Stay-at-home moms have some advantages during their children's early years because little kids are so active. They end up running after the little ones throughout the day, which can be a great form of exercise. However when the kids get older and enter school, it's important for moms to find another source of fitness.

Housework, while rarely pleasant, can actually be a good way to say in shape. Vacuuming, scrubbing floors, and toting laundry up and down the stairs can burn calories and get your heart pumping.

If you're interested in being an active mom of a baby or toddler, you might want to look into buying a high-quality walking or jogging stroller. These strollers are designed to be easily maneuvered on different types of terrain, and they're generally more durable than traditional strollers. With this type of stroller you can take your child out for walks or jogs in most types of weather.

Evening fitness classes are great whether you're a stay at home mom or a working mom. These classes are usually held late enough in the evening to allow you to participate after you have done dinner and gotten the kids to bed (or at least ready for bed). There's a large variety of classes to choose from, depending on your fitness preferences and the availability in your area.

So much of today's entertainment involves sitting down and vegging out. Instead, involve your family in activities that take you outdoors and get you on the move. Go for after dinner walks when the weather is nice, or make use of winter weekends by going sledding, cross country skiing, or just having snowball fights.

Handy Helpers

If you want to maximize the effects of your everyday fitness efforts, you'll find that these simple items can help a lot.

If your family owns a game system, you can make use of some of the fitness games like the Wii Fit and other products that have been growing in popularity over the last few years. You control these games with your body movements so you stay active while you play. They come in versions for children and adults.