Step 1: Decide on your location: home, neighborhood, town, park, etc.  Your location could be a combination of all these places, but make sure you’re incorporating bikes, walking, physical movements to get from one place to another.  Try to use the car sparingly!  Remember our goal is to keep moving with our own motor!

Step 2:  Decide on a time. Is their a time limit? or Until everyone finishes their quest?

Step 3:  Design the meat of the scavenger hunt. List the questions, items that are being searched.  For instance, a neighbor down the street might have a unique mailbox that the children can find and take a picture or describe on the answer sheet.  If the hunt is in your yard, find a unique feature or hide a soccer ball for the children to find.  Then have them complete a physical activity in that location like skip to Question 2 from the mailbox or kick the ball ten times to each other before advancing to the next clue.

Have fun with creating, watching, and participating in the Scavenger Hunt.  The children will be problem solving, getting rid of some energy and staying active.  Plus, Mom, that’s one less day to worry about for the summer!

I’d love to hear some of your ideas or how your scavenger hunt went.  Send me some pictures and I’ll post some great Scavanger Hunt Days and Sample questions/answers to help moms make it through the summer.

Cantaloupes are on sale!  I love late spring/early summer fruits.  The lovely sweet flavor of a juicy cantaloupe will be a perfect reward for your post workout snack. Test your fruity strength abilities.

Warm Up:

1.  30 Side to Side Twists with arms parallel to the floor while holding the cantaloupe at chest level.

2.  25 Squats with Cantaloupe extended in front of you.

3.  10 more Squats while lifting the cantaloupe above your head.  Forearms come inline with your ears as you stand up and arms drop down toward the floor.

How are you doing:  Are you ready for the Main Course???

1. Balanced Cantaloupe. Keep arms outstretched and balance the cantaloupe in one hand.  Guide the cantaloupe to one side of your body, keeping your arms parallel to floor.  Slowly lift your opposite leg as high as you can at your side while maintaining balance.  Hold 2 seconds, return foot to floor.  Bring cantaloupe forward and to the opposite side of your body, lifting opposite leg.  Repeat 12 times.

2.  Cardio Cantaloupe. Place cantaloupe on the ground.  Jump over cantaloupe side to side for 30 seconds.  If you can’t jump, don’t worry.  High step by lifting your knee as high as possible toward your chest and side stepping.

3.  Cantaloupe Overhead Lifts. Pick up cantaloupe, lift it overhead and drop cantaloupe behind your head.  Keep elbows facing forward and arms in line with your ears.  Force the Cantaloupe up toward the sky.  With controlled speed, pump that cantaloupe toward the sky.  Keep going for 30 seconds.

4.  Cantaloupe Circles in Reverse Lunge. Stand up tall.  Step back into reverse lunge.  With straight back, lean slightly forward to circle the cantaloupe around your leading leg.  Complete 10 circles and return to standing position.  Repeat 12 times.

5.  30 Cantaloupe Jacks. Start with your feet together and the cantaloupe at your chest.  Push the cantaloupe toward the sky as you jump out with your feet.  Return the cantaloupe to chest when feet come together.

6.  Cantaloupe Alphabet. Position yourself in a half squat.  Tuck in your abs.  Breathe.  With the Cantaloupe outstretched trace the upper case alphabet.  Keep your arms extended and make the letters large and exaggerated.  This is a great one for the children!

7.  Cantaloupe Crunch. Lie down and place the cantaloupe on your stomach.  Watch it drop as you slowly lift your shoulders in a basic crunch.  Concentrate on having the cantaloupe sink down.  20 more.  You’re almost done.

8.  Long Legged Cantaloupe Toe Touches.  Hold the Cantaloupe in your hands.  Straighten your legs.  Take it overhead and lift your whole body up toward your toes.  Slowly roll back to the floor vertebre by vertebre.

Congratualtions.  One Cantaloupe Circuit Complete.  Are you ambitious enough to go for the entire circuit again?  Are the little ones begging to snatch your cantaloupe away and join in on the fun?

