YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Summer 2019 | Page 16

TAKE IT OUTDOORS
THIS SUMMER
Here are a few tips from YMCA Victoria to help you make the most of the extended
daylight hours, and to keep those summer vibes alive all season long!
ake this summer an outdoor
one by taking advantage of the
great array of free or low-cost
public amenities that people often forget
are in their own ‘backyard’. Here are a
few options to inspire you and help keep
the kids active all summer long.
M
Water fun
Swimming is a huge part of the Aussie
way of life, so early confidence around
water is important. Fortunately, our long
hot summers provide ample opportunity
for families to achieve this, and by offering
kids early interactions with water, you’ll
also be helping to encourage a lifelong
passion for swimming and physical
activity. Families who spend time around
water during the summer months typically
see huge improvements in their child’s
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swimming and water confidence.
Local swimming pools offer great value
for families and are typically a much
safer option than rivers, lakes and
beaches. Infants and toddlers can often
enjoy shaded splash pads, and young
children can experience kid-friendly
water play equipment, whilst older
children can take advantage of the free
play areas or even venture into the lap
lanes to refine their stroke technique.
Some pools are only open seasonally,
so check council websites for details.
Others have waterslides or provide
inflatable obstacles during the school
holidays, which kids love! You may need
to travel a bit further to find slides and
inflatables but by making a full day of it,
it’s well worth the effort.
YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
Some facilities also have lovely grassed
areas for picnics, sun lounges for resting
between laps, or reading a good book.
Onsite cafés or kiosks are usually open
all day in summer, but if you want to
keep the costs down then you can bring
a healthy lunch and snacks from home
– just remember, swimming can be
hungry work!
Of course, if you’re swimming at the
beach, always remember to swim
between the flags.
Two-wheeled fun
The beauty of bike riding is that it can be
enjoyed by all ages. Toddlers can enjoy
the wind in their faces by starting on the
back of your bike in a toddler seat. From
there they can progress to a hook bike