Xtreme Chase: Getting a Great Workout Playing With Your Kids

By: Guest Blogger, Luann Abrams

I am a nature fanatic and I make sure my son and I get outside every day to breathe some fresh air. But somedays it just doesn’t work to stay out very long. Today is a gloomy, rainy, cold winter day, and even my little guy, who is more like a mailman in that neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will stop him, wants to stay in. And so we were off for a great game of Xtreme Chase.

Xtreme Chase, named because everything sounds more exciting with Xtreme at the beginning, is a fun way to get moving and playing with your kids. We just run back and forth down the hall or through the house chasing each other. If you are one of those fuddy-duddies who doesn't allow running in the house, well, put away the breakables and loosen up! Sound effects are highly encouraged and pretending to be various extinct animals adds a bit of flair for the younger kids; Playing some of your favorite tunes a little louder than normal can add some energy. But you can really turn it into a workout by adding a few sports conditioning moves as you race down the hall:

High Knees–Lift your knees up to hip-level as you bound after your little one

Butt Kicks–Hit your butt with your heels as you run. This is great hamstring (back of your thigh) strengthening.

Jumps–Just jump! But remember to land softly, which means you have to use your muscles to slow the momentum of your lowering body. Add some pillows that you have to jump over - a great way to tone your lower body.

Skip–I have no idea how to explain how to do it! If your child is younger, this is a great opportunity to work on this coordination skill.

Walking Lunges–Step forward with your first leg landing heel first. Lower body by bending both knees until back knee nearly touches the floor. Lift yourself up using both legs and step forward and repeat with the opposite leg.

Stairs–If you have stairs in your house, you have a built-in workout machine. Running up and down the stairs two-at-a-time, sideways, backwards, is great for firming the glutes. You may want to skip this with the younger kids until they are sure-footed.

Drop and Give Me...–Stopping throughout the chase to punch-out 10 push-ups or 10 crunches will ensure you get a full-body workout.

That should get you started on your first Xtreme Chase competition. When your child has completely worn you out, end your game with a few snuggles and some stretches. Be well and have fun!

Luann Abrams is a personal trainer who focuses on family fitness. She maintains her own blog, http://trainingforfun.com/, to encourage family-fitness.

On the 6th Day Til Christmas...

...The Snowman’s Song – A Christmas Story

“There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light of one small candle,” (Spanish proverb).

Never was there a truer statement, as a sad little snowman learns what a little faith and the love of a kind heart can do.

The little snowman’s sits quietly with his only thought - the longing to sing…
….”I want my voice to be like church bells or like harps that angels play in the clouds!”

But everyone knows that snowmen are silent and can only communicate through their thoughts. With a song in his heart and the longing to express it, the snowman soon becomes discouraged – that is until a small bird brings him some timely advice…“just believe.”

Could it be that simple?

Soon another small visitor with a kind and faithful heart inadvertently gives the snowman every thing he has ever longed for.

The Snowman’s Song – A Christmas Story, written by Marilee Joy Mayfield and illustrated by Tracy La Rue Hohn, is sure to become a Christmas favourite. This sweet book shows that love and a little faith will always prevail. The beautiful illustrations immediately pull you into the wintery tone of the story.

Winner of The Mom’s Choice Award, this book is a must have for Christmas. In addition, The Snowman’s Song even comes with a CD with author, Marilee reading her wonderful tale.

To learn more about this awesome book, check out their web site at; http://www.snowmanssong.com/

It’s also available on Amazon.com.

On the Eleventh Day Til Christmas...

...Tinycandy’s Gift

It’s never easy when you feel you don’t fit in and Tinycandy is no exception. If being born with a limp and rounded ears wasn’t bad enough, Tinycandy was also the smallest of all the elves. And worst of all…

“…Each elf could create a special toy-
One unique for each girl and boy.
Everyone except Tinycandy, that is.
He had yet to discover what specialty was his…”

Santa Claus loved Tinycandy and made him a wooden cane. The other elves seeing Santa’s affection for Tinycandy soon became upset…

“…With hurtful words they’d taunt and offend,
Jealous because they thought he was Santa’s best friend…”

Tinycandy knew in order to fit in he must design something special like all the other elves….

“…So off to the workshop to gather some wood,
Certain he’d create something especially good…”

But when Tinycandy’s attempts at toy making are less than desirable, it’s Mrs. Claus to the rescue. Will her idea be the one that Tinycandy may actually be good at? Find out in ‘Tinycandy’s Gift’ by Susan E. Estes.

This book is charming and sweet. I could see this fast becoming a Christmas Eve tradition, right up there with ‘The Night Before Christmas.’ Mike Motz lends his talent in bright, bold illustrations that draws your eyes all over the page. In addition, at the very back of the book there’s a “Simple Candy Cane Recipe,” and the deluxe edition of this book comes with a ‘Read-a-long’ CD.

Don’t miss out on a very special Christmas book. For more information on Tinycandy’s Gift, or to purchase an autographed copy, please visit their web site at http://seecreativeconcepts.com/