Pass off the cantaloupe and tell them it’s theirs until you catch the cantaloupe.  Give them ten seconds and chase  Play this game for as long as your little one wants (or as reality hits, when you’re just too tired to chase the little bundles of energy).

Alright!  Are you heading out to the store pick up your next cheap workout piece of equipment:  THE CANTALOUPE?

Have you worked out for at least 30 minutes?  What a refreshing, exciting time at home.  It’s time to clean up, cut the cantaloupe and enjoy your nutritious treat.

The best exercise is when we’re having fun and don’t realize how the time flies. Kiddie pools are a fantastic opportunity for mom to let loose and play in the sun.

Forget about what you look like in the swimsuit. Your children don’t care! They love you and want to have fun with you. Love being active with your children, so let go of the self-conscious thoughts and fears of what the body looks like in a swimsuit. Plus, do you know what others are going to see?

A wonderful mom laughing and full of life with as much energy as her children splashing around in the pool!

While in Puerto Rico, we spent many days at the pool and I came up with a few ideas for incorporating fun exercises into our outings. ***I’m a blogger. I need to keep bringing ideas and crazy workouts your way!***

A few non-guidelines to keep pool time fun and challenging:

• Mix and match exercises
• Be spontaneous
• No need to count
• No need to be structured
• Live in the moment
• Be inspired by your children
• No inhibitions allowed

Here are a list of activities for various exercises, but the workout is a result of constant movement and having fun. A day in the sun not only provides Vitamin D, but a good dose of natural exercise with tons of laughs and good spirits (also proven longevity factors)!

Aerobic Activities:

• Run: high knee, butt kicks, regular, backwards
• Chase: Game of Shark, Pretend to be an alligator (on your hands, chase after little ones)
• Skip: Add a power jump when skipping
• Jumps (bunny)
• Side step
• Duck walk
• Role play many animals

For the Legs:

• Squats: In place or side-by-side
• Grapevine: Quite difficult in the water. Bring left foot across body and right foot, step out with right, left foot behind right, and repeat)
• Lunges
• Jumping Jacks
• In place jumping. Try to bring your feet completely out of the water.
• Kicks: Forward, backward, to the side
• Frog kicks in place
• Scissors (vertical or horizontal)

For the Arms:

• Incline Pushups
• Curls with baby or toddler
• Lift toddler out of water with straight arms
• Light tosses in the air with toddler/baby or ball
• Tricep dips on side of pool
• Forward or backward treading of water while remaining stationary

For the Abdominals:

• Crunches
• Oblique Crunches: Sit on one hip bone
• Bottom scoot: move across the pool by using your abs to shift your hips and bottom across

Go Workout Mom’s Video Premiere: Kiddie Pool Workout Tips

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are you ready to enjoy the Summer Pool Season? I hope so because you deserve to be just like the kids and love the water without having to swim lap after lap! What does your family do in the pool to stay active and play together?

***The Fuji Bike Giveaway is live through May 30th! Be sure to leave your comments to be entered in the drawing!***

Oh, Suzannah: A slow moving song in which you stretch out your hands and clap while side stepping to the tune! A good Southern favorite!

For lyrics and an MP3 download go to Free Kids Music! The quality of the music is great and the songs are available for personal listening downloads.

Stretches presented by the Little Ones! They wanted to be outdoors today and what a gorgeous day it was. Remember, hold the count for 20 to 30 seconds and always have fun. Way to Go Workout Mom!!!

Neck Rolls  (testing video for the first time):

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shoulder Rolls

Toe Touch

Extended Body

Single Leg Stretch

The T

One Legged Press

Back Stretch

Lower Back Stretch

How do you and the munchkins feel? If you’re outside in the wonderful weather, then take a moment to make out shapes in the clouds! Isn’t it wonderful to exercise with our little ones?

