Kids Activities

When Chris and Mary Southard arrived at the Eden Prairie Life Time Fitness childcare center to retrieve their four-year-old, Michael, he was not easily persuaded to pack up and head home.

“He never wants to leave,” said Chris, “He just has a great time here.” The Southards have been members of Life Time for several years and note they take advantage of every opportunity to go out when Life Time offers an event like Back to School, Back to Fun or especially the Parent’s Night Out.

“We’ve signed up for every single Parent’s Night Out they’ve had,” said Chris. The Southards live near their suburban club, and many of their neighbors are also members. “Everyone we know really likes the idea of these childcare nights…but right now the per child rate makes it hard.”

Danya Baken, the KidLife Manager, helped Michael gather his backpack and said they offer Parent’s Night Out twice each month and are trying something different than other clubs. “We want to make the events more affordable for parents by moving away from a rate that’s per child and instead a rate that is per family since families with three kids are at a financial disadvantage with a per child rate.”

“We just lost our babysitter to college so this is just perfect for us,” said Chris. Mary concurs the value is better than hiring a babysitter and for their son, the activities are exactly what he needs because he gets to expend energy with a new circle of friends and have fun. “We pay $12-15 per hour with a sitter, and this is just $15 for the entire 4 hours…you can’t beat that.”

Beyond Michael’s night of fun, Chris and Mary were able to enjoy a date night. “We went to Kincaid’s [a seafood and steak restaurant]. We saw some other parents from the club there, too. These four hour stints are nice where we can go out, just the two of us,” Chris remarked.

And while the Southards were gifted with an evening away, Michael engaged in all sorts of fun. “They watched Race to Witch Mountain, went swimming, played dodgeball, ate pizza, had free time, played on the computers and we got out the parachute, too,” said Danya, “It was a fun night, a fun event.”

Mary is so pleased with the Life Time Fitness childcare staff: “They are wonderful. Really. The staff here are phenomenal and very understanding. Michael has fun and we really like the small environment.”

Michael, with a shock of red hair and a sweet smile, siddles up to his dad and, excited, announces: “We played dodgeball! And I played! And somebody got me out!”

Back to School, Back to Fun was a perfect way for the Southard family to begin the Autumn season with a fresh start enjoying a night they’ll not soon forget.

Fit Academy is the Life Time Fitness answer to the question of how to instill healthy choices in our young children. Getting kids started early in what it means to care about good nutrition and learning ways to improve fitness with movement and exercise, are just some of what is offered in this fun, challenging program. Parents love it because the benefits of the series lasts a lifetime. Kids love it because it’s fun!

The Fit Academy mantra is: Play. Have Fun. Learn. Get Fit.  Participants get all these and more when committing to this engaging, seven week program. For children ages 7 to 11, Fit Academy teaches young people about making wise food choices, it aids in building confidence in young learners, brings awareness to what exercise means for a body and establishes solid groundwork to complement an ongoing fitness routine.

Karina and Mark Amelang and their children, Sasha, age 7 and Zack, age 4, are Life Time Fitness members having engaged in a variety of offerings the club provides. They chose Fit Academy for their daughter, Sasha, because they wanted more athletic opportunities for her, and a variety of ways to move instead of focusing on just one sport like soccer or softball.

Fit Academy provided just the kind of variety Sasha needed to learn ways to grow into healthy habits. From eating well to beneficial, age-appropriate exercises, Sasha completed the seven-week course with a motivation for sports she hadn’t had previous.

“She really liked Fit Academy,” Karina said, “and the knowledgeable and great staff makes such a huge difference.” Karina’s children were also involved in several Life Time Summer Camps and for Karina, the consistent staff make attending Life Time a community event. “I love that the Kids Activities staff aren’t just doing a summer job…they’re here year-round, teaching in Fit Academy, staffing the Summer Camps, and even in childcare. They know my kids by name and go above and beyond the call of duty to make their time here spectacular.”

In Sasha’s Fit Academy class she was most impressed with their relay runs, their push-up tests and their sit-up sequence. The exercise portion took place in the gym and the activity during Fit Academy was high-energy and exceptionally fun.

“The facilities here are unbelievable. Beautiful. It’s like being in a 5-star resort,” Karina says. Fit Academy is just one of the many ways Life Time shows its commitment to fostering health and fitness in the entire family.

School has started or is starting and either way you’re bound to hear at some point, “What should I do, I’m bored!” If the word “bored” is still allowed in your household, there are both ways to avoid its rearing and ways to thwart its maddening, incredulous existence.

If you’re like most parents, you know you’re doing well if you can come up with two activities a day to engage your children and stave off the dreaded: “I’m bored.” Once uttered from you little cherub’s mouth, you could opt for the return punt of: “Only boring people are bored” or the ever-popular, “Well, Hi Bored, I’m Lou!” But the truth is, though the phrase is grating, hearing it is a sign of communication and any time your child comes to you for advice, to share, or just to talk, do consider it a privilege and a sign of a parenting job well done.

