{"id":7714,"date":"2014-02-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/3-active-ways-to-celebrate-valentines-day-as-a-family\/"},"modified":"2014-02-11T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-11T00:00:00","slug":"3-active-ways-to-celebrate-valentines-day-as-a-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/es\/3-active-ways-to-celebrate-valentines-day-as-a-family\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Active Ways to Celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day as a Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Valentine\u2019s Day is just around the corner, and when you\u2019ve got children, there\u2019s no better time to show them that family togetherness = LOVE. As a Together Counts Energy Balance Ambassador, I\u2019m always looking for ways to keep my family active together, and a holiday like Valentine\u2019s Day is as good of an excuse as any! We\u2019re not particularly athletic in our family, but that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t have fun moving together. Here are three ways we like to maintain energy balance while celebrating\u00a0 special occasions with our kids. Why not try one of these active ideas for your family\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day celebration?<\/p>\n

Head to the \u201clover\u2019s lanes\u201d \u2013 the bowling alley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bowling with my family is a blast, ensuring lots of giggles and true, old-fashioned effort. If your kids are like mine, they love hurtling that heavy bowling ball down that long, long lane and knocking down as many pins as possible. Most bowling alleys are accommodating to families, providing bumper lanes or ramps for kids who need it so that everyone can play (ahem, my three-year-old uses a ramp and with Daddy\u2019s help \u2013 BEAT US ALL last week!)\u00a0 Bowling is such a fun way to spend time encouraging each other to be active with some friendly competition. Not to mention a great way to burn off a few calories and show the kids what active fun and family time are all about.<\/p>\n

Make a Splash Together<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of our very favorite family celebrations have taken place at a water park or community pool. We love to splash around together! If the climate is not in your favor on Valentine\u2019s Day, you can still be lucky in love \u2013 the popularity of indoor community pools and water parks means that nearly everyone has one within driving distance. Spending a day swimming together is a fabulous active outing for most families, and it\u2019s one every member of mine adores. Deal sites often have great discounts on tickets for water parks, too, so don\u2019t forget to check for discounts before you head out.<\/p>\n

Have a Heart Hunt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t have the time for a big family outing? Here\u2019s an idea that has worked well for me in the past \u2013 a holiday scavenger hunt. You can make this as simple, complicated, short, or long as you want to; just don\u2019t forget to put an \u201cactive\u201d component in the clues. To keep my kids active, I require they do some sort of fun physical exercise just to earn their next clue. From jumping jacks to hopping on one foot to follow the leader, there are many ways to work activity into an entertaining scavenger hunt where clues lead to Valentine\u2019s treats or tokens. My older kiddos flip out with excitement when a hunt is under way \u2013 I\u2019m sure yours will too!<\/p>\n

Celebrating Valentine\u2019s Day as a family can make this holiday truly special for your kiddos \u2013 after all, within the family is where we first learn about true, unconditional love. Giving your kids the gift of your time, energy, and willingness to get active with them is one that will help shape who they become, and one they won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite way to celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day with your family?<\/p>\n

Jenny Rapson is a writer and social media project manager who lives in southwest Ohio with her husband of thirteen years and their three great kiddos. When she\u2019s not cutting up grapes for her toddler or serving as referee for her school-agers, she co-authors the funniest parenting and lifestyle blog ever (written by first cousins, that is) over at Mommin\u2019 It Up<\/a> with her cousin Emily Berry.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information on celebrating Valentine\u2019s Day as a family, check out this Together Counts resource:<\/p>\n