Homeschooling families have a lot on their plates, and physical fitness is sometimes set aside in favor of mental fitness. Creating custom fitness plans and setting individual fitness goals is the best way to ensure that your family stays physically healthy.
Why set Goals
Setting fitness goals prompts you to evaluate your current physical condition. The act of setting goals requires taking an honest look at yourself and your habits, and then creating a plan of action to make the necessary changes to improve your health and quality of life.
Evaluating Your Physical Condition
Focus on gathering information about your physical condition. A check-up with the family physician or your child’s pediatrician is useful and recommended before starting any exercise program or diet. This is especially important for those who have health concerns.
During this process, note your problem areas. Think about any disabilities, especially those requiring special attention when creating your fitness plan. It is also a good idea to weigh yourself and take measurements to have a record of your starting point.
When you are evaluating your children (or helping an older child evaluate him or herself), remember to consider his or her age as you set fitness goals. Your seven year old might enjoy soccer or dance, while your two-year old will be more likely to enjoy simple movement and playing with the rest of the family.
Setting Goals
Now that you know what you want to accomplish, it is time to set goals. Set both long term and mini goals. Long-term goals are good because they give you something bigger to strive for— but mini goals offer attainable milestones. This makes the process more rewarding and encourages continued compliance to the fitness plan.
For example, if your fifth grade homeschooler can only do five push-ups, he may set a long-term goal of fifty push-ups. Let him know that this is an admirable goal, and encourage him to set mini-goals. The first mini-goal might be 10 push-ups, the next mini-goal increases to 15 push-ups, and so on.
Your family may decide to set up a reward system to celebrate mini-goals or long-term goals. Take care when choosing rewards so that you don't sabotage your efforts. Choose non-food rewards, such as a family outing to the zoo or the skating rink.
Achieving Your Goals
Now that your family has set personal fitness goals, it is time for a brainstorming session. Look at the goals that each family member has on his or her list. Discuss these goals and have each member of the family contribute their ideas. As a family, decide what you can do together to work toward achieving these goals. While some goals will be common, each family member may have certain unique personal goals. During your brainstorming session, be sure to discuss ways you can support one another even when fitness goals differ.
Homeschool Family Fitness
Everything you need to know to get your homeschool family moving. the series covers Keeping a Fitness Journal, Setting Fitness Goals, Designing a Fitness Program for All Age Groups, Team Sports, the Family That Plays Together and Keeping active When You Can't Play Outside.