• Chase and Hug. It’s a bit cold here, so we’re stuck inside. Running in the house, we’ll it’s quite accepted here. I love chasing the little ones. Today we’re adding the special bear hugs when someone’s caught. Let go and let the little one’s chase you.
• Push ups/planks and Raspberries. On the way down or while you hold the plank pose, distribute a big ol’ raspberry on your little one’s belly! They’ll fall into a fit of giggles and you’ll have to stay in the down pose for a second or two before pushing up. This is great for those muscles!
• Crunches/Sit ups and Kisses. Set your baby or toddler on your stomach. As you come up, plant a great big wet one on your baby’s forehead. Their extra weight and your temporary pause mid air will add great resistance to an ordinary crunch or sit up.
• London Bridge is falling down and Holding Hands. If there are three of you, holding hands while the other one circles is lots of fun, especially when you get to wrap them up. If there are only two of you, pretend like you’re holding hands, let the child walk around you and grab them up when “the bridge comes falling down.” They’ll peel into fits of laughter.

Of course, we don’t want to forget about the “BIG” Kid. He’s always eager to have a little fun when the lights go out–the possibilities are endless!!! I would be remiss to not mention celebrating Valentine’s Day with your hubbie!

Enjoy your Dark Chocolates today and precious, priceless memories. I wish you a wonderful, Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Playtime Workout Warm Up

I. She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain

1. Walk in place, exaggerate pumping your arms for the first chorus. Don’t forget the arm motions for the “Toot, Toot.” Have fun. Be loud.
2. Gallop. Act as if you’re ropin’ horses with your arm raised up, and pat your hip with the other as if moving the horses along in the second chorus. Add a lean back, hands together come toward chest for the “Whoa.”
3. Waving hands and walking in place for third chorus.
4. Do different modeling poses for 4th Chorus . Hands on hips, Swing the hips. Pretend walk with one foot directly in front of the other like on the runway. Bring hands up to hair. Tilt the head from left to right. Create movement. This is fun.
5. Pretend like you’re preparing to go to sleep. Outstretched arms toward the sky. Lay your head on your hands. Keep your feet moving by walking in place or stepping side to side.
6. For the lyrics and a piano rendition of the song visit KIDiddles Song Lyrics.

II. The Hokey Pokey

1. Right Foot (Rotate ankles both clockwise and counter clockwise)
2. Left Foot
3. Right Hand (Rotate wrists both clockwise and counter clockwise)
4. Left Hand
5. Right Elbow (Incorporate shoulder rotations clockwise and counter clockwise)
6. Left Elbow
7. Head (Concentrate on moving the head from one side, forward, other side. It’s best not to roll the head backwards as this has been found to add unnecessary stress to the spinal cord.
8. Right Hip
9. Left Hip
10. Whole Body
11. Backside
12. Feel Free to add any body parts you want to the exercise. The more the merrier.
13. Let’s Do the Hokey Pokey has fun graphics and follows the above list of body parts.
14. Lyrics and Music contains an instrumental version of the song to dance.

III. Follow the Leader Stretches (Work up to 30 counts for each position. See if your child will count with you. The repetition will enforce counting. Their attention span may be short initially, but over time, they will be able to maintain the position for the optimal 30 second holds).

Giraffe Neck Stretch: Elongate the neck and hold the stretch to the left, forward and right side. Making faces and focusing on the child will also help keep their attention. The added perk will be facial muscle warm ups, too!

Crossing Arm Stretch: Take your left arm and cross it in front of your chest. Keep it straight and parallel to the floor. Bring your right arm closer to your body. Switch arms.

Rooster Chest Stretch: My demonstrators were getting a little testy for the photo. I wasn’t quick enough to get them in the full stretch. So make sure your arm is on the edge of the wall and the rest of your body is turned parallel to the wall. The arm should be perpendicular. Switch sides. With a little more of a forward twist, Stephanie demonstrates the pose.

Triceratops (Tricep Overhead) Stretch: Imagery for children is three quarters of the fun. Place your left hand behind your head and use your right hand to bring the elbow toward the center. Do you feel that nice long stretch along your triceps?

