Depending on where you live, summer vacation is either here, or just around the corner. Are you excited, nervous, or maybe a little of both? Whether you’re filled with glee or dread at the prospect of your children being out of school for the next few months, Marathon Kids has got you covered. We want you to rest assured that this does not have to be a long, hot summer of battling with your kids over screen time. Quite to the contrary, it can be a fun, active summer of connecting with the people you love most in the world. How? By taking the Walk and Talk challenge, free for all ages and fun for the whole family.
Families across the country are registering to Walk and Talk with their kids — committing to creating a happy, active and interactive summer as a family. Research shows that kids are more likely to connect with their parents when they’re engaged in activities together, whether it’s cooking, doing artwork together, or taking a walk around the neighborhood. There’s just something about getting the body and the brain engaged at the same time that breaks down communication barriers and eases the way to opening up.
When parents sign up for Walk and Talk with their children, they are signing up for a summer of getting their bodies moving alongside their kids — building healthier habits together, and getting to know each other better along the way.
Here’s How It Works!
When parents and children register for Walk and Talk, they commit to walking one mile at a time together. When you Walk and Talk with your child, you set your own schedule, which means you can take your walks at any point in the week and at any time of day that works for your family, whether that’s first thing in the morning, after lunch or before bedtime; on weekday evenings or weekend mornings; or anytime that is a good time for you and your child to get outside and walk a few blocks together.
Oh, and by the way, you don’t have to walk outside! We get it — summer is hot, by definition, and any miles you cover count toward your goal, whether you log them inside or out. You can choose to stay cool while walking indoors the local mall, by heading to your local rec center, or find another way to make it work for you and your family.
That’s how the walk portion of the program works; what about the talking? We provide you with daily topics to discuss, as well as a mileage log to keep track of your progress — all free with this free-of-charge program. There are 26 conversation starters total, one for each mile you’ll walk together this summer. By the time summer comes to an end, you and your child will have walked a full marathon together — a total of 26.2 miles — and you’ll have gotten to know each other a little better along the way.
Free resources, including our mileage log and conversation starters, are available for download now. Click here to register today!
It Truly Takes A Village!
We’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our wonderful Walk and Talk sponsors and content partners! Without the generosity and support of these incredible businesses, organizations, and individuals, we couldn’t do what we do at Marathon Kids — and they are so very appreciated:
>Get Grounded with Kerry Foreman
>Christine Burke, Keeper of the Fruit Loops
We look forward to helping you and your family connect and continue to build healthy habits together this summer!