By Charlotte Fixler, thinkfun.com
 
Charlotte Fixler is the Communications Manager at ThinkFun, the company behind Rush Hour and Zingo! A proud auntie and former elementary school teacher, Charlotte promotes learning through play on her SmartPlay blog, and you can follow her on Twitter.
 
With a couple of weeks of the New Year now behind you, now is a great time to check in on those resolutions. Haven’t made a dent in those 10 pounds or weaned yourself off Diet Coke yet? Not to worry! Here are some great ways to use your special auntie role to tackle your healthy living resolutions—and have fun doing it!
 
This year I will…
 
1. Walk or run each day…
Why walk around the block when you can walk across the country?! Team up with family, and set a distance goal of at least 100 miles based on your location(s). Walk to the beach, to Disney World, or for long-distance Aunties, pick a random attraction at the halfway point on a map. Buy matching pedometers and track shared miles, charting progress on a thermometer (miles to goal) or with a tracking map. Celebrate milestones and plan a victory party when you “arrive!”
 
2. Try something new…
Add some variety and fun to your fitness plan by getting more playful with your workouts. Explore a quirky new activity with the kiddos in your life, and you’ll share laughs and build great memories. Why not enroll in trapeze school? Visit an inflatable play center for bounce-off-the-walls fun, go indoor rock climbing, or try paddle boarding!
 
3. Eat healthier…
Looking for ways to incorporate more healthy foods into your diet? Host an Iron Chef Superfood Challenge! Superfoods are celebrated for their amazing health benefits, and creative little chefs can help work them into your diet. Choose a food from this list, and challenge your nieces and nephews to dream up a recipe that incorporates it. Refine recipes together, and go shopping for ingredients. Then have fun whipping up and feasting on your good-for-you creations.
 
4. Make exercise fun…
What better excuse for an Auntie Dance Party? Get your nieces and nephews to help create a playlist. Then rock out! Props will definitely up the hilarity, so put those glitter bridesmaid shoes and old feather boa to work! This works long-distance as well. Set a Skype date for a 15 minute dance party every Sunday morning, and have fun showing off your moves on camera. No way are you hitting the snooze button when you spent all week perfecting The Worm!
 
5. Exercise my brain…
With all the focus on getting fit and healthy, don’t forget to keep your mental muscles toned! Studies show games can improve memory and prevent dementia—do you really need more incentive to play?! Game night doesn’t have to mean Monopoly every time… Expand your repertoire with classic strategy games like Mancala, Backgammon, or Go! Live far away? Become puzzle pen pals and exchange Sudoku puzzles or crosswords from your local newspapers. For older kids, launch an ongoing mobile game of Chess, Blokus, or Catan. You’ll stay connected and get a brain boost with each move—a win-win!
 
Have a creative approach to tackling your get-healthy resolutions? Please, share!

Published: January 16, 2013