Super Bowl Fitness Challenge

It's Super Bowl Sunday and I know we're all going to be indulging! Wings, pizza, chips and beer...it's practically un-American if you don't have some! Well, try these Super Bowl Fitness Challenges by Kisar S. Dhillon on Active.com and you can partake in the festivities without quite as much guilt and a whole lot less of the morning after regret. Go ahead, I dare you!

Super 5K This Sunday

This Sunday, February 6, Narragansett Running Association is hosting it's 7th Annual Super 5K. Race starts at noon at The Village Inn (1 Beach St. Narragansett, RI) and is a flat, fast out and back along the Narragansett sea wall. After the race there is a free pasta buffet provided by Amalfi Catering and a cash bar.

Race proceeds support the Narragansett Summer Youth Track Series.

Get Active With Your Kids This Winter

Anyone with kids knows what a nightmare a rainy day can be. You are housebound, there are toys everywhere, and the kids are literally bouncing off the walls. Multiply that by 100 and there you have the gloriously looooooooong days of Winter!

Okay, first things first: the word “winter” doesn’t have to strike fear in your heart. You should not be stuck inside all day, every day and neither should your kids. Bundle up and learn to love what winter can offer. Embrace the snow and go sledding! Find a local pond or arena and try some ice skating! Build a snowman or even buy an extra shovel for your pint sized helper and get busy!

On those especially brutal days where you just can’t bring yourself to brave the elements, here are my Top 5 fun ideas to get active right in the comfort of your own home. P.S. These ideas aren’t just to get the kids moving...they will have so much more fun doing these things with you and you will find yourself with more energy, a happier disposition, and oodles more patience. So get off that couch and find your inner child. PLAY and have fun!

• Obstacle Course- Create an obstacle course in a large room (or throughout the house if you’re really ambitious!) using whatever you have on hand. Leapfrog over pillows, crawl under chairs, and tip toe across a thin line created with masking tape or rolled up towels. For an even greater challenge, have the children try balancing something soft on their head, or keep a balled up sock tucked between their chin and chest while completing the course.

• Relay Races- Everyone line up at one side of the room and get ready to race to the other side. Before you go, decide how you will race. Running is fine, but switch it up a bit and do Bunny Hops, Crab Walks, Monster Walks, Penguins, skipping, rolling, anything works! Don’t forget to make the animal noises!

• Red Light/Green Light or Music Freeze- Everyone knows how to play red light/green light but music freeze is a fun variation on that. Play some great music and wiggle and dance. Then, at random intervals, pause the music and everyone must freeze. Once the music starts again, boogie down!

• Fast Feet- Pick a “caller.” Everyone stand with feet shoulder width apart, legs slightly bent (approx. a 45 degree angle). Start “running” in place as fast as you can, keeping that squat position. The caller yells “drop!” at random intervals and all players drop down bringing their elbows to their knees in a deep squat position, then stand and resume the fast feet. Feel free to mix things up and do other things instead of drop (jump, spin, sit down/stand up, any crazy thing works!) The kids get a kick out being caller because they get to tell you what to do!

• Indoor Crab Volleyball- What you need: 1 large inflated balloon and 1 long (approx. 10 ft.) piece of ribbon or string. Clear as much of the room of furniture and breakables as possible and attach the string across the middle, about 1 foot off the ground. Have everyone remove their shoes and get in “crab” position (on hands and feet with back to the ground). Try to volley the balloon back and forth over the string by kicking it while in crab position. Don’t let it hit the floor!

So, what have we learned here? When the weather outside is frightful, your day can still be delightful! And don’t worry, before you know it it’ll be time to dust off that stroller and get some new ideas for what to do with your kids this Spring.