Authored by Karen Voci, President, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
It’s SPRING!! It’s finally spring – after one of the longest and coldest winters on record. The air is warming, birds are singing and there are green things on the trees.
It’s time to GET OUTSIDE! And that goes for everyone in the family – especially our kids – who probably have spent way too much time with technology on those school cancellation days when snow squalled and temperatures hit the minuses.
Here are some ideas to get you moving:
- Clean up your yard or volunteer with your kids to help clean a local park or trail. The winter has not been kind to grass and trees. An hour or so raking and bagging is a good and easy work out that shows results and gets our favorite outdoor places ready for the season.
- Take a family walk around your neighborhood, or park or Audubon nature trail. See who can spot the first flowers, new birds, or other signs of spring. Take photos and send to grandparents or other friends or relatives.
- Plant a garden or help with a community garden. A few seed packets are not expensive and digging and planting are great exercise. Even a few pots can produce enough greens for weekly salads.
- Spring means baseball season. Organize a neighborhood practice and game. Don’t forget healthy snacks and plenty of water.
- Explore a local Farmers Market. They are gearing up for the start of the summer season and vendors are happy to let you taste a new vegetable or give advice on growing your own. You can even buy plants for your own gardens or pots.
The important thing to remember is to just get outside with your kids and have fun! Stretch those muscles after a long winter, breathe the fresh air again and do your whole family a world of good.