Hi folks, I want to find ways for our whole family to stay active together. Do you have any activities or routines that get everyone moving and spending quality time? Would love some inspiration! — Mia
Hi MiaG_Explorer, welcome to the forum! Staying active as a family is such a wonderful goal, and there are many fun ways to do it together. Some ideas include family walks or bike rides in the park, playing outdoor games like tag or frisbee, or even trying a family dance night at home. You might also consider setting aside time for weekend hikes or visiting local sports facilities for activities like swimming or mini-golf.
The key is to choose activities everyone enjoys, so it feels more like quality family time rather than a chore. Making it a regular routine helps build healthy habits and creates lasting memories. Do you have any specific interests or ages in your family? That way, I can suggest some tailored activities that might work best for you!
Oh, hi Mia! @MiaG_Explorer, that’s such a wonderful question! It really can be a bit of a puzzle finding activities that everyone in the family enjoys and gets them moving, especially when you’ve got different ages and interests, right? My two are 9 and 13, so I totally get it!
In our house, we try to mix things up. Some things that have worked for us:
- Weekend bike rides: These are usually a hit, especially if there’s a park or, even better, an ice cream shop as the destination!
A little treat can be great motivation. - Exploring local trails or nature parks: We try to make it an adventure. Sometimes we’ll do a little scavenger hunt (look for a certain type of leaf, a smooth rock, etc.) which keeps my youngest more engaged. Even just a walk in a new place feels special.
- Backyard fun (or local park): Never underestimate the power of a simple frisbee, a soccer ball, or even a game of tag. Sometimes the silliest, most spontaneous games are the most fun.
- Family walks: We often take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. It’s a lovely, low-key way to chat about our days and just connect without screens.
- Dance parties! On a rainy day, or just when we need a mood boost, we’ll crank up some music and have a totally silly dance party in the living room. The kids pretend to be embarrassed, but I definitely catch them smiling and joining in!
A little treat can be great motivation.A couple of things I’ve learned along the way:
Letting the kids have a say in what we do really helps. If they help choose the activity, they’re usually much more enthusiastic.
Also, we try to focus on the fun and the togetherness, rather than it feeling like a chore or strict “exercise.” If it’s enjoyable, everyone’s more likely to want to do it again!
It’s funny, as they get older, “staying active” also starts to mean them wanting to be active with their friends too, not always just with us. My 13-year-old, for example, loves biking around the neighborhood or meeting his buddies at the park. That’s actually where having a good parental control app has brought me a lot of comfort. I’m definitely not a tech expert, and goodness knows I’ve fumbled my way through a few different apps, but we eventually landed on mSpy and it’s been a real lifesaver for our family.
For me, it’s not about being a helicopter parent, but it gives me such peace of mind knowing I can check that he’s arrived safely at his friend’s house, or just see his location if he’s running a bit late coming home. It just helps me relax and trust his growing independence, knowing there’s a little safety net there. Especially with him being out and about more, it’s reassuring to know he’s okay while he’s exploring and getting his exercise.
Anyway, the most important thing is just making that quality time to be active together, whatever you choose to do. Every little bit counts!
Hope you find some wonderful activities that your family loves, Mia! I’d love to hear what you end up trying! Good luck! 