Family Fitness Tips

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1. Keep kids entertained with different fitness activities

We all know that kids’ attention spans can be on the unpredictable side, so keep them on their toes with a pre-prepared list of activities, designed to fit into any busy weekday or weekend; when they lose interest in one, simply move to the next on the list. “Luke is always finding ways to make it fun for the kids as motivating them to stay active can be challenging, but it’s important to make time for it,” Debbie says. “Whether that’s
after-school clubs, football in the garden, fun games in the
park or family walks. Mix it up!”

If you're planning a selection of activities, make sure the family is ready for anything with sportswear for all types of fitness. Men's joggers and women's leggings are perfect for energetic fitness sessions,
and lightweight boys' T-shirts and girls' tops will keep
little ones feeling fresh.

A game to try:

Create a little family competition with this sprinting game:
“Give them a target (like a tree) and make things fun. Everyone puts their hands in the middle and when the last hand goes in…sprint!”

2. Help kids practice their timing
and coordination

Sporting activities are the perfect way for growing kids to practice their timing, coordination and spatial awareness, so make sure family fitness sessions are filled with games that really test their skills. There might be a lot of bending, stretching and leaning involved, so keep them comfy with sportswear essentials including boys' tracksuits, girls' hoodies and girls' leggings — let them choose from our collection of colours and styles. For adults, get ready with men's T-shirts and women's tops, with a hoodie at hand if grey clouds start to appear.

A game to try:

Help kids build up their coordination skills with Debbie’s simple catching game:
“Stand close together and every time you catch the ball you take a small step back. The moment anyone drops the ball everyone performs an action: sprint to the tree and back, do two press-ups or get down into a plank for 20 seconds.”

3. Make LISS and HIIT a part of your family workout routine

LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State Training) and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) are both excellent styles of fitness, and can easily be incorporated into a family workout. LISS involves maintaining a lower level of exertion over an extended period of time through activities including running, walking and cycling, while HIIT is the opposite — fast and frequent bursts of exertion (like sprinting) in between short periods of slower exercise. Running and cycling are the best ways to form LISS and HIIT workouts outside, so make sure everyone has the right gear, including boys' trainers and girls' trainers to cradle little feet and ankles, men's shorts to stay comfortable while riding and women's sports bras for extra support.

A game to try:

It's time to put the kids in control. Let them mark out a running lap of any size and follow it together as a family. Adults can run or jog, and kids can keep up with their scooters and bikes. “Let the children dictate the pace,” says Debbie. “When they go fast - so do you! When they go easy and just chug along - yep, you do too! Be warned… kids find being in control of when their parents sprint hilarious.”

4. Explore new ideas to make workouts fun

Games consoles, TV and mobile phones; fitness has some pretty fierce competition when it comes to keeping kids' entertained. So what's the secret? It's all about making it fun; fill your car with our sports equipment collection, including skipping ropes, scooters, yoga mats, pop-up goals, balls and frisbees. Debbie agrees: "Sometimes it helps to have something that’s portable, cheap and has a wow factor to it. We bought this enormous octopus kite online and tell the kids to try to catch its tentacles. It’s a huge amount of fun and gets them running and jumping about for hours. Always let them have a go at flying the kite too.
It’s a skill after all!"

A game to try:

Bring a selection of items such as cones, hoops, balls and ropes and use them to plan out a mini assault course for everyone. Let every family member go through the course one by one, with someone else timing them on a phone or stopwatch.
A little prize for the fastest will go a long way too.

5. Incorporate activities to exercise the brain and body

Exercising the body is good, but exercising the mind at the same time is even better. Repetitive workouts can get boring really quickly, so switch things up with engaging games and activities. Secure areas like enclosed parks or back gardens are perfect for hide and seek, and scavenger hunts will keep little ones busy on long country walks — just give them a list of things to collect along the way. If you're venturing far from your home or car, make sure everyone's prepared for impromptu showers and windy weather with our collection of outdoor and hiking essentials, including women's jackets, girls' wellies, boys' coats and men's boots.

A game to try:

For Debbie's family, it's all about getting back to nature:
"Tree climbing is an excellent form of exercise. You have to use your mind to figure out a route and then use your whole body to negotiate your way up, down and around the tree. Timing, coordination, strength, proprioception (knowing where your limbs are in space and time),
balance, you name it! Tree climbing ticks loads of boxes!"

Get active with Next:

Football, cycling, running or yoga; whatever your favourite type of fitness, get the most out of every workout with Next. From women's trainers and men's hoodies to kids' shorts, explore clothing, footwear and accessories for all the family, as well as premium styles from the biggest names in sportswear including Nike, adidas, Under Armour, Decathlon and Regatta.