Exercising as a family is a great way to get your children embracing a healthy lifestyle. It’s so much fun as well – what better way to grab some quality time together.
While your kids might not be old enough to join you on your more adventurous sporting endeavours, there’s a fantastic range of activities that you can enjoy as a family.
From family bike rides to a game of tennis, check out our favourite ways to treat the whole family to a hit of those feel-good endorphins.
Loved by everyone from babies to grandparents, swimming has to be one of the most popular ways to exercise as a family. Hit the pool with your brood and enjoy the unbeatable feeling of being in the water. The beauty of swimming lies in its accessibility: your children might still be in armbands or budding swim club stars. Take along pool toys and play some games together and everyone gets a good workout (without even realising it).
If you’re staying at one of our NeilsonBeachclubs, why not try a dip in the sea instead? The extra buoyancy feels awesome and the waves make things a lot more interesting.
Set off on a real family adventure together as you take in beautiful sun-drenched coastline by kayak. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a sport you can do every week, but it’s a wonderful way to exercise your arms and core on holiday.
Kids of all ages can give kayaking a try at our beachclubs, and we have plenty of double kayaks that are ideal for parents and children. Just don’t let them make you do all the paddling! You can spend time kayaking as a family (make sure you grab your buoyancy aids) or join a guided kayak safari to explore a little further afield.
Climbing walls are the perfect place to give this exciting sport a try in a safe and controlled environment. With expert instructors on hand and a variety of walls to suit everyone from complete beginners to experts, the whole family can have a go at rock climbing – and no doubt get hooked on the buzz.
Once you have built up your skills and confidence, why not try outdoor rock climbing together? Children aged 10 and over can take part in rock climbing experiences from our Alana Beachclub in Croatia, while younger children aged 8 and over can tackle the limestone crags of the Kardamili climbing site from our Messini Beachclub in Greece.
Children as young as three can learn to ride a bike, so even young families can enjoy a little pedal time together. Once your child has picked it up, you can set off on longer rides and – if you’re feeling brave - even try off-road mountain biking. Nothing compares to the feeling of freedom you get from two wheels.
Children aged nine and over can explore the cycling routes from our beachclubs, while younger kids can practise their skills on a Frog bike within the grounds of our Baia dei Mori and Messini Beachclubs. The friendly Neilson bike crew will be on hand to help out and offer useful tips.
Yoga has been shown to have amazing benefits for children, helping improve their emotional resilience, concentration and mind/body awareness. If you already love this gentle form of exercise, why not invite your children to join your daily practise and enjoy a rare moment of peace and calm together.
If you haven’t tried yoga yourself, head along to one of our yoga classes for an introduction. They’re suitable for all abilities and can be an amazing addition to your exercise programme, boosting both strength and flexibility.
It’s a simple one but a goodie. All you need is your walking shoes, water and a route plan and you’re good to go. Oh and snacks. Never set out on a family walk without snacks! Walking, or even gentle jogging is a lovely way to spend some relaxing time outdoors together. It doesn’t take much concentration, leaving you free to talk or even just enjoy companionable silence.
Children can often groan at the mention of a walk, but once they’re up and moving they tend to love it. Keep things interesting with a scavenger hunt, a game of hide and seek or a family singsong. We’re not above bribery either. The promise of a holiday ice cream at the end of the walk can have amazing motivational powers!
Hit the courts for an energetic game of tennis and boost their coordination, upper body strength and general fitness. It being such good fun, time tends to fly, leaving you with happily exhausted kids by the end of your session.
If your family is new to tennis, you can take advantage of our expert coaching sessions. Children aged 14 and over can join the inclusive daily group coaching session, while younger children can have a go in our kids’ clubs. You can even arrange private tennis tuition at an additional cost.
As much as we love exercising as a family, it’s also perfectly OK to enjoy the headspace and intensity of a solo workout. We all need a little me-time.
Why not make use of our fab Neilson kids’ clubs during your holiday and take some well-deserved time for yourself to focus on your own fitness goals? Life’s all about balance after all.
Push out of your comfort zones by learning something together and you could even find yourselves with a new joint passion.
Tennis is just one of the huge range of fun activities we offer for kids aged between 2and 17 years old in our children's club.
The excitement and anticipation of a holiday with the whole family can be just as exciting and almost as much fun as the holiday itself.
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