Nowadays, thumb gymnastics and tweeting are more common activities than tumbles and touch football, so an active lifestyle is more critical than ever! Just 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day produces physical, psychological and social benefits for kids of all ages. It’s high time we shake a leg—and our booties—and take serious action. Moms know the best place to get started is at home. I know we all have busy schedules and tight budgets, but no more excuses! Here are some great ways to empower your family with more play.

How well do you know your neighborhood? Explore your options. There are lots of ways to make the best out of free active spaces that are in easy walking, biking, or traveling distance from your front door.

Community Parks

Get the kids up and at ’em a few minutes earlier than usual and start the day on the right (or left) foot. Catch the sunrise on a morning walk in the park with the whole family and enjoy the best part of the day together. Have a dog? Great! (They’re always up for a walk!) If not, take the mornings to see what kind of wildlife you can spot—whether you live in the countryside or in the heart of the city. Bring a notebook or binoculars and see how many birds, bugs, critters, plants, and trees your children can identify.

Basketball Courts

Who says you need ten people to play a game on the court? All you need is a ball and a hoop (net optional) to get the play started. One person can always practice dribbles, jump shots, and free throws. But with two or more, there are all kinds of great court games and ways to have fun with kids (and adults!) of all ages.

• H-O-R-S-E
  Choose a spot on the court and make a basket. If you make a basket, the next person must make a basket from that spot or they get a letter. When a player misses a shot, the next player gets to choose a new spot on the court and try again. Players get eliminated once they spell out the word “horse”."


• Dribble Relay Races
  Divide your group into teams. Each player runs the length of the court dribbling with one hand and runs back dribbling with the other hand. The first team to finish wins. Up the challenge by adding bonus points for making a basket in between dribble switches.

• Around the World
  Choose five or more spots on the court, such as the four key corners and top of the key. Each player takes turns trying to make a basket from that spot. If a player makes a basket, he or she gets to advance to the next spot; if not, they stay. The first person “around the world” wins.