Engaging in family sports faces challenges, with many parents citing time constraints and lack of childcare as obstacles. Innovative family gyms are addressing these issues by offering inclusive fitness options, allowing parents and children to exercise together. Initiatives like Paris Sport Families provide free classes for young children, while intergenerational programs promote shared activities. Participating in family sports not only strengthens bonds and motivation but also fosters healthy habits and reduces screen time in children, encouraging an active lifestyle.
Overcoming Challenges of Family Sports Activities
Engaging in sports as a family can often present unique challenges. A recent survey revealed that 63% of mothers feel they are exercising less since having children, with 20% not participating in any physical activities at all. Key reasons for this include a reported lack of time (56%) and the absence of childcare options (24%).
In response to these challenges, innovative concepts are emerging to encourage families to embrace sports and playful activities together. No matter your child’s age, there are plenty of options available for quality family time through exercise.
How Family Gyms are Evolving
Gone are the days when parents needed to rely on babysitters or family members to engage in physical activities. Family gyms are paving the way for a more inclusive approach to fitness. While parents focus on strength training or cardio workouts, kids can participate in supervised activities such as motor skills training, multi-sport games, or dance classes. This setup allows everyone to engage in their preferred exercises simultaneously.
Many gyms now offer special family sessions where parents and children can take classes together, such as yoga or Zumba. For those with toddlers, gyms equipped with daycare services provide a perfect solution. As Loan Losset, the founder of a fitness center and sports daycare, puts it, “The idea is to bring everyone together in one place without wasting time.” This allows families to enjoy fitness together while ensuring that the little ones are cared for.
Exciting Family Sports Programs
In Paris, families can take advantage of the Paris Sport Families initiative, which offers free classes on weekends for parents with children aged 3 to 7. Depending on your child’s age, options include sports classes like basketball, badminton, and swimming, while younger kids can join motor skills sessions led by city educators. Families can also come together for multi-sport activities or try out new skills such as rollerblading or skateboarding.
Additionally, the French Federation for Sports for All has developed intergenerational sports sessions, which include activities like gentle gym and hiking, designed for both parents and children. “Many clubs allow you to work out alongside your children or teenagers, with some activities tailored specifically for families,” states the Federation’s website.
The Benefits of Shared Family Sports Time
While some parents may struggle with time constraints, motivation is another key factor in the reluctance to join a sports club. A significant percentage of mothers who do not exercise cite a lack of motivation as a barrier. However, participating in family sports activities not only strengthens family connections but also boosts motivation, according to the French Federation for Sports for All. They assert, “It makes physical activity enjoyable and sustainable.”
For children, the advantages are abundant. Family exercise helps to reduce screen time, which has become a concern, with kids spending an average of two and a half to five hours daily in front of screens. This inactivity detracts from the recommended 60 minutes of daily movement for those aged 5-17, as highlighted by experts Laurent Grélot and Cécile Martha.
Instilling healthy habits from an early age is crucial. Grélot and Martha emphasize that “an active lifestyle during childhood and adolescence promotes the continuation of an active lifestyle into adulthood,” alongside numerous health benefits such as improved bone strength, agility, balance, and flexibility.