LIVING room fitness is the newest trend keeping children active during the pandemic lockdown but a global movement of Christians including a Brisbane Catholic has taken the idea one step further.
Family.fit is a free online resource that not only encourages families to break a sweat in their living room but also provides opportunities for families to connect with each other and with their faith.
The resource, which can be accessed from a web browser on a computer or mobile device, has a weekly seven-step exercise program that includes short breaks for families to discuss Christian themes and passages from Scripture.
Each week offers three different options for every step in the program, enabling families to work out three times a week.
It also offers suggestions for spending time as a family that doesn’t involve technology or fitness, including play board games or pitching a tent in the backyard.
The resource is a collaboration of global Christian movements, many of which have worked with production company Logosdor, which creates resources for children all around the world.
Almost 100 Christians have been involved in creating the program to date, including Evangelisation Brisbane project officer Carole Danby, who is writing Biblical reflections for two upcoming weeks.
Mrs Danby, who has spent decades writing resources for children’s ministry in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and religious instruction programs in state school, said Family.fit embodied true ecumenism in the Church.
“It’s very powerful stuff that we think God is calling us to, something different, something that does cross denominational barriers,” Mrs Danby said.
“It’s what we call ecumenical.”
She said the coronavirus pandemic was an opportunity for parents to embrace their primary role as first preachers of the gospel, and value their time together.
“I can see joy on children’s faces that their parents are actually spending quality time with them or valuable time with them,” Mrs Danby said.
“I have a hope that families will actually be closer because of this (the pandemic).”
