HEALTH

Push it

Toss your charge on a swing (buckle up the babes!), instruct her to hold on tight and start pushing. You know how Coach tells ya how to pass a basketball, pushing it out from your chest? Push the child like that, using your pecs, biceps and triceps to build momentum. Keep it up for five to 10 minutes, or until she wants to change activities.

Monkey around

What child doesn’t want to master the monkey bars? While she swings her way across, grab a bar in both hands, bend your knees so your feet are off the ground and lift yourself slowly up and down until your arms start to shake. Shaking is good—it means your muscles are toning up. Do a few more, then rest for 30 seconds before continuing.

Slip ‘n’ slide

Use your booty and legs to power your way up the slide instead of down. If the kids are game, try creating an obstacle course: Up the slide, down the rope netting, once around the playground, across the monkey bars and up the steps to the tippy top.

High step

As the kids race around, high step your way from the mulch footing all the way to the top, then back down. Being careful not to overextend your knees, jog your way up and down the playground steps, squeezing your bum and your abs to keep them engaged.

Tag! You’re it

To get in your cardio (and wear the kids out before bedtime), instigate a game of tag. Invite other kids at the playground to play, or keep it small—your choice! Just make sure to keep everybody moving for a solid 10 to 15 minutes. Phew.

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016