February is Heart Awareness Month; it’s a time when we can teach our kids about the importance of heart health and staying active.

Doctors recommend that we allocate 60 minutes a day to blood pumping exercise to keep our hearts healthy and happy. And what better excuse to get off the couch and get the heart pumping than with fun activities for the entire family to enjoy?

Here are 5 fun things that you can do with your family to support heart awareness month:

1) Hula hoop games and activities

Hula hoops are an inexpensive toy that can inspire kids (and adults) to get their heart pumping.

Getting the hoop to spin around your body is a good physical challenge in itself.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, try spinning for longer periods of time or adding extra hoops. It doesn’t take long for kids to pick up this super fun activity.

To make things more exciting why not challenge your kids or friends and neighbours to a hoop off?

2) Head to your local trampolining arena

As surprising as it sounds, trampolining is actually form of exercise that can be just as good for you as running, cycling or walking.

This classic will make your heart pump while you’re having bucket loads of fun.

Have you thought about heading to one of your local indoor trampolining arenas, such as Flip Out?

Trampolining arenas offer the ultimate family heart friendly activity and kids of all ages can get involved.

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3) Choose a day to keep the family on their feet

Running out of weekend activities? Sick of hearing ‘Mum, I’m bored!’?

Select a day and commit the whole family to spending it on their feet: exploring zoos, botanical gardens and historical sites are all great activities to get your blood pumping.

Not only will this provide an active day for the family, it’s also a great way to remain active without even realising.

4) Rock climbing

Rock climbing provides a fun workout that’s suitable for the whole family and all levels of fitness.

It can be done at any time, in any weather, and by anyone!

Most centres also host different walls to suit any skill level. Once you find your local rock climbing arena the kids won’t want to hangout anywhere else. This activity is not just good for your heart, but also good for your general strength and conditioning, as well as providing a sense of accomplishment. There’s nothing quite like looking down from the top of a wall knowing you have conquered it.

5) Frisbee in the park/ultimate frisbee

Whilst you can have a good time simply tossing a Frisbee back and forth in the park why not amp it up this February and organise a game with friends and family?

Have you heard of Ultimate Frisbee? Get two teams together and set up a field with lines at either end for each team to score across.  Each team works together to get the Frisbee down one end, a point is scored by completing a pass to a team member into the opponents end territory. Typically a game of Ultimate Frisbee ends when one team scores 15 points.

Get moving and give it a go!

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

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