How to be Fit as a Family

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Does your family carve out time to engage in active fun together? A few moments of playful activity and fun can give you a boost of energy. It doesn't have to be painful or time-consuming. Set a family activity goal and watch how the fun grows! Here are some ideas for easy and inexpensive fun. By engaging with your children in healthy activities, you'll build relationships and memories that will last a lifetime.

AT HOME INDOORS

• Play music and dance. Sing songs and dance. Sing and act out the songs.
• Play the alphabet game - think of an animal or object that starts with the letter A and move like that animal. Do the same with all the letters of the alphabet.
• Set aside an area in which rolling, jumping, crawling is not only allowed, but encouraged! Playful wrestling and romping with your children can be lots of fun!
• Turn off the TV and play a game of Hide and Seek. Even older children can get involved and have fun helping the younger children find the best hiding places.
• Play a child's exercise video and wiggle together (silly is good).
• Make doing chores fun- put on lively music and set the timer. Try to get the chores done before the timer goes off. The reward is playing together outside.
• If you have chosen to watch a special TV program, during the commercials, see how many sit-ups, jumping jacks, giant steps or push-ups you can do.
• Charades can be an active game. Marvel at how creative your children can be!

IN THE YARD OR NEIGHBORHOOD

• Play hopscotch, jump rope, throw a Frisbee, ride a bike, play Freeze tag or ball.
• Walk your dog or the neighbor's dog (dogs need exercise too!)
• Rake leaves, then jump in them!
• Chop and stack wood, then have a campfire (pretend) and sing camp songs.
• Go up, up and away with a kite flying day.
• Treat the family to a walk at the park, a night of in-line skating or miniature golf.
• Host a Family Olympics - make up events.
• Run through the sprinkler!
• If it's raining, put on rain gear and splash in puddles. Look for worms.
• Set up an obstacle course and find different ways to move through it
• Play games like Simon Says or Mother May I or Red Light, Green Light.
• Invent games like The Pirates of Our Street or And to Think It Happened on Our Street.
• Plant a garden in your yard or in a nearby spare lot.
• Go on a nature walk or a treasure hunt. Look for signs of the season (a red, yellow and orange leaf, the first signs of Spring).
• Invite other families from your block or neighborhood to join in games, such as capture the flag, tag, or touch football, and make physical activity into a big social event. Emphasize the importance of having fun and learning, rather than winning.
• Combine elements of two games or sports to make a new game.
• Complete a marathon in 27 days by walking or jogging a mile each day.