Optimize screen time and press play! Have fun moving with your kids right from your living room. Today I’m sharing our 5 Best YouTube Workout Videos for mom and kids. They’re short, engaging and easy enough for kids, but you’ll find them worthwhile and motivating too.
Use time together to move together
Including kids in workouts is a big part of being consistent with quick workouts at home as a mom. When the weather is great, you can head outside. But with the crazy Midwest winters, days made for staying in jammies, or those fussy few minutes before diner is ready, I encourage you to rely on the tv.
And there’s a trick.
Choose kid friendly videos — short, fun and engaging.
Especially if you feel like you’re battling interruptions, always saving workouts for naptime, or your child is not easily entertained. These are real points of frustration and keep moms from working out.
Stay motivated! And remember, workouts serve more than just sweating. They also can promote learning and skills for the whole family.
Movement as play time
Exercise should be fun! View it as an opportunity to play and kids are more likely to engage. Like most things, you may have to improvise and have a little more flexibility, but it’s worth it. On top of all the health benefits, you’re also:
- Working together
- Modeling positive habits
- Teaching to care for your body (while caring for others!)
And kids can be great motivators.
If you’re feeling a bit sluggish and racking your brain for the next play activity, turn on the tv! Follow one of these fun workout videos. Before long, you will all be moving and grooving, and you’ll break that invigorating sweat!
YouTube videos are fun and free
YouTube is a video platform and a great resource for workouts. It’s free and very accessible. As long as you can connect to internet, you can work out from your tv, phone or computer. And with thousands of videos, you’re bound to find one that interests you and your kids.
YouTube Workout videos are effective
The videos I’m sharing here are the best in my opinion. They incorporate:
- music
- fun challenges
- learning lessons
- promote a space to laugh and connect
And from a fitness standpoint, the format is ideal for a quick workout. Many of them alternate intervals of work with rest, mimicking a HIIT/Tabata type workout. You can challenge yourself to work as hard as you can in those short bursts.
Ultimately, any amount of movement is great. But see if you can sneak in 2-3 of these easy videos. You’re getting an excellent workout, stacking minutes towards the recommended goal of 150 minutes of exercise per week, and spending quality time with your kids.
All these things help cultivate that happier, healthier life!
Tips/Tricks
- You can always modify exercises in these videos to be harder or easier
- If you kids don’t seem interested, don’t give up. Try again tomorrow
- Allow kids freedom to move how they want during video
- Let kids choose which video
- Refer to my guide on quick workouts at home for more tips and encouragement!
With all that, grab your remote and head over to YouTube.
5 Best YouTube Workout Videos for Mom and Kids
1. Would you Rather
This is our current favorite!! Kids are given two choices and perform the exercise associated with that choice. It definitely promotes conversations and excitement! There’s a good variation of movement that includes full body, standing or sitting exercises. I love seeing my kids associate exercises with things they love. Check out all the versions/editions including holiday (like St. Patrick’s Day) workouts as well.
2. Fruit of the Spirit Exercise and Song
If you’re looking for a lesson on Galatians 5:22 and learning the fruits of the spirit you’ll love this workout. You’ll enjoy joyful jumps, self-control shuffles, and peaceful pikes while getting a great combination of 30 seconds of exercise, followed by a brief break. And the reward? A cute song at the end recapping the 9 fruits of the spirit to accompany your sweat.
3. FitBit 10 minute Family Fun Cardio
This incorporates “Fun activities” and “challenges” such as skipping, hopscotch, and frog hops that allow us to move around the room. Each exercise is completed for 30 seconds. My kids love following along with the kids and encouraging each other along the way.
4. Disney Mix– At Home Dance Workout
An upbeat mix of easy dance moves and energizing Disney music. Just shy of 20 minutes, the instructor (who is appropriately dressed for littles!) keeps the heart rate up for moms. You’ll get a great arm workout doing “under the sea” seaweed arms and you can slow down and “Let it go” as you end in a stretch. I dare you not to sing along too!
5. 9 minute Exercise for kids
This is a super easy to follow and very encouraging for improving flexibility, building muscles and strengthen coordination. The animated boy and girl are great instructors and I love the counting out loud with exercises and the timer for rest periods. For mom: enjoy Ski hops, side lunges, jumping jacks, squats with periods of rest is a great form of HIIT/Tabata.
Just press play
Whether you’re working on your fitness or simply needing an indoor activity to do with kids, YouTube is a free and easy way to get a great workout in today.
Looking for a post workout snack? Try these:
Full Hands & Heart
I’d love to know if you try any of these! Tag me @briefandbalanced on IG as you work out with your kids and be sure to share this article with another mom. And as always, let me know if you have any questions!
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