Active Play Every Day

Enjoy active play during family time!

Find things your family LIKES to do! Have fun together.  Exercise does not need to be a chore.

Be a role model!

Showing kids how much you value and enjoy active play speaks much louder than words.

• Instead of food, use active play as a reward.
• Give active play as a gift. Need ideas? Consider a frisbee, snowshoe hiking, or swimming.

Increase Minutes in Motion Throughout the Day

Kids need 60 minutes of daily physical activity. 

Tips - Take the stairs. Park and walk. Enjoy “stretch breaks” when working or doing homework. Shoot hoops for a “fast break.”

Turn off the TV – Turn off the TV for MORE active play and reading and LESS time to see commercials for sugary or high-fat foods. Kids who have less screen time (TV, computer, video games) tend to read more and do better in school.

 Family time indoor fun

Get creative using everyday items. Make softballs with yarn. Use a paper plate as a throwing disk. Create an indoor bowling alley with empty water bottles and a soft foam ball. You can have lots of fun just crawling around like wild animals or with a game of indoor hide-and-seek.   Get hooked on one of the active video games, like Dance Dance Revolution or just make time to dance together. Children love to learn new moves from videos – or just to make up their own creative routines as the music moves them. See our indoor exercise ideas handout for lots of other fun ideas for indoor exercise.

Family time outdoor fun

Plan time to TAKE A WALK together.  Walking can easily become a game rather than an exercise. You can always take a dog. They love to play with balls and sticks. Children of all ages can really get into a silly game of Simon Says. Walk with your hands on your head or behind your back. Swing your arms like a chimpanzee or an elephant’s trunk. Prance along on your tippy toes, twirl in circles or just skip along together.  Count things like the number of blue cars or red flowers. Use the time during the walk to “explore” things-like the “veins” in a leaf when you hold it up to the light.

Plan time to PLAY OUTSIDE together.  A family that plays together stays healthy together. Give each person a chance to choose an outdoor activity for everybody to play together. Depending on the weather, you could throw a Frisbee, fly a kite, build a snowman, or go up and down the slide at the park. You might also be able to play tag, pick up a game of basketball or draw an old-fashioned game of hopscotch on the sidewalk.

Fit & Fun Family Goals

Feel good, look great, CHALLENGE yourself and others to have FUN with minutes in motion.

Track points each day for a week to see how you are meeting YOUR Challenge. The Fit & Fun Goal is to get at least 3 points each day and a total of 21 points for the week!

Fun Ways to earn CHALLENGE MOTION Points

Earn 1 point for each 20 minutes of MOTION when:

• Walking, running, biking, roller-blading, dancing, and other similar activities
• Playing active games like hopscotch, Hula Hoop, jump rope, or hide-and-go-seek
• Participating in sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, tennis, and track

Resources: See our handout on indoor activity and fitness options for kids in the Vancouver area.