Blogging From A to Z Challenge: E is for Exercise

Good morning—it's Monday. I don't know about you, but I'm having trouble keeping track of the days. This is the first Monday that it "hit me" I won't be going to school again this year. At least not in an actual classroom. I know this is for the better, but it's kinda sad.

Keeping busy helps though. Which is one of the reasons  I'm participating in the annual Blogging from A to Z Challenge. In case you missed it last week, my theme this year is 26 Super Fun Learning Activities You Can Do From Home. That's right, I'm conjuring up 26 "educational" ideas to keep you busy while you're safe at home.

Last Wednesday, I wrote about Art for the letter A, and Thursday, B was for Baking. Friday, my sister and I had fun with chemistry, and we ended Saturday with a family Dance off for the letter D. This morning, I'm kicking off the week with something to lift my mood. Ready?

E is for Exercise

I know, exercise doesn't necessarily sound fun. But if you've been following my blog for a while, or you've read the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels published by the Alberta Canola Producers' Commission, you know that I love to run—I'm on the track team, and sometimes I practice by running around my grandparents' canola field. I can do it nine minutes flat. 

But, training for track and field when the gyms aren't open, and there's still so much ice on the sidewalks (not to mention fresh snow!), isn't ideal. I've had to dive into my mom's old exercise DVDs, and well, let's just say they aren't quite white I'm looking for. 

I know some hockey players and actors are linking to home workouts—and sure, there's lots of ideas. But we don't have a lot of equipment. So, I started looking around for activities—besides dance, even though we worked up a sweat during our Family dance off on Saturday. 

Of course, you can set up a workout space in front of the TV and check out these free online workouts for kids. And if you were a gym member before this all started, many of the gyms are offering live workouts online. But I wanted to find some activities that didn't feel like exercise. I love to run, but my sister Amelia would rather craft or bake. Both are fun...but they're not going to keep me in shape for track season. 

Here are three cool things I found:

1. Circuit training. Draw pictures of activities and put them around the house. For example, maybe when you get to the living room, you have to do 10 jumping jacks. Create a "circuit" of activities that has you moving (carefully) from room to room. Other ideas include sit-ups, push-ups, and leg lifts. See if you can come up with 10. 

2. Go on a nature walk—away from other people, of course—and turn it into a scavenger hunt. My dad and I went snowshoeing this weekend and saw moose tracks, rabbit trails, and much more. Create a list and then hit the road...with an adult, of course! 

3. Zoom around the house in cardboard box cars. (Obviously I love this idea.) My grandpa and I have made box cars before—and there's a great guide for how to make them in the Superman Duffy graphic novel Gotta Jet! But if you don't have access to that book, here's another set of instructions. 

This is just a start—I'm sure you could add to this list, right? Don't be shy! Add your ideas in the comments below, or email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com. 

Gotta jet! One thing I don't have on the list is shovelling, but after last night's snowfall, it's time for me to get the sidewalks clear...and not just my sidewalk. Mom likes it when we do the neighbours' walks too. Time to get moving. See you tomorrow for a fun letter F. 

~ Chase Superman Duffy