Get Up & Go by Jennifer Flanders

Book description:

Do you have trouble fitting a workout into your busy schedule? Are you looking for fresh ideas for getting your children up and moving?Are all the individual fitness routines tearing your family life apart? Then it sounds like you need a little GET UP & GO!

My review:

This book is a great resource for those families that are looking to be physically active and physically fit without taking time away from their families.  A lot of families spend most of their days away from one another; the kids go to school, Dad goes to work, Mom goes to work, etc.  On top of that, we cram our lives with extracurricular activities such as youth group, volunteering, sports, lessons, the list goes on and on.

It can be difficult for parents to find time to go to the gym, and even then, when it takes even more time away from the family, do you really want to?  I know I’ve found myself thinking – Do I want to be thin, or do I want to spend time with the kids?  The kids win every time.  A lot of gyms offer kid’s clubs, but that doesn’t really count as spending time with them does it?

Flanders reminds readers that physical fitness doesn’t have to only be pursued in the walls of a gym.  We can be active while spending time with those we love best and reinforce to our children that physical fitness is important.

The best thing about this book is how Flanders arranges it by seasons so readers can find an activity for any time of the year, in any part of the country you live in.  She also gives a lot of variations on old school games such as tag.  Some I was already familiar with, but she also reminded me of some I had forgotten since childhood and others that I had never imagined.  I can’t wait to share this book with the PE teachers at the school I teach at.  I’m sure they will find many ways to incorporate the ideas Flanders puts forth.

With the rate of obesity in the country continuing to rise, for children and adults alike, can we afford not to pursue physical activity as a family?  Check out this book and be inspired to get up and go with your family!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Crash in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.