Every day in our home with three young boys is a whirlwind of activity, laughter, and a little chaos, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. One routine I’m passionate about is hitting at least 12,000 steps each day, and my boys have happily joined in! We recently gifted them pedometers for their birthdays, so now we love to see who can rack up the most steps by day’s end. It adds a touch of friendly competition and encourages us all to stay active!
Walking is a constant in our lives. We make the trek to school at least once a day, typically in the afternoon. Mornings have grown a bit more frantic with my work schedule, so we usually drive the boys, with some help from our wonderful Mugra. When the weather is nice—above 32 degrees—I enjoy walking to pick them up. I’ve even been dubbed the “lady with the wagon” since I haul a caravan of activities for the boys! My wagon is filled with roller skates, bikes, helmets, scooters, baseball gloves, soccer balls, and even wiffle balls. This way, they have plenty of ways to play after school. On days when we’re in a hurry, they might just walk back.
It’s about half a mile from our house to school, which is why we don’t have a bus. I truly love this arrangement; it means we can stroll to all the school events—like BBQs, parties, and conferences. There are pros and cons to this close proximity.
The benefits: I cherish our walks because they offer us exercise, the chance to share stories, and fresh air. It helps us stay active and boosts our immunity by exposing us to a variety of germs.
The challenges: Navigating those moments when the kids need a bathroom break while we’re half a mile from home can lead to some speedy walks! Weather can also complicate our plans, especially if it starts raining or snowing mid-walk. The kids are great sports—sometimes they’ll complain, but generally, they look forward to walking home, especially if they can rollerblade or scoot along the way.
This routine has fostered such positive habits in our lives. By the end of each day, we’re all exhausted, which leads to better sleep and tired legs from all those steps. Establishing routines is crucial for children; it gives them a sense of security, a reliable structure, and the joy of spending time outdoors.
Update on our 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge: I’ve created five different schedules—one for each family member. Right now, my oldest, Billy, is in the lead with 955 hours. I myself have about 950 and Charlie and Ben are around 940. Our impressive dad, Will (aka Dadjogger), has 925 hours, which is last. But he’s working 8 hours a day in an office, so he’s not far behind us at all! I’m confident that all five of us will easily reach 1,000 hours this year, which is exciting as it’s our first year trying. Our kids’ sports, camping trips, and time spent at the pool have really helped us in this challenge!
So, consider establishing a routine in your life or take on the 1,000 hours outside challenge. The trickiest part is keeping track of all those hours every day!
