Fun & Fitness

• Put your baby in a stroller and take a brisk walk. You’ll get some exercise; your child will enjoy a change of scenery and you’ll both get some fresh air.
• Invest in a jogging stroller. Once your child is old enough, a jogging stroller is a great way to pick up the pace and improve your cardiovascular fitness.
• Check out upcoming walks, fun runs or races. See if your community or MWR program offers a stroller-friendly option.
• Hike with a baby carrier. There are numerous options on the market that allow you to safely strap your child to your chest or back so you can enjoy a hike.
• Look for a parent and baby fitness class. Check with your installation’s fitness center to see if it offers classes designed for parents with young children.

• Take a trip to the park. Visit the playground on your installation or find a park in your surrounding community where you and your child can run, climb, swing and jump.
• Go for a bike ride. Attach a child’s seat to your bike and get ready for a good time. Make sure you have the proper safety equipment (such as a helmet for each of you) before you set out.
• Rent sports equipment. Check with MWR on your installation to see what equipment is available if you aren’t yet sure of your child’s interests. This is a way to introduce your child to a wide range of sporting options without spending a lot.
• Go bowling. Not only does bowling provide a great way to be active together, but your installation’s bowling center may even offer a family discount.
• Go for a swim. Spend an afternoon splashing around with your child and teaching them swimming basics, such as floating and treading water. You can even check with MWR about swimming lessons.
• Have a dance party. Fitness doesn’t have to be a formal activity to be good for your body. Turn on some music and have a family dance party at home.

Remember, every little bit of activity counts — whether it’s jumping jacks during television commercial breaks or playing a game of tag with your children in the backyard. Use whatever time and equipment you have at your disposal to prioritize your fitness while still spending time with your family. Not only will your family’s health improve, but your children will learn healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Check with MWR on your installation for a schedule of swimming lessons, or reach out to Health and Wellness Coaching for other ideas for family fitness activities.

• Take a family walk or visit a MWR fitness facility together.

• Use ITT’s online booking site, American Forces Travel^SM, to get your family to a fun hiking destination on a discount.
• Walk around your installation and become familiar with it.
• Find other families to walk with, especially if you just moved to the area.
• Start a military family walking club that meets once a week for a nice, long stroll.
• Check out the Move Your Way website to find ways to get more activity in your child’s day.

Staying healthy together can strengthen your bodies and your family bonds. Read more to find out how getting fit as a family can help your communication and relationships. Swap out your daily screen time for an exercise session and get these benefits:

• Open communication with your family: Talk while you walk, (or run, skate or hike) and it may be easier to have those tough conversations or just learn something new about each other.
• Better health: Teach good habits that will last a lifetime. Your kids will thank you for it later.
• Improved moods: Feel those endorphins as a family and create happy memories that’ll get you through the toughest times apart.
• Accountability: Working out as a family is much more motivating, and you’ll be less likely to wind up on the couch if you plan group activities.

There’s something for almost everyone in America’s national parks. Follow these travel tips to plan your next great national park adventure:

• Visit the National Park Service’s website to pick a park and plan your trip. Once you pick a park, download all you need to know about hours, directions, activities and fees.
• Pick your activities. National parks offer exciting activities for all ages. If you have children, check out the Junior Ranger events and programs. Remember, you can search for activities everyone can enjoy. You can also find wheelchair-accessible activities and trails.
• Get your free America the Beautiful Military Pass (at one of these federal recreation sites). The free pass is available to all active-duty, National Guard, reserve and Coast Guard members, dependents of U.S. military members with DD Form 1173, U.S. military cadets, veterans and gold star family members. You can purchase the free Military Pass online for a $10 processing fee. Learn more about Military Pass from this fact sheet.
• Tour the parks with the free America the Beautiful 4th Grade Pass (free to all U.S. 4th graders) or the Access Pass (free to all U.S. citizens with permanent disabilities).
• Contact your Morale, Welfare and Recreation program for discounts on camping and other outdoor gear. See what other equipment you can rent before you head out on your adventure. Whether you need a kayak, skis and snow boots or a boat, MWR has a lot of gear available to rent.

Your budget doesn’t have to dictate your fun. There are plenty of recreation and entertainment options available close by that you can enjoy for free. Train for a local race or try joining a recreation league involving your favorite sport. Join a book club or start one of your own. Take on small carpentry jobs around the house, make crafts, garden or build furniture.

Volunteering can help you connect with your community. Ask around your installation or community center about working as a tutor, mentor or coach. Or consider working at an animal shelter or local park, or with any group involved with something you enjoy.

If you’ve recently moved, hobbies can be a great way to connect with your new location and learn about the area. If you’ve moved overseas, take the opportunity to learn a new language. Cooking is also a great way to explore local traditions as you shop for new ingredients and try different foods.

Between Armed Forces Day in May and Labor Day in September, you can soak up history, science or another piece of culture by visiting museums across America. This is part of the Blue Star Museums initiative, a collaborative effort between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and participating museums.

Community gardens can provide economic, social and health benefits to service members and their families. They can also help military families establish a sense of belonging in their communities. And, best of all, being involved with a community garden doesn’t require a green thumb.

When you join a community garden, you are part of a group effort, with those who have been doing it for a while sharing their knowledge with newcomers. You can quickly learn the tricks of the trade, even if you come in knowing little or nothing about gardening.

Many military installations have community gardens you can join. If yours does not have one in place, there are plenty of resources available to guide you in starting your own.

The operating hours, seasons, availability and organizations that run community gardens — which include MWR, public works and the Department of Defense Education Activity — vary from location to location. Check with your installation for more details.

Community gardens provide better access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which can be especially important in areas where resources are limited. They also encourage a healthy lifestyle, engage the whole family and connect individuals and families with others in the community.

For military families constantly on the move, these social aspects can be especially important in that they can create a connection to and investment in a community.

Community garden benefits also include:

• • Increased physical activity
  • Improved environment (cleaner and greener)
  • Expanded knowledge of nutrition and agriculture
  • Lowered stress, anxiety, depression and anger
  • Reduced family food budget

Community gardening can provide educational benefits for children as well by helping them learn about responsibility, plant growth and fostering a love of nature. So unplug, and start having fun the old-fashioned way.