Push Play
Family Fit
Are you a busy parent? This programme has lots of ideas for how you can get active - with your kids!
1. Dance
Gather the kids and get to the beat! Put on their favourite DVD or CD and spend a good half hour moving. Make it fun for them and do it in dress ups! Close the curtains if you're worried about the neighbours.
2. Hopscotch
You remember how to hop! Get the chalk out and get busy on the concrete creating Hopscotch. Along with chalk, all you need is a couple of pebbles and keen kids.
3. Balloon volleyball
Blow up a balloon and you can play volleyball anywhere! Outside, using a net curtain over a line, or inside, using a piece of string.
4. Home circuit
Set up activities in the backyard (or in your house, if it's wet). You can include lunges up and down the hall, push-ups, sit-ups, star jumps, arm lifts with baked bean cans (full!), running on the spot and skipping with a rope! Try them in sets of 10.
5. Four-square
Get the chalk out, draw a box with four squares in it and grab a ball. For a refresher on the rules, check out the Action Packs for Kids!
6. Treasure hunt
Set out a treasure hunt over a wide area - through the local park if you can. Make sure you run with the kids all the way.
7. TV workout
It's time to get off the couch and do some sit-ups, push-ups and star jumps - the kids will love it. You can do it through the ad breaks.
8. Tag
Just like the old days! You're 'it'.
9. Hide and seek
Turn one child around and get them to count to 10 - and then they're off looking for their hidden playmates! If you've got little children, get an older child to help them with the counting.
10. Kids soccer
Take them to the park for a bit of sport - like soccer or touch rugby. They'll improve their ball skills and you'll improve your fitness.
11. Elastics
All you need is a length of elastic and three people (or you can use chairs for substitutes). Elastics is a fun, active game that can be played indoors and out.
12. Active housework
Give each child an area of the car to wet, wash and hose off. Active housework, like energetic vacuuming and window washing, is a good way to Push Play. Kids can do it with you and learn valuable lessons. Time them, to see how fast they can tidy up their toys/room!
13. Beach cricket
It's never too early to teach them this kiwi favourite, and you don't need much gear.
14. Skipping
Get the ropes out, turn on some music and teach the kids to skip. Try criss crosses and double jumps.
15. Stair climb
If you have stairs in the house, use them like the stepping machine at the gym. Time yourselves to see who can keep going the longest.
16. Swimming
All kids love the pool. You can play chasing games with them or get them aqua jogging with you.
17. Family bike ride
Head out with the kids on bikes to the local park or bush track. Enjoy!
18. Push walk
Go for a good, strenuous 30-minute walk with the stroller. Remember - it can put strain on your upper back and neck muscles, so try to stand upright into the pram and don't have your arms stretched out in front of you.
19. Parent tag
Take turns getting active in the morning: one of you goes off for a morning walk or run, while the other does the kids' breakfast. The next day - swap!
20. Walk the kids to school
Leave the car at home and walk the children to school. Make it a daily ritual; don't let the rain or cold days put you off - wrap up! You could also volunteer to lead a walking school bus.
21. Take 30 minutes just for you
Grab opportunities when they come. While the kids are in school, creche or at a friend's, do a few laps of the local pool or meet up with someone for a good walk.
22. Active supporter
When your child is training for cricket or softball - or virtually any sport - it's your chance to give them the ultimate encouragement by practising with them.
23. Yoga
When the kids are safely away in bed, try an activity like yoga - it's a great wind down. You can get an instruction book or tape from the library.
Updated | 05 Dec 2006.
Skip page tools.
