The family that plays together… stays healthy together

From the Archives: March 2012

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The family who prays together, stays together.” But how about the family who plays together? What are the benefits of play? With families busier than ever, there may seem like little time for play, particularly in the form of family activities that include exercise. But many local fitness organizations are getting wise families’ needs for opportunities to exercise together and making it as convenient as possible for them to do so.

Local YMCA officials would be the first to tell you about the need for family fitness programs couldn’t be more urgent. In response to worrisome childhood obesity statistics, as well as the high number of young people who are diagnosed as pre-diabetic, the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA is launching a new family fitness program named BFF(F): Be Fit Forever as a Family. The kickoff on April 14 at Camp Winona during the organization’s spring family campout will give families who register for the program ideas for teambuilding, group fitness activities, and bringing healthy eating habits into the home. While most health and wellness programs target either adults or children, BFF(F) targets them both, together.

“When people to spend time together actively as a family, it allows them to support each other's healthy habits,” said DeLand Family YMCA Wellness Director Matt O’Mallia. “BFF(F) is about teaching families how to build those healthy habits together.”

In addition to all of its recreational programs, classes and workout equipment, the DeLand Family YMCA also hosts a “Kids in Motion” afterschool group, which meets Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. After a few minutes of free play, the children keep moving for another 45 minutes, engaging in activities such as running, dodge ball, and swimming (in season). Kids in Motion began in January and will culminate on April 27 as the participants run 1.2 miles at the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day – a national YMCA event. The 1.2 miles they complete at the event will finish up a total of 26.2 miles the children will have accumulated since the program’s start in January – the length of a marathon! They'll be receiving runners’ medallions for their hard work. YMCA leaders are hopeful it will be the start of new, healthy habits for the children and their families.

Arguably some of the most family-friendly fitness programming comes from martial arts studios in West Volusia; many offer a wide range of classes to accommodate an impressive age range of students, usually from toddlers through adults.

For example, Extreme Shao-Lin Martial Arts in Orange City offers classes for children as young as three, but they’ve reached beyond the typical class structure. In response to adult students wanting to coordinate their children’s class schedules with their own – for the sake of time-savings and convenience – Extreme Shao-Lin owners (Sifu) Jennifer Donlon and (Master) Gage Donlon recently began instituting “Family Sessions” at the studio. In them, parents and children begin classes at the same time, stretch and warm up together, divide into their age-appropriate groups, and then reconvene for the final minutes of the class.

Jennifer has seen what it takes for families to be fit together. Sometimes it requires flexibility and planning; usually it requires fun. “It's extremely important that parents set the example for their children, exercising together and sharing common interests,” she said. “If you make exercise something fun, they all can enjoy it.

“When students leave class each day, parents waiting in the hallway always ask, ‘Did you have fun?’ It's always the first question. Fun is that important,” she added.

While teachers around West Volusia organize hands-on instruction for sports that range from baseball to soccer, and from indoor athletics from dance to kickboxing, local leaders like Bev Johnson, vice president of health strategies at Volusia Flagler Family YMCA are working on making healthy choices the easy choices for families in our community. From diabetes prevention programs to health department initiatives, Johnson partners with other agencies to influence healthy attitudes and lifestyles through education, while creating opportunities to change habits.

“Family schedules get busier and busier, that's why it's so important to keep our kids active and prioritize family health,” said Johnson. “People often think they have to give up a lot to be healthier, but I disagree. The rules are pretty basic: move more, get your heart rate up, and eat right.” (Johnson recommends following the nutritional guidelines of myplate.gov, a template for healthy eating as developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture).

Said Johnson: “What we need to do isn't hard, it's having the motivation to do it that‘s hard. You just need a support system in place to motivate you.”