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With the leaves changing and the temperatures dropping, it’s the perfect time to get out of the house and do something active. Here are some ideas to keep your family moving and feeling healthy this fall.
Autumn’s chilly weather and shorter days can make it easy for regular exercise to slip this time of year, but South Jersey's trails, farms and neighborhood streets make staying active feel more like fun than a workout. Here are six simple, festive ways to keep your family moving together this fall with no gym membership required.
1. Plan a fall camping trip
A family camping trip is a great way to spend time with your family and stay active on a mini adventure. From setting up a tent and gathering firewood to going for a walk, you can’t help but engage in physical activity and get your heart rate up. Working together to build the evening bonfire and cook dinner in the fresh fall air can be a bonding experience your family never forgets.
2. Go for a hike
Hiking can improve your heart health, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, while also increasing strength and improving stability and balance. South Jersey has plenty of hiking trails where the whole family can enjoy the fall foliage while getting cardiovascular exercise. Children can get especially engaged by identifying plants and animals along the way.
3. Visit a corn maze
Corn mazes can help you get a few miles of walking or running in with your family. Set aside a few hours to explore the maze and find your way out. Chasing your kids in and out of the maze will get your feet moving, making it a fun way to exercise together.
"Physical activity doesn't have to feel like exercise to count," said Amy Olivares, D.O., a primary care physician with Inspira Health. "When families move together on a hike or work together to get through a corn maze, kids build healthy habits without even realizing it's happening."
4. Rake the leaves
Turn a big chore into a fun activity for the whole family. Raking can burn calories and give your arms, shoulders and core a solid workout, making it surprisingly effective exercise disguised as yard work. In addition to the physical benefits, your children will love spending time outdoors running around and jumping into piles of leaves. This one can become a friendly competition by timing who can build the biggest leaf pile, then reward everyone with a well-earned healthy snack.
5. Go pumpkin and apple picking
South Jersey is known for its pumpkin patches and apple picking farms, which offer great activities to get your family moving this fall. Whether you’re lifting heavy pumpkins, carrying bags of picked apples or running around the orchard with your kids, the whole family is sure to get some exercise.
6. Walk or bike around the neighborhood
Enjoy regular walks or bike rides around your neighborhood. Start a new routine with your family to get out of the house after dinner a few nights per week to appreciate the autumn weather and festive decorations on your block.
"The activities that stick are usually the ones that feel fun rather than forced," said Dr. Olivares. "Building movement into your family's fall traditions, like an after-dinner walk, makes it easier to stay active once the weather turns colder."
