HEALTH

Pop a wheelie

Rollerblading, rollerskating, bike riding, even skateboarding are all great ways to get outside…and get fit while you’re at it. Load up on the safety gear—helmets are a must and elbow and knee pads for all but biking are seriously recommended—and chart a course that challenges you. Think hilly terrain and curves (with a good sidewalk or chunky shoulder) that’ll help you tone your legs, booty and abs as you navigate the various obstacles. Roads unsafe? Head to a nearby park, instead.

Foolin’ around

Pull out the toys that are stashed in your garage and hop to it! Acing jump rope tricks, playing leapfrog with your sibs or beating your best score in Skip-It are all excellent ways to get exercise without feeling like you’re working hard. Be mindful of your bod as you bust a move, engaging your core and booty to speed up and add precision to your best moves.

Explore-a-thon

Grab your girls and explore the world beyond your backyard (as long as M&D say it’s OK, of course!). Pull on rugged sneaks or hiking shoes, toss your hair in a pony and lather on the sunscreen and bug spray, then take a plunge into your locale’s wilder areas. Keep the pace up and be careful, but most of all, have a blast discovering spots you never knew existed.

Skip to my Lou

Have you ever tried to skip around the block or up a hill? No? Well go to it! Skipping is a great aerobic exercise, and it’s fab for your lower body, too. Put on a happy playlist and see how far you can make it.

Take to the trees

Got a few old trees with sturdy branches in your backyard? Scale ‘em! You don’t have to journey to the canopy to reap the benefits of this workout. Climb as high as you safely can when ya get home from school, then book it back down. Do it daily and you’ll have perfectly toned arms in no time.

Party in the USA

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016