MetroFamily Magazine November December 2022

1 Take a tour of your favorite holiday lights! But instead of driving, walk around your neighborhood or through a local holiday light display. (Check out page 38 for ideas!) 2 When it is too cold to be outside, turn up the holiday tunes and have a dance party. Taylor said she leans into her daughter’s love of ballet for their dance sessions. “My daughter is really into ballet, and we love to put on The Nutcracker and do our own interpretation at home,”

said Taylor. 3

Transform mundane tasks into a competition! Raking leaves? See who can make the biggest pile. Putting toys

away? See who can finish first. 4

Get the whole family involved in rearranging the furniture. Whether it is time to make room for the holiday decorations or you simply want to give your home a refresh, rearranging furniture is a useful way to work your muscles and finally clean under that couch! A prized spot on the Taylor family Christmas tree is the perfect motivation for her kids. “My daughter and I move toys and reorganize to make room for the tree,” said Taylor. “She is so excited to decorate her spot on the tree with her favorite unicorn Turn screen time into fitness. While you watch your favorite show, exercise during commercials. Do push- ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, jog in place or anything else that gets you moving. Or turn on an active show! “When we get stir crazy from not being able to go outside as much, we love to turn on Go Noodle or kids’ Zumba or yoga on YouTube to keep moving fun,” If we are lucky enough to get a snow day, sledding, building a snowman and having a snowball fight are great ways to move our bodies and have a lot of fun. “Last year when we had all that snow, we spent hours rolling snowballs and crafting a 7-foot snowman,” remembers Taylor. “We even made a snow volcano.”

ornaments every year.” 5

WITH PROPER PREPARATIONS, COLD-WEATHER HIKING IS A GREAT WAY TO DISCOVER NATURAL WONDERS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Opt Outdoors Safely Cooler weather requires proper attire and preparation for outdoor activities. Follow these basic guidelines from Shape Your Future to play it safe: • Dress in layers so you can remove outer layers as your body warms up. Make sure your bottom layer is a fabric that draws sweat away from your skin. Waterproof boots and wool socks are also recommended. • Wear a hat! A significant amount of your body heat is lost through your head, so proper head protection is essential. • Play it safe and pack a safety kit. Plus, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, especially if you are hiking in an area with spotty cell service. • Drink water before, during and after physical activity. Dehydration happens even in colder temperatures. • Wear sunscreen because sunburns can happen in the winter, too. • Be extra cautious when the ground is wet or icy.

recommends Taylor. 6