Most people would consider a playground as a place for kids to run out some of their energy. But why can’t it be a place where adults can fit in a quick workout while watching their kids play? Playgrounds have all kinds of fun equipment to use including monkey bars, benches, ropes, seesaws, slides, and swings. If you are getting bored of your workout videos or its too hot for your outdoor runs, hop on over to your local playground and jump on a few pieces of equipment to get in a great workout.

I spent an afternoon visiting our new splash pad located in Vestavia Hills, AL and had a fun time creating a workout that you can also do on your own. Follow below for a fun way to exercise with your kids.

So, for our warm-up I would take a short jog around the park or run a few sets of stairs (4-5 times up and down). After your feel good and warm head over to the playground for a few short circuits:

Circuit 1:

20 Bench Step Ups  (20 on the right and then 20 on the left)
10 Decline or Incline push-ups
15 Jumping pull ups (use rope or bar)
20 Walking lunges

Repeat twice a moderate level or repeat 3 times for a more intense level.

Circuit 2:

20 knee raises (use monkey bars)
5 money bar climbs or rope climbs (down and back)
10 jumping pull ups (use a bar)
20 jumping jacks
20 Full Steps ups (use bench)

Repeat twice a moderate level or repeat 3 times for a more intense level.

Circuit 3:

20 Jumping Squats (tap bench)
20 High Knees
15 Straight Leg Pulls Up
20 Burpees

Repeat twice a moderate level or repeat 3 times for a more intense level.

Stretch and cool down! If you are near the splash pad your cool down might be a little fun with some added water!

I love the idea of dating my kids. Honestly it’s not something I do near enough, but find it to be a special time that allows them some one on one attention, that is so very important and rare in our hectic schedules. My goal is to try and schedule at least 1 one-on-one night/afternoon with each kiddo, each month. It doesn’t have to be elaborate and sometimes just grabbing a scoop of ice cream can help get you some quick quality time together. Here are some ideas for your next date with the tiny humans!

Coffee Date – head to your local coffee shop, grab you some caffeine (them too if they’re old enough) and a kids vanilla steamer and just talk.

Sporting Event – Whether it’s football, baseball or car racing, we have some great options for catching a game or event. This fall we’ll be catching our favorite football team, with a day of tailgating!

Catch a Movie – We love movies! To try something new, you can hit up the drive-in and play a little mini golf (2 birds with 1 stone!) If going to the movies doesn’t work, have an in night, rent a movie, hit the dollar store for some movie candy, pop some popcorn and snuggle up on the sofa.

Early Morning Outing – Head out early for a walk or hike while everyone else is still sleeping. If you get up early to exercise, or walk the dog, pick a day and take a tiny human with you. Weekends work well for this. It’s a quiet, peaceful time that allows you a great chance to chat and learn more about what’s going on in their day to day. Hit up a local farmers market or make a doughnut run, chat over breakfast and bring a dozen home for the late risers.

Favorite Restaurant – When we decide to eat out, it almost always comes down to a vote, you can’t please everyone all of the time, and someone is usually the odd man out, not happy with the majority. Give them the chance to choose the restaurant AND let them order dessert! You can also do an “In” night version and let them plan the menu, and you cook together at home.

Practice with Them – My daughters absolutely love when I come outside and play volleyball with them. Get some one on one time by taking your child to the batting cages, gym, pool, golf course.. etc. It’s a great way to get in a little extra practice time that can be fun, and good exercise.

Volunteer – One of the best ways you can spend quality time with someone is by volunteering your time and service. Teach your child the importance of giving back and set up a way that you can volunteer together or let your child pick something that is important to them. During the holidays maybe you can serve at a local soup kitchen, or donate warm clothes to a local homeless shelter. The local food bank has designated times for families to help pack sack lunches.

Do you have any favorite date ideas that you do with your children? How do you carve out special one on one time?

We have all heard parents talk about the “terrible twos” or having a “threenager.” Some of the biggest contributors to this phase of toddler life are the emotions that the children feel and the fact that children don’t understand how to express them appropriately. Emotions can be confusing because toddlers don’t have the words they need to express them and kids can easily become overwhelmed when the feelings are bottled up.

If you’re like me- even though the school year has started you still have a toddler at home. Having a toddler at home means several meltdowns a day – some of which can leave you wondering what in the world you did to deserve this kind of stress in your life. Thankfully- there are a few things you can do to help your toddler navigate through their emotions with a few less tantrums. Toddlers love books and these 10 books all hold a lesson in disguise about understanding our emotions and feelings.

Not only will these books help your child label the things they are feeling, but they will also learn how to communicate their feelings effectively.

•  In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek (Author), Christine Roussey (Illustrator) (2-4 years) — This book explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside. With language that is lyrical but also direct, toddlers will be able to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions.
  

• My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss (2 – 5 years) — This is a color concept book to use with babies or a feelings and moods book to discuss with toddlers.

• Lots of Feelings by Shelley Rotner (3 and up) — Children can learn to identify the feeling of others by reading this awesome little book. Simple text and photographs introduce basic emotions happy, grumpy, thoughtful, etc.

• Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis (Author) & Laura Cornell (Illustrator) (3 and up)  This book follows a spunky little red-head through 13 feelings beginning with “Today I feel silly…”

• Feelings From A to Z by Todd Snow (Author), Peggy Snow (Author), Pamela Espeland (Editor), Carrie Hartman (Illustrator) (3 – 5 years) — This book helps children build and use a vocabulary for communicating their emotions.

• Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley & Anne Miranda (3 – 6 years) — This is a fun interactive book that kids can use to understand the way they feel. Your child can try on funny masks as they walk through the wide range of moods all little monsters (kids) experience.

• A Little Book About Feelings by Abbie Schiller and Sam Kurtzman-Counter (Ages 3 – 6 years) — Reading this story helps children learn the universal and transitory nature of all emotions. It looks at feelings of all sizes and shapes and helps young children both understand their feelings and know that it is okay to express them.
  

• The Color Monster by Anna Llenas  (ages 3 – 7 years) — Bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups illustrate common emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm. It is both a delightful book to read, and a great tool for helping young kids sort out their emotions.

• The Way I Feel by Janan Cain (3 – 8 yrs) — There is a note to parents in the back  showing how this book can be used to help children understand what circumstances make them feel happy, sad, jealous, and so on.

• The Feelings Book by by Todd Parr (3 and up) — There are a few emotions included in this book (scared, brave, cranky, lonely, and silly), but most of the “feelings” are more about wanting to do certain activities.

• Hilly Discovers Her Feelings by Meytal Raz-Nave (3 and up) — Throughout this book Hilly’s quest is motivated by one simple question, “How do I feel?” in response to different events that she encounters in daily life. While reading this book, children can learn about their own emotions through Hilly’s experiences. 

• The Very Frustrated Monster by Andi Green (3 and up) — The WorryWooMonsters stories teach simple lessons about many different feelings and emotions and how to handle them. This is one of several in the series.

• Understanding Myself: A Kid’s Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings by Mary C., Ph.D. Lamia (9 and up) — This book offers a basic education for families in understanding, managing and discussing strong emotions and feelings. The straight forward information also makes it useful for older teens and parents struggling to understand their children’s feelings.

Descriptions taken from Rhythms of Play.

About Brittany:

Brittany was born and raised in Alabama. She is a Wife and Mama of two sweet babies- her son John is two years old and her daughter Annie is ten months old. She has her degree in Home and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Development from BYU.