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13 Fun Ways to Get Moving As a Family

August 21, 2019

Fitness and Mobility

Keep everyone active as you spend some quality time together.

You know exercise is important for you and your kids. And just 60 minutes is all it takes to meet recommended guidelines for daily activity. Here are some tips for family fitness that can get you all moving:

  1. Make the backyard your playground.

Throw a football back and forth, kick a soccer ball around or get running with a rousing game of tag.

“Just chasing your kid around is exercise for the whole family,” says Lauren Rosella, wellness instructor at REX Wellness Center of Garner.

  1. Head to the local park.

No matter where you go, there’s going to be local parks where you can take your kids and play a pick-up game of soccer or volleyball and use the playground equipment.

  1. Go fly a kite.

Find a treeless spot, hang onto the kite string and let your child run with the kite until it is airborne.

  1. Ride bikes.

Cruise around the neighborhood together as a family. Be sure to wear a helmet!

  1. Gear up.

Keep inexpensive equipment such as balls, jump ropes and hula hoops on hand for active fun.

  1. Get the dirt out.

Is your car not looking so spotless? Instead of taking it to the car wash, clean it together as a family.

  1. Pull weeds.

Gardening is great exercise for the whole family. Bonus: your yard will look great!

  1. Head to the pool.

Do laps at a local pool to keep cool and fit.

  1. Scale the walls.

A rock-climbing gym can provide a full-body workout the whole family will enjoy.

  1. Get your groove on.

Put on some music and have a dance party. Or clean the house as a family, with tunes in the background to keep everyone moving.

  1. Take a hike.

Find some local hiking trails and hit the dirt.

Rosella recommends using the free AllTrails app to find local trails.

“Other people review the trails and tell you how rigorous they are or if they’re good for kids,” she says.

  1. Hit a bull’s-eye.

Fill up water balloons and draw a chalk target ring on the driveway. Fill a few extra for a game of water balloon dodgeball afterward.

  1. Be cool.

Let’s face it: Sometimes it’s just too hot out there. Head to the mall and enjoy an air-conditioned walk.
 

Find a fitness center near you. Learn more about REX Wellness Centers and UNC Wellness Centers.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 4, 2015. It was updated on August 21, 2019.