Getting active together as a family is a great way to strengthen relationships, make memories, and improve fitness. Plus it’s a great way to bond with foster children if you’re fostering.
While it can be challenging to find activities that interest both children and parents, there are plenty of fun sports to try that will get everyone moving.
Here are some top picks for family-friendly physical activities that will get the whole family being more active.
Garden Games
You don’t need to go far to enjoy simple sports together in your own garden or local park. Classic lawn games like croquet, badminton, and bowling can be set up in outdoor spaces of all sizes.
Grab a set of quoits or boomerangs to toss around. Blow up balloons for volleyball or tennis with kid-sized rackets.
Obstacle courses and relay races also pair silly, creative tasks like crab-walking and hula hooping with friendly competition. The best part is that garden games require minimal equipment and allow for playful interaction.
Cycling Adventures
Pedal power is a wonderful way for families to explore the outdoors together. Start with short rides around your neighborhood before working up to more challenging routes.
Joining a community bike ride is another option to meet fellow cycling enthusiasts. And don’t forget the thrill of racing each other!
Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at a park after your ride for a refreshing reward. Cycling builds strength, balance, and coordination while immersing you in nature’s beauty.
If you’re fostering siblings and only have one bike, check out Facebook community pages to see if anyone has a spare bicycle they no longer need. It’s also easy to find good quality second-hand bicycles on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Swimming for All Ages
Hitting the local pool provides cool water fun for everyone. Young kids can splash around shallow areas as older children practice strokes in deeper sections. Join in on games like Marco Polo and relays.
Sign up for parent-child swim lessons to boost water safety skills and confidence. Community pools may offer discounted family swim times.
And Blue Flag beaches along the UK coastline make picturesque swimming spots during warmer months. The buoyancy of water makes swimming a low-impact activity suitable for all ages and abilities.
Interactive Gaming
Don’t overlook interactive video games that get your family moving together in the comfort of home. Motion-based consoles like Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect take gaming off the couch through activities like bowling, tennis, dance competitions, and more.
Fitness-focused games on new systems like Nintendo Switch offer personalised workouts. Or break out classic floor games like Twister to tie in silliness. Blending technology, friendly competition and physical play time benefits both kids and parents.
Shared physical activities allow busy families to connect while improving fitness and enjoying new experiences.
Keep things casual, communicate expectations and focus on having fun together above all else. Be patient in selecting activities that work for all ages and abilities. Simple sports like kicking a football around in the local park are a good place to start.
Staying active together lays the foundation for meaningful bonding through lifelong memories created side-by-side.
Jean Smith is a fitness enthusiast and blogger who focuses on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. She is passionate about assisting people in living healthier lifestyles and is constantly on the lookout for new and creative methods to stay fit and healthy. Her articles are excellent resources for anyone interested in improving their health and fitness.