We celebrate Father's Day on Sunday in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Estonia.

Nothing is as it was six months ago, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing as it gives us all a time to reflect on what we might do differently with our lives once the pandemic is over. But why wait for it to finish when some of the things you can change are right here at home?

For parents, and especially fathers, protecting the family is paramount, so this is a particularly anxious time. However, for children, massive restrictions on what they might want to do, or usually do, can create stress and anxiety just as easily.

America’s Mayo Clinichas identified that exercising can greatly relieve the symptoms of anxiety, and can work just as well, if not better than, medication. One of the best-known facts relating to exercise is that it helps to release endorphins, which help improve your sense of wellbeing and general happiness. So, what are you waiting for when you have everything you could want at home? One father and one, two or even ten children, depending on how large a family you have, is all you need!

There’s nothing stopping you from having some father and son or daughter bonding time, where exercising can become great fun for all of you rather than a chore or a distraction. You don’t need to spend any money on equipment as you have everything you need at home. You can do an exercise work out in the living room with star jumps, sit ups, and running on the spot as the order of the day. If you have a foot stool you can use it for ‘step-ups’ and if you don’t have one, then how about the bottom tread of the staircase?

Then there’s the garden. It doesn’t really matter how big or small, just being outside is good for everyone’s health, and if its cold outside, then what better way to keep warm than with some gentle physical exercise? However, what is of real importance is that your children (and you) enjoy the exercise. If your kids don’t enjoy exercising when they are young, that dislike will remain with them for the rest of their life, which could negatively impact their health in the long term.

When outside, it is actually harder to stop kids exercising than getting them to be active. Just running around, kicking a ball, running through piles of leaves, chasing the dog, or being chased by the dog, are all great exercise, and even more enjoyable if dad’s there to join in

Of course, there’s no reason why mum should be excluded from the fun, as exercising is a great way to have some ‘family time’ together and strengthen that family bond. They say that “a family that eats together, stays together”, but with today’s hectic schedules, it isn’t always that easy to find time to all sit down and eat together. However, there is no reason why that expression cannot be adapted to “a family that exercises together, stays together”.

Don’t forget that for some of you, there is also your extended family, and while your cat may not appreciate being encouraged to do sit-ups, your dog may seriously enjoy doing press-ups, especially if he is lying on your back.

Congratulations to all the fathers from us at Hikiän!

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