Family activities that promote wellness and self-care
- samiadmoore1
- Mar 15, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 23, 2022
[1]
When you live in a world where you have a family and a job, as well as the housework to do, where you are studying and have yourself to keep alive as well as the mini you, it can be difficult to even consider adding anything else into the mix especially self-care. However, I have your back my friend. I have found 5 fun things that you can do as a family in order to bring an element of self-care into your life without a second thought.
Family yoga
[2] I joined this class accidentally after my daughters swimming lesson. I came out of the changing room and the instructor was there. He asked me if I wanted to join and I thought “Why not?” and 6 weeks later, this is something that we look forward to each and every week.
[3] Yoga is the ancient practice of exercise that focuses on breathing, flexibility, and strength to improve wellbeing both physically and mentally [4].
Joining the class together promotes positive self-care and wellness within the family unit. Yoga is good for the body and doing it as a family brings you closer together and you can have such a laugh, as you can see in our family photo [2] as well as the photo of my daughter with the teacher [3].
My local family yoga is run by Calum from AshtangaCheshire. He is a knowledgeable, patient, and fun teacher who creates an enjoyable yet tranquil atmosphere to be in for children and adults.
Time: 17:00 – 17:45
Location: Sandbach Leisure Centre
Age: Children aged 4 plus
Why not find your local class, give it a go, and let me know your thoughts?
Local trails
[5] I have mentioned this in several blogs, and I will continue to talk about it…being outside. Regardless of if you live in the city, country or seaside, there will be trails or walks that you can go on as a family. Find one and experience the outdoors. Exercise and taking in fresh air create endorphins within the body and promotes wellness. Plus, you can take photos of the beautiful natural scenery that you find to remember your trip out.
Local to us we have the Super worm trail, previously known as the Gruffalo trail.
Location: Delamere Forest
Age: Open to all ages
So, get out there with your family, make those memories and encourage wellness within yourself. After all nature is fabulous and it is free.
Swimming
[6] Do you live near the beach? Is there a local pool that you can go to? Or perhaps there is a lake not too far that welcomes swimming?
Swimming is an excellent way to stimulate wellness within yourself and is an activity that you can do as a family. Once again it is a way to bring exercise into your life whilst having family fun.
Have a look and see if they hold family, fun or open sessions at your local pool. Local to me, we have leisure centres with both small and large pools as well as some outdoor pools. And I know for a fact that there are parks that have outdoor paddling pools for families to play in, we used to visit one in Derby.
Local locations: Nantwich, Sandbach, Crewe, Alsager.
Age: Open to all ages
Cooking
[7] Healthy nutritious snacks are important for wellness, for a good diet and doing cooking as a family can be a lot of fun. We have cooked and baked as a family on numerous occasions, and it has been such a laugh plus, we have made tasty food that we can enjoy as a family.
Location: Your home (Or find a family cooking class local to you)
Age: Open to all ages
Have fun, make a mess, and make memories. Remember, it can all be cleaned up and this activity will help to encourage wellness within you and those around you.
Family craft groups
[8] A family that creates together, stays together. I think that’s the saying…. anyway, there are a few places that hold family crafting groups and art groups. I have recently heard of a class in Staffordshire where families are taught how to make pottery together. Using your hands promotes wellness through the senses and gives our bodies a sense of achievement thus creating wellness within ourselves.
Cheshire Workshop is local to me, and it holds family crafting groups with a range of activities on offer.
Location: Cheshire Workshop, formally known as the candle factory.
Age: Open to all ages.
Gardening
[9] Whether you have a garden, a patio or you’re lucky enough to own an allotment? Gardening is an exciting activity that a family can do together.
Gardening gives us the opportunity to be outside, surrounded by nature and help wildlife. We already know that being out and about promotes wellness within ourselves however, did you know that growing and harvesting your own food is another way to gain that feeling within?
[10] Whilst gardening you are promoting nature and nutrition plus this is an activity that can be done as a family.
Location: Your garden
Age: Open to all ages
If you are open to trying one or more of the activities above, let me know how you found them and remember, it is all about making those fun memories as a family and encouraging that feeling of wellness from within. Have fun.
References
2. Moore, S., 2022. Photo of family practicing yoga. Sandbach.
3. Moore, S., 2022. Photo of daughter and yoga teacher. Sandbach.
4. NHS., 2021. A guide to yoga. Retrieved from: A guide to yoga - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
5. Moore, S., 2018. Family photo out on a walk. Delamere.
7. Moore, S., 2020. Cooking with the girls. Alsager.
8. Moore, S., 2017. Making candles as a family. Tattenhall.
9. Moore, S., 2021. Food grown in the allotment. Alsager.
10. Moore, S., 2021. Sorting out homegrown food. Alsager.
Fab, some really great ideas.