An Invigorating Family Past Time:
Sports Activities
If you are feeling bored, listless, and out of shape, you need a new
past time. Sports activities will get your blood pumping and
help you get back into shape. Not only will you be getting
good exercise but you will be starting a valuable family past
time. Sports activities are a great way to spend time with
your kids. So get up off the couch, put down that soda, and
get out in the yard for a little touch football.
If touch football is not for you, why not play a little kickball with
your kids. Set up a diamond similar to a baseball
diamond. Now the pitcher rolls a large soft ball, like a
playground ball, on the ground to the "batter." Only in
kickball, the batter kicks the ball and runs to first base.
Since the ball is soft, the fielding team can throw the ball at the
runner to get him out. Since the kicker will almost always
manage to kick the ball and foul balls are rare, this is a classic game
to play with young kids and others who are not very athletic.
A fun family game that makes a good past time sports activity is
tetherball. This rousing game can be played with one or two
people. Tetherball is called that because the ball is on a
tether - it is on a rope tied at the top of a pole. The ball
hangs about hand level. The object is to hit the ball and
make the rope wrap around the pole. The two players attempt
to make the ball go different directions. If you have never
played tetherball, you should give it a try. It is really
fun! And it really gets you moving (and laughing!)
Sand volleyball may have started on the beaches, but many towns are now
installing sand volleyball courts in their public parks. The
littler kids can sit in a safe place and play with their sand toys
while Mom, Dad, and the older kids hit a beach ball or volleyball back
and forth over a net. The sand feels good on bare feet (but
not so good inside your shoes!) The kids will enjoy this past
time sports.
A cross between volleyball and tennis that many families enjoy is
badminton. In this game, the object is to use lightweight
rackets to volley a "birdie" back and forth over a net. The
birdie looks like a little plastic funnel attached to a firm rubber
ball. You hold the birdie by the plastic and drop it onto
your racket to serve to the other team. Badminton moves more
slowly than tennis and is a leisurely way to get moving with the
kids. You'll get some exercise, though!
Kids are naturally energetic and active, making past time sports
activities extremely attractive to them. Since parents need
to be spending more quality time with their kids as well as needing to
get more exercise, too, these vigorous games are a good idea for
everyone. Some say that the family that plays together stays
together. This could be so, since exercise gets positive
hormones flowing in your mind, putting you and everyone else in a
better mood. Don't get so competitive that your family past
time sports cease to be fun. Just volley that ball or birdie
for fun and exercise.
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