The benefits of exercising as a family in lockdown

Every morning Finn and Jude Adams are not only allowed to kick and punch, their mother encourages it.

Lina Adams, 37, calls time from home learning just before lunch every day to marshall her sons Finn, 8, and Jude, 4, into the lounge room for some intense 10-minute exercise.

“We do squats, star jumps, (air) kicking, punching and my boys really engage because 10 minutes is just the right amount of time for them,” Adams says of the workout they follow on the Healthy Mummy app which she casts onto her TV.

“I’m so happy that we can fit this into our day because it’s fun for them. They watch other kids on the screen doing the same thing, not only adults and it’s a great way to keep them active during the day, especially if it’s raining.”

At school Finn used to run around the school basketball court with his classmates every morning and Jude used to either exercise at kindergarten twice a week or join his mother on 3km walks around the neighbourhood.

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In lockdown though, Adams prefers to keep them either in the back garden of their Mitcham home or indoors.

“It seems they like to copy me and work out with me so I’m very happy for us to exercise together in a way that is easy and convenient,” she says.

“Afterwards they are more calm and happy to quietly play some Lego or read their books.”