8 Fun fitness activities to do with the kids

Fitness doesn’t have to be boring! Sometimes it’s good to mix up your routine and do something different to keep your mind and body active. Here are 8 fun fitness activities you can do with the kids, from getting them involved in some sports, to incorporating physical education into playtime!

1) Inflatable Obstacle Course

An inflatable obstacle course is a great way to get the kids moving and have some fun. You can set up an inflatable course in your backyard or at a local park. The kids will love crawling through tunnels, climbing over walls, and sliding down slides. Plus, you’ll get a workout too!
Here are eight fun fitness activities to do with the kids:
1. Inflatable Obstacle Course – Set up an inflatable course in your backyard or at a local park for hours of fun.
2. Bike Ride – Go for a family bike ride around your neighborhood or on a nearby trail.
3. Scavenger Hunt – Get the kids moving with a scavenger hunt.
4. Hiking – Take a hike through a local park, around your neighborhood, or up a nearby mountain. Make it easier for younger kids by taking them on an easier trail and carrying their backpacks! Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen!

2) Play in nature

Getting the kids outside to play is a great way to get them moving. Let them run around, explore, and use their imaginations. Climb trees, play tag, or have a water balloon fight. Not only will they be getting some exercise, but they’ll also be fresh air and Vitamin D. If you want to add in more structured workouts, teach them how to do bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, and lunges. You can even make your own obstacle course for them by adding things like cones to jump over and hoops for running through. Use balls of different sizes and colors for all sorts of games. The possibilities are endless! Have them take turns picking one out at random and then acting it out while the other player guesses what they’re doing. Play catch, four square, dodgeball – whatever game sounds fun to you both. Create an obstacle course that involves balance challenges like balancing on two boards while walking backwards or carrying something heavy (or not so heavy) on their head.

3) Water sports

Dancing is a great way to get the whole family moving and shaking. Put on some music, crank up the volume, and let everyone cut loose. You can even make a game out of it by seeing who can come up with the best dance moves. Just be sure to take breaks when needed – nobody wants to be too sweaty! Another favorite water activity for all ages is building sand castles in the beach or at home. As your child tries to recreate their vision in miniature form, they’ll also develop creative skills and hand-eye coordination. And as an added bonus, this could give you time for a little R&R too! Water volleyball can also help build cardiovascular endurance in both kids and adults alike, which makes it ideal for families who love to have fun while getting healthy together.

4) Go dancing

Dancing is a great way to get the whole family moving and having fun. Turn up some music and let everyone loose! You can even make a game out of it by seeing who can come up with the best dance moves. Just be sure to keep it safe and stop if anyone gets too tired. Take your kids for a bike ride: There’s nothing like exploring outdoors on two wheels. Invite them to go for a bike ride around the neighborhood or head over to your local park for a more challenging trail. Take them swimming: Make use of all that free time on summer break by taking the little ones down to your local pool or public beach. Don’t forget sunscreen! If you live near water, try kayaking: Taking your family on an adventure near water never goes amiss.

5) Indoor games like hoops and badminton

1. Plan an obstacle course in your backyard or at a local park.
2. Have the kids help you create it by coming up with ideas and setting up the course.
3. Time each other as you run through it.
4. See who can make it through the fastest without missing any obstacles.
5. Make it a competition by giving out prizes for the winners.
6. Take turns being the coach and giving pointers to each other on how to improve your times.
7. Have fun and get fit at the same time!
8. Try an indoor version of hopscotch for a low-impact activity.
9. Play basketball, dodgeball, soccer, or another sport.
10. Hold races from one end of the house to the other.
11. Do squats, lunges, pushups, planks or crunches while watching TV (everyone’s favorite workout).
12. Join a sports team with your child so that they can enjoy playing while getting some exercise in too!

6) Balancing act – teaching your kid to walk on a slackline

Slacklines are a great way to improve balance and coordination, and they’re super fun, too! To get started, you’ll need a slackline (you can find them at most outdoor stores) and something to anchor it to (like two trees). Once you have your slackline set up, stand on it yourself first to show your child how it’s done. Then, help them get up on the line and hold on to their waist as they start walking. As they get more confident, let go and watch them balance on their own! It’s really amazing to see what they can do in just one day of practice. You can even walk across the slackline together, hand-in-hand. The best part is that there are so many ways to make this activity work for all skill levels – if your kid is too scared to go all the way across, try standing on opposite sides of the line. If that still feels a little daunting, give each other piggyback rides instead!

7) Step Aerobics – Have fun, get fit

Going for walks, running, cycling, swimming, and rowing all work out the same parts of the body and thus, make up aerobic exercises. Bring the kids along for any of these. It all boils down to one thing: a plan and a measure of safety. Keep your eye out for new, enjoyable ways to spend time together! As well as water and food, be sure to bring something for everyone to do such as our new aerobic exercises! In no time, you will both look and feel better!

8) Team building – obstacle courses

Obstacle courses are a great way to get the kids moving and thinking. They can be as simple or as complex as you want, and they can be tailored to any age group. Additionally, they’re loads of fun! Check out these four things you can do.
1) Draw out an obstacle course on a whiteboard or paper.
2) Build your own obstacle course in your backyard, driveway, garage or even around the house (make sure there’s nothing too high for younger children).
3) Make obstacle courses out of objects found around the house: Use chairs, couch cushions, pillows and tables to create some obstacles (again make sure nothing is too high for younger children).
4) Take photos on your phone of different obstacles that could be used in an obstacle course; then set up them up together in the same area so that they create one large course.