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Top 25 Games for Outdoor Family Fun

It’s a beautiful summer day, do you:

1. watch TV while your kids play video games
2. do yardwork while your kids play indoors
3. play a game outside, together as a family

Option C is the choice that you should strive for every day or at least most days of the week.  Children learn habits from their parents and caregivers.  These habits can be good and/or bad.  It is time to take action and install exercise habits in our children. 

Childhood obesity is on the rise and that is a scary fact.  Too many children are overweight or obese and are being diagnosed with diseases we once considered adult diseases, such as Type II Diabetes (Adult Onset Diabetes).  This is our fault and we need to take responsibility.  It is time to get your kids active and the best way to do that is through example which means you need to be active yourself.

Please remember to do activities that are age-appropriate for your children.  These activities will help build coordination and confidence in your children as they improve each day.  Feel free to paste this list on your refrigerator so that your kids can pick an activity to do each day.  Have fun & remember you are forming habits that will last a lifetime.

1. Play catch with a ball (baseball, basketball, football, whiffleball)
2. Kick a ball back and forth using your dominant and non-dominant leg
3. Set up goals with cones/pails and play soccer.
4. Play basketball or shoot hoops and play games such as lightening or around the world.
5. Batting practice in your backyard, a park, or the batting cages.
6. Badminton-you can play without a net and hit the birdie back and forth.  Count how many times you hit it before it touches the ground.
7. Croquet-set it up in your yard or a park.
8. Bocce Ball- you can buy this in the stores or make up your own version using a golf ball & softballs.  Go online & get rules for how to play.
9. Hula Hoop- when is the last time you did this?
10. Jump Rope- count how many jumps you get in a row or sing silly rhymes.
11. Four Square- if you don’t remember the rules, go online & look them up or ask your kids.
12. Hopscotch
13. Tag.  Ask your kids to make up different variations of tag such as Freeze Tag.
14. Run through the sprinkler or Slip-N-Slide.  Get a little dirty and have some fun!
15. Frisbee.  You might have to teach your kids how to throw a Frisbee.  You can even get the dog involved on this one!
16. Frisbee Golf.  Look for a course in your local area. 
17. Go for a walk.  Make it a game with young kids such as finding 10 blue houses before you can walk home or 20 dogs outside in their yards.
18. Go for a bike ride.  Wear your helmet and make sure your kids wear their too.  Remember they learn best through example. 
19. Rollerblade.  Wear protective equipment.
20. Golf.  Make sure you walk the course.
21. Driving Range to hit golf balls.
22. Mini-Golf
23. Go to the zoo and walk on all the trails to see the animals.
24. Go to the park and swing, go down the slide, go across the monkey bars, etc.  Have fun!
25. Make up your own game and have the kids make up one too.  Use your imaginations and be creative.  Enjoy!!