This article was last updated on August 26, 2025
For Craig and Dawn Reese of suburban Washington, their journey to health wasn’t just a personal goal it became a family mission. What started as a personal thing became so much more. Their garage is now a busy home gym, and fitness has become a big part of family time. The pair’s adapted little garage shows their dedication.
“That’s for the ground when weights hit,” they explained. The place is a full fitness area. They’ve got a rowing machine, a ski machine, a big power stand, and more than 600 pounds of weights. This setup shows how important fitness is in their family a value they easily shared with their children, Jylian (16) and Weston (13).
Their story began when Dawn wanted to get fit while Craig, working in the Marine Corps, was away. “I was always lean, but couldn’t run up the street,” Dawn, 46, remembers. “Going into a gym made me nervous.” Getting a personal trainer sparked her love for working out. When Craig was back, they started going to CrossFit lessons together, spreading their real joy around.
“The kids saw how much we cared and how much energy we put into it, and when they saw us getting better, they wanted in,” Dawn says. This led the family to collect fitness gear and take courses. Dawn is now an ACE-certified personal trainer for kids, while Craig earned certifications from USA Weightlifting and the Marine Corps’ High-Intensity Tactical Training program.
Their experience is in line with what experts say. Research shows parents’ activity and encouragement play a big role in how much their kids move setting patterns that last a lifetime (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/fitness/art-20048027).
Feel inspired by the Reese family’s tale? Want to start your own family fitness journey? You don’t need a garage full of gear. Here’s how to get everyone moving and having fun together.
1. Just Get Moving: Start Small and Simple
The first thing is just to begin. “It’s scary to start kids in the mix make it harder,” Dawn says. Keep it simple.
Andrew Shniderman, trainer at Fit First Academy, says start small and easy. “Take a 10-minute walk as a group,” he shares. “Do fun things that get you moving.” Don’t worry about being intense; make movement a family habit. A short walk, a weekend hike, or a living room dance can light the spark. Even light activity can help counter sitting risks, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/current-guidelines).
2. Be Enthusiastic and Sincere About Activity
Your children are incredibly perceptive. If you approach exercise as a chore, they will too. “Kids can sense when you’re faking it,” Shniderman warns. “Find something that you yourself want to do.”
Your real excitement can spread. Doing anything fun hiking, dancing, swimming, or kicking a ball outside makes it more likely your loved ones will join. Shniderman says to keep it lively, anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, to make it fun!
3. Make a Plan and Stick With It: Consistency is Key
Intentions without a plan often fall by the wayside. For the Reese family, planning is non-negotiable. “Every Sunday, we plan when we’re going to work out, who’s picking up kids, what time their sports end, who’s starting meals,” Dawn says. “Planning is everything.”
Make family exercise time formal, like a work meeting or doctor’s appointment. “Don’t let day-to-day things stop your workout,” Dawn advises. Finding routine takes work, but “once it works, you can keep on.” Consistency engraves the habit, making it part of weekly life.
4. Use Technology: Try an App or Fitness Tracker
In our tech world, tools are great allies. Studies show that gamifying adding fun elements like points can make activity more exciting.
A 2017 JAMA study followed 94 families who used a game-based app to track steps. The study concluded that adding this social game component “significantly increased physical activity among families” over a 12-week period (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2712933). Fitness gear and apps show progress for all to see. They let you celebrate wins, which promotes positive actions.
5. Find a Place to Work Out: Look for Family-Friendly Gyms
Sometimes the house is full of distractions that stop you from exercising. Going to a nearby gym can give you structure, variety, and a sense of community.
Robin Hedrick, director of community health at the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, emphasizes how important it is for kids to see their parents exercise. Many gyms, like the YMCA, offer group classes for families, such as yoga, boot camps, and dance (https://www.ymca.net/). Dawn says to check out several gyms and visit at the same time you’d normally work out, to get the real vibe.
6. Make It Fun, Not Stressful: Join Non-Timed Events
Why join a non-competitive fitness event? Because it takes away the stress and keeps the fun. Think about a local walk or bike ride in your community it’s a great idea!
Groups like Tough Mudder have tapped into this family need for teamwork challenges. Originally an adult-focused obstacle course, it evolved into a “fitness festival” as participants began bringing their families. In response, they created the Mini Mudder, a scaled-down, quarter-mile loop for kids ages 5–12.
“The ethos is a good thing for families to keep in mind,” says Tough Mudder chief executive Kyle McLaughlin. “It’s not about time or places and being first. It’s about doing stuff together” (https://toughmudder.com/events/mini-mudder).
7. Don’t Push Your Kids Too Hard: You’re the Parent, Not the Coach
This is perhaps the most critical tip. The goal is to create a lifelong positive relationship with exercise, not resentment. Shniderman offers a clear signal: when your kids give you “the look,” it’s time to switch activities.
“A child is not like an adult. Adults know their limits, and they need somebody to break those limits,” he says. “Kids are completely different. Keep it from becoming a negative experience.”
Dawn agrees, noting the importance of switching from coach mode back to parent mode when frustration sets in. “Sometimes teenagers get really frustrated when they can’t master a skill… That’s when I turn Mom back on. I tell them, ‘It’s OK it didn’t work out the first time; we have to keep trying.’” The American Council on Exercise (ACE) stresses that youth fitness should focus on enjoyment and skill development rather than competition or intense training (https://www.acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/).
8. Get Creative and Keep It Fresh
Finally, a little imagination can transform a mundane workout into an adventure. Shniderman uses creative narratives to engage children. A bear crawl becomes a “magic spider walk,” where children must only touch the “web” with their hands and feet to avoid getting stuck.
“I spend hours thinking up creative games involving exercise,” Shniderman says. “The way kids interact with workouts changes from week to week.” By trying new things, changing moves, or setting fresh targets, everyone stays interested. Doing things this way helps families work out together and really enjoy the time.
The Reese family’s home gym is super cool, but the real treasure is the time they spend together inside it. By being enthusiastic, planning ahead, and focusing on play instead of performance, families can build a long-term culture of health strengthening both bodies and bonds.