How to Get Active with Your Kids This Summer

As winter fades and we can finally sense summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to institute some new activities to help get ourselves and our kids into better shape. The CDC recommends that children get at least one hour of moderate intensity activity most days, preferably every day. Try these easy tips, which not only get your children off the sofa and away from the television, computer and video games, but also offer the added benefit of quality time with mom and/or dad.

- Get riding! Biking is a great way to exercise as a family. If you have a toddler or preschooler, hook a pull-behind trailer on mom or dad's bike.

- Walk to the park and don't just sit there! Get off that bench and play on the equipment with your kids. It's not only fun, but burns a few calories and lets your children see a fun side of you.

- Throw a ball - a couple mitts, a baseball, and you're ready to go. For younger kids, play wiffle ball.

- Toss a Frisbee - kids love this; it's cheap, easy and portable!

- Turn on the music and dance, dance, dance! This is perfect for those rainy spring days. If there are chores to be done, incorporate those as well - the idea is just to keep moving and have fun!

- Play tag - run around the yard (it's not just for show!), get dirty, have fun!

- Go swimming together, either at the Y, a community pool, or if you have a kiddy pool in the yard, jump in with your kids and splash around!

- Roll down a hill - remember doing this as a kid? Your kids will giggle at watching you do it, and running back up the hill is great exercise.

- Grab a couple jump ropes or hula hoops and have at it!

- Build an obstacle course in the yard. Lawn chairs, an old tire, a log - almost anything can work as part of the course. This is one of my kids' favorites!

- Give your kids yard chores to help you with - raking leaves, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, washing the car - all of these are great cardio exercise.

With childhood obesity and diabetes at all-time highs, it's more important than ever to get our kids moving and fit. Doing fun activities alongside them helps keep us young as well. Have a happy and safe summer!