The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children be physically active for 60 minutes each day. During the 
school year, many get that exercise time in during PE class or recess. Don’t let Spring Break be a break from those healthy habits, though.
Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA cooperating agency, has some fun suggestions to get you and your kids up off the couch and moving. After all, adults should be getting 2½ hours of moderate-intensity activity each week as well. Ideas include:
- Take a family walk after dinner.
- Do sit-ups or push-ups in front of the TV—have a competition with your kids during commercials.
- Put on some music and dance with your kids.
- Buy a set of hand weights and play a round of Simon Says with your kids—you do it with the weights, they do it without.
- Train together for a charity walk, run, or bike ride.
Check out the full article for more ideas, as well as Action for Healthy Kids’ 40 Tips for an Active Family sheet. You can even keep a family activity calendar to record the amounts and kinds of activity for each family member and award points. Celebrate milestones for point totals with a favorite family activity or outing. There’s a sample physical activity tracker you can use.
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