Leaning Trunk Stretch: Commonly known as side bend. Lean to one side. Feel free to extend your arm over your head. Switch sides.

Seal Stretch: Keep your hips on the floor. Extend your arms in front of you and lift your head and upper torso up toward the sky.

One-Legged Flamingo Stretch: Keep your knee pointed to the ground and your thigh beside your leg.

Butterfly Stretch: Bring your feet together and grasp with your hands. Pull in for a nice stretch. You may also push your legs out a little and lean forward.

Calf Stretch: Lean forward on right leg and stretch your left leg back. Sit you weight into your back leg and settle your heel into the ground. Switch legs.

Hamstring Stretch: Sit down and stretch your left leg out in front of you. Place your right foot against your inner thigh. Lean forward and reach for your outstretch toes. You may use both hands or one. Switch.

Check out 20 Reasons Why Warmup and Stretching is as Important to understand how you benefit from stretching. The full warm up is ten minutes long. Now, you’re ready to jump into Playtime Workouts. This routine will work great as a cool down. I’m working on a different cool down to release in the future and give you more variety.

Playtime Workout for Moms and Toddlers

Playtime Workout for Moms and Toddlers 2

More Playtime Workouts to come…

With these pointers in mind, you can focus on a full body workout while playing:

• Child’s play is limitless.
• Your focused attention will bring delight and laughter to all who participate.
• Children can wear you out!
• You can wear your children out!

Playtime Workout for Moms and Toddlers

This workout only requires the body. Nursery Rhymes and children’s songs work wonders for the active toddler. Be creative and adjust activities for indoor or outdoor play.

• Wheels on the Bus: This is a great warm up to start your workout. Here’s how you can adjust the hand movements to capitalize on this already active song:
  1. Pump your arms and walk in place or a circle when you are chanting, “The wheels on the bus go round and round…..all through the town.”
  2. Raise your arms above your head and stretch them from side to side when you are chanting, “The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish…all through the town.” Keep walking in place or a circle.
  3. Keep your upper arms parallel to the floor and curl your arms in a hitchhiker pose as you walk backwards when you say, “The driver on the bus says move on back…all through the town.”
  4. With upper arms parallel to the floor, swing your arms from your side toward your chest, aligning your elbows and wrist together when you say, “The doors on the bus go open and shut…all through the town.” Keep moving those legs. The bus hasn’t stopped!
  5. Rotate you wrists around your eyes when you say, “The baby on the bus goes wahhhh…all through the town.” Switch directions and keep those legs moving. You little ones like to see you fake cry.
  6. Pump your arms (in sync) along your sides bringing your elbows behind you and forward as you hands come toward your head, and bend down in half squats toward your toddler when you say, “The mommy on the bus goes shush…all through the town.
  7. Pump your arms and walk in place as you complete the song with, “The wheels on the bus…all through the town.

• Gallop like a horse. Lap around the couch, yard or each other. Make sure to include sounds!!! Switch legs and go the other direction.
• Rope Climbing Abs. Walk your child through their imagination. Lay down on your back and explain that you’re climbing with a rope. With your hands reaching toward the ceiling, take one hand and place it on top of the other, then pretend like you’re grabbing hold of a rope and reach higher. Bring your shoulders off the ground and continue to reach higher. When you peak, return to the ground slowly scaling down the rope. Keep your toddler entertained by climbing up rocks, the side of the house, a tree, etc. Let their imagination lead the way. * Do as many as you can with your toddler’s attention span. Do not rush, part of the great benefit of this exercise is to slow down and focus on those abs. Keep your lower back on the ground and don’t strain your neck. Stay relaxed.
• Dive bombers with sounds. Stick your caboose in the air. Arms spread wide. Bring your head down toward the ground and between your arms, continue forward beyond your arms and straighten your back as if you’re a plane coming in for a crash landing. You may end the dive by landing on your tummy. For an extra challenge repeat the move in reverse to come back to starting position without touching the ground. Your toddler will love the sound effects and you’ll be sweating and wishing you’d remain “crashed!” These are hard.
• Humpty Dumpty. Sit against the wall in a chair pose. Keep your knees above your ankles, upper leg parallel to floor. Don’t allow your knee to extend over your toes. Sing the song slowly to maintain the pose while Humpty sits on the wall. For the “great fall,” fall forward into a plank position (body parallel to the floor supported by forearms).
• Bunny Bounce. Place arms in front of you and bounce around the couch, yard or circle. Keeping your feet together. Try hopping forward or focus on height and explosive vertical-type jumps. Bounce after your child or let them chase you. Don’t forget to wiggle the nose to be the bunny!
• Jack and Jill. Speed run in place as fast as you can as “Jack and Jill runs up the hill…” Collapse to the ground and let your toddler “tumble after”you (aka. on top). Be ready for giggles and more.
• Repeat the whole cycle or Cool Down.

