 5K go faster than I had anticipated. After running, we played on the monkey bars and held our own mini-competition to see who could stay up there the longest. We stretched, then headed home, doing lunges until our thighs couldn’t take any more. By the time we got back to our block, we both had a second wind and raced “to the next tree!” over and over again. It was so much fun and we were laughing the whole time.

Talk about balance between being a Mom and taking care of myself. Acting like a kid, with my kid, was a great workout!

Other great ways to get yourself and your family moving:

- bike rides
- sledding
- walking
- playing on the playground (Tag, What Time Is It Mister Wolf?* Grounders**)
- playing soccer, basketball, or flying a kite in the schoolyard
- road hockey
- running errands with a wagon or stroller instead of your car
- yoga dvds (seriously, my kids LOVE this)
- dance parties in your livingroom
- hide and seek in/around the house

Can you think of more ways to move with your family?

*What Time Is It Mister Wolf: One person is the wolf and has their back turned to everyone else. The group ask “What time is it Mister Wolf,” and the “Wolf” answers “3 o’clock” for example. The group walks, jumps, or hops 3 steps. This repeats a few times, until the “Wolf” says “TIME TO EAT!” turns around and tries to catch one from the group. If someone from the group is tagged, they are then the Wolf. Lots of giggling, sprinting - it’s great fun with a group of kids.

**Grounders is probably called other things in different areas. Basically you play it on the playground. It’s an advanced form of Tag where you can’t touch the ground, while getting chased by the person who is “it”. Lots of climbing and pulling! If you get caught on the ground out by the person who is “it” by them shouting “Grounders!” then you’re automatically it. Some people play it with the “it” person keeping their eyes closed, but I found it too dangerous for my guys.