With that in mind, you might start looking forward to an “I’m bored” interaction just for the sheer pleasure of the opportunity it presents. Instead of flipping on the TV or pacifying with a flick, take the challenge your child offers as a way to be a “Yes” parent.

If the boring boredom line, “I’m bored” visits your house, be prepared with the following arsenal of some serious boredom busters:

·         make an obstacle course in the backyard

·         turn your room into a fort with sheets

·         set the tent up and tent out in the yard tonight

·         write a letter to yourself that you’ll open in 10 years

·         read

·         write a poem about how bored you really are

·         rearrange your bedroom

·         wash the car

·         wash the dog

·         wash the carpet (after the wet dog runs in)

·         plan dinner, write a menu, create place cards and jot down the grocery list

·         set up a backyard miniature golf course

·         blow bubbles

·         create invitations and plans for an ice cream social with friends at your house

·         make cookies (especially no-bake cookies to avoid turning on the oven)

·         choose and prep a spot in the garden to plant a tree or perennial of your choosing

·         clean your room (ahem!)

·         plan a neighborhood Olympics

·         write down questions you have about anything on slips of paper and start a discussion box

·         weed the flowers

·         organize (a junk drawer, a closet, a toolbox, a bookshelf)

·         make a paper chain to count down to a trip, a treat, a reward

·         start collecting things for a garage sale

·         think of a way to help an elderly neighbor (yard work, bake cookies, write a note, etc.)

A child claiming to be bored while pouting in a room filled with toys beyond what some children could dream of, can be a hard pill to swallow. If it doesn’t make you reconsider the next toy purchase, let it be the gift it can be of an opportunity to connect with your kids. As busy, scheduled parents it is likely you wish your biggest complaint of the day was that of being bored.

So, what would you want to do if you were a kid today? It likely isn’t clean or organize—but those ideas are always worth a shot, so don’t leave them out for fear of rejection. When you hear, “I’m bored” consider it your easy challenge of the day and defeat boredom the fun, yes way.

Pilates moms Brittany Stollenwerk on left with Allison Loetscher on right

Third time’s a charm. At least that‘s what Brittany Stollenwerk, Life Time Fitness member at our Alpharetta, Georgia club is banking on.

Pregnant with baby boy number three, she has faith that her Pilates practice will provide her with a much easier time getting back into shape after she delivers. Brittany admits to not working out during her previous pregnancies. “Lesson learned with my first two – it was a little bit harder to lose the weight, so I want to make it easier this time.”

Brittany started a Pilates Reformer class in March to improve her back strength and overall toning, and when she learned she was pregnant six weeks later she was thrilled that her doctor told her she could continue with her Pilates routine. Brittany said that since she had been doing Pilates prior to getting pregnant, her doctor said it was fine to continue and that she and her instructor, Mariana Thomas, have only had to make a few minor adjustments to her program. 

“We make sure we don't overstretch, (smaller range of motion), we work on tuning into the inner core muscles, and breathing gently with oppositional stretch,” noted Mariana.

And although Brittany is in great shape and has been working out for the past three years on a regular basis in Group Fitness classes and cardio machines three times a week, and with a personal trainer for the past year, she noticed a difference from her Pilates classes after just six weeks.

“I noticed I was more toned,” says Brittany. “The biggest area was my abs. I have also noticed the increased flexibility. My back was a weak part, so I have definitely noticed that. We specifically work on this, and it will be much better for when I have the baby. “

In addition, Mariana noted, “Brittany's posture has improved and Pilates has released tension in her shoulders, neck area and upper back, giving her mobility and postural awareness.”

The new school year is approaching. There might be a few more weddings to attend, birthday parties to buy for and side salads to make for barbeques. At this point, your family vacation is either on the horizon, ancient history or non-existent.

Whether you’ve already relaxed away from home, are planning the next getaway or have dreamed of where next summer might take you, one thing is certain: you deserve a night out. For a break night, a date night or, let’s face it, an uninterrupted nap night, Life Time Fitness offers Parents’ Night Out: a time for you to enjoy an evening filled with plans for you and you alone.

You can school shop, plan a date or enjoy the quiet of a kid-free evening. Meanwhile, your kiddos get to indulge in an evening all for them with activities, food, and fun at your local Life Time Fitness Club. Depending on your club amenities, your kids can plan on rock climbing, swimming (bring a suit and dry clothes), playing games, and generally having a real hoot.

Find your local club’s next Parents’ Night Out for times and specifics by reviewing the Summer Schedules online. As a popular event, spaces fill up fast and are limited so sign-up early and plan your ultimate Parents’ Night Out.