We all know that we should get more exercise, be more active and move more, but life can be busy and it can be hard to ‘find the time’, especially if you have a young family. Although my daughter is now well into her teenage years, it feels like only yesterday that she was just a little tacker with energy to burn and I was trying to keep up with her.

With school holidays upon us it’s the perfect opportunity to make some time to get outside and get active with the kids, but where do you start, and what should you do?

Being active and moving more needn’t involve special equipment, rules or a team. Think back to how you moved as a child and how you played, jumping, hopping, skipping and running. These basic movements can provide a fun way to get moving and a great way to spend time with your kids (or perhaps nieces, nephews etc.) – but you don’t need to have kids to have fun with many of these moves or to enjoy their benefits!

Here are 12 ideas to inspire you.

12 fun exercise games:

1. Jumping Jacks – Simple but great for coordination and getting your heart pumping.
2. Tickle Tag – Just like normal tag, except instead of tapping and running, it’s time for a quick tickle.
3. Pushover – Plant your feet and see if the kids can budge you. If you move your feet, they win. To make it easier for little kids, you can stand on one foot.
4. Handstands and Cartwheels – Great for your core muscles and upper body. It may even provide your kids with a bit of a giggle when it’s your turn.
   

   Cartwheels

5. Crab-walk and Bear-crawl Races – Don’t let the names fool you. These positions are harder to hold than they look and will give you a great workout.
6. Animal Races – some ideas include jumping like a kangaroo, squatting and jumping like a frog or squatting low and waddlng like a duck.
7. Obstacle Course – Create a course inside on a rainy day (crawling under, jumping or climbing over) or use chalk and make a course outside.
8. Hopscotch – Use chalk to mark out this game. Can’t remember how? Click on the diagram below to get started.
   

   Hopscotch

9. Dance Party – A great rainy day activity.  Just turn the music up and dance the crazies out.
10. Sock Skating – Another good rainy day activity. If you have tiles or timber floors, put on socks and skate around. See if you can do spins or see who can slide the farthest. Make sure the space is safe and clear of furniture or other potential hazards.
11. Wrestling – This can be done outside on the grass, or inside on carpet or even a bed. See if your kids can wrestle you to the ground. It’s up to you to determine the level of rough play but this a great way to get the heart rate up and can be a full body work out for the kids.
12. Skipping – grab a skipping rope for a great way to get your heart rate (and coordination) going.
    

    Skipping

Feel free to share your fun active moves in the comments below.

photo credit: hopscotch via photopin (license) : WWKiP via photopin (license) : Cartwheel! via photopin (license)