(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) It's never too late to get active. But it's never too early to start either. With just one day to go till the start of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), the city's youngest residents are being urged to take advantage of the hordes of activities being hosted for free, across the city.
Though adults may be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities to achieve the 30 minutes of daily activity for the 30-days challenge, this is also the perfect opportunity for parents to get their children on the right track for a healthy lifestyle too.
First-time father Vip Patel, who also runs a daddy blog, said exercise is already a part of his 16-month-old daughter's daily routine. "We live in JLT and have a park nearby. Every morning, I head out with Kira in her jogging stroller and we jog around the park together. She's very young, but it's important that the idea of being active registers with her and becomes ingrained in her."
Spending about 60 minutes every day for father-daughter exercise, Patel said he is really keen to participate in the fitness challenge. "I'd love to do a 5km or 10km stroller walk or run with Kira, so I'm looking into what they have lined up."
Promising to cater to all ages and fitness levels, the DFC means children - like adults - will be spoilt for choice, with plenty of unique activities to choose from. Whether they are keen to discover new and exciting sports, or fancy taking up a salsa class, this is a one-size-fits-all approach to getting active as a community.
For father-of-two, Abdul Sharef, it's a chance for his family to get active together. "We have all signed up for it and will be heading to the public parks most days to enjoy the different things on offer," Sharef told Khaleej Times.
"My son is nine and my daughter just four months old, but their age won't stop them from participating. We will be doing stroller walks with my youngest, and no doubt, my son will love doing the assault courses spread out across the city."
Mother-of-one Priyanka S. said exercise is always something she encourages her 7-year-old daughter to do. "Now that the weather is cooling, she spends a lot of evenings outside playing, and she regularly takes swimming lessons. She's also starting horse riding lessons too. Challenges like these, which involve kids as well as parents, are very beneficial to overall health, so it's great to see."
With 30 child-friendly activities available at DFC's five Weekend Fitness Carnivals, parents have no more excuses to moan and groan about how to keep the kids motivated and engaged throughout the month.
Kelly Clarke Originally from the UK, Kelly Clarke joined Khaleej Times in November 2012. She has a keen interest in humanitarian issues and took over as the dedicated Education Reporter in August 2016. In her spare time she loves to travel off the beaten track, and often write about her quirky experiences of pastures new. Kelly received her BA Honours in Journalism from Middlesex University, UK in 2008. Before joining Khaleej Times she worked as a Supervising Editor for three Healthcare titles in London. @KellyAnn_Clarke
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