Cool-Down Stretching is a great opportunity to go over basic body parts. Complete a few basic stretches to include your arms, legs, and abs. Talk your toddler through the moves. You’ll be surprised at how much they understand the different parts of their body!

Go Play Mom! Go Workout Mom!!!

I’d love to hear how you did and what the kiddo’s thought. Leave a comment after your playtime workout to let me know if this was too short, too long, or right out, crazy!

Go Workout Mom!!!

With these pointers in mind, you can focus on a full body workout while playing!

• Child’s play is limitless.
• Your focused attention will bring delight and laughter to all who participate.
• Children can wear you out!
• You can wear your children out!

Playtime Workout for Moms and Toddlers

This workout only requires the body. Nursery Rhymes and children’s songs work wonders for the active toddler. Be creative and adjust activities for indoor or outdoor play.

• Ring-A-Round the Rosie: Hold hands, skip, run, or gallop in a circle. When everyone falls down, add a slow motion squat before landing. The children love to see us fall. You could probably get away with a few squats before your toddler is tugging at your arm to repeat the rhyme! Continue until toddler’s interest wanes or you’re tired of repeating the song and “falling” down.

• Bear Crawl: Show your toddler how to do the Bear crawl. Keep your bottom in the air, knees soft (do not lock your knees), bring your knees up toward your stomach as you move, and keep your arms shoulder width apart. Make it a race from one end of the room/yard to the other end. Repeat around a tree or couch.

  

• Crab Walk: Show your toddler how to do the Crab Walk. Keep you arms soft (do not lock your elbows), push your stomach toward the sky (as you progress, you’ll form a flat plank from shoulders to knees), and keep your legs bent 90 degrees from the floor. This is great for your abs and triceps. Race around the room or yard!

Are your arms feeling like jello? Are you breathing a bit heavier? Great! Isn’t it fun being a toddler again?

• I’m A Little Tea Pot: Here’s a stretching/less intensive activity to help you catch your breath. Switch up your arms as you repeat the rhyme.

1. Stand in a semi-squat position (short and stout)
2. Put one hand slightly behind your back for a shoulder stretch (handle)
3. Stretch out your other hand/palm down about 45 degrees from your head (spout)
4. Stretch your obliques when bending over (Tip Me Over)

• Chase: Toddlers love it when you run after them. Since we’re already pretending to move at full speed, use this as an opportunity to take quick small steps as you chase them. This is similar to a boxer’s speed work. To really entertain your kids and change up the routine, you can also run after them using high knee steps.

Cool-Down My son loves to imitate what I do. Stretching is a great opportunity to go over basic body parts. Complete a few basic stretches to include your arms, legs, and abs. Talk your toddler through the moves. You’ll be surprised at how much they understand the different parts of their body!

Let your child and imagination lead the way for a playtime workout. Next time you’re sitting and watching your child/children play, jump in and join them. You’ll feel younger and happier as you see your children’s eyes light up with delight.

Go Workout Mom!!!