When we think of fitness, it is often centered around us and our lives. However, fitness doesn’t just have to be an adult thing. If you have children, there are plenty of great things to do with them to ensure that they stay active and remain healthy. In fact, as Parents.com says, “Every time you and your child throw a softball, swim a lap, climb a flight of stairs, walk to the store, or carry packages, your health and fitness levels are improving.”

So what can you do to stay active with our children? Here are some fun, creative exercises:

• Chicken Cross. Very similar to Sharks and Minnows, but not in water, Chicken Cross is where the children run from one safe zone to the next (one wall to the other side of the wall). In the middle is the Chicken Catcher. If the Chicken Catcher catches any of the chickens while they are crossing, those chickens become catchers as well. You continue the game until all the chicken are caught.

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  Circle Chase. This game is similar to Duck, Duck, Goose. Here the children stand in a circle about an arms length from each other. One child is chosen to be Crazy Legs, who kicks a ball around the outside of the circle. At some point the child kicking the ball kicks it through the other children into the circle and touches someone else. That child who got touched immediately begins chasing the other child around the circle. The Crazy Legs who was kicking the soccer ball runs around the circle and tries to get back to the empty spot before the other child catches him or her. Meanwhile the circle children kick the ball back and forth, trying to keep it moving.

• Attention! For this one you will create three areas. One area will be a ship, the opposite side of the ship is the shore, and in between is an area called the deck. One person is called the Captain who shouts out orders to the children. When the area is defined, the Captain can yell 1 of 5 commands for the children to do. “All hands on deck” means all must run to the deck and sit down. “Attention” means all of the children must stand in military style. “Salute” means that they must salute together in unison. “All hands on ship” is for all of the children to run to the ship side. “All hands ashore” means that all of the children must run to the shore side.

The great thing about all 3 of these activities are that they are fun to play for the children and gets them moving and active. The more active they are as part of their daily routine, the more likely they are to keep being active into their teen and adult years.

Want more activities you can use in your house? Try the Family Fitness Playlist on our YouTube channel. Or, come into The nZone and try any one of our great Kids Fitness Classes.