12 fun activities to get your family moving

Teddy Bear Picnic Blanket Toss
Suitable for: Ages three and up
(Note: While kids are generally standing in one spot, they're raising and lowering their arms repeatedly. This motion boosts their heart rate and builds upper body strength. It also requires gross motor coordination and builds flexibility in shoulder and back muscles. This activity is much like the parachute activities popular in programs such as Gymboree.)
You'll need: Beach blanket; teddy bear
Method:
1. Arrange players around the blanket -- two to four players is best.
2. Put the teddy bear on the blanket.
3. Lift the blanket to waist level.
4. On the count of three, toss the teddy bear into the air by jerking the blanket sharply upward.
5. Catch the bear in the blanket. Whee!
6. Repeat until the teddy bear complains of a bellyache.
7. Make the game trickier by tossing three or more stuffed animals at a time or by challenging the blanket tossers to keep the teddy bear in the air for 20 tosses in a row without it falling off. Give children a simple reward for meeting the challenge.

Hip-Hop Kangaroo Wrestling
Suitable for: Ages four and up
You'll need: Just the kids
Method:
1. Have children pair off. Partners should be about the same size. Make sure there's lots of space around each pair to avoid collisions.
2. Opponents face each other and grasp each other's right hands as if they were about to shake hands.
3. Then, have each wrestler grab his own left ankle with his left hand. Each player should now be standing on one foot.
4. On the count of three, using only their right hands, opponents gently try to push and pull each other off balance.
5. The match is over when a player lets go of his ankle or the other player. Giggling fits and "kangarolling" on the ground are all part of the fun, so make sure your play area has a soft surface to prevent bumps or scrapes.

Silly Snake Cooperative Race Game
Suitable for: Ages four and up
You'll need: A marker; a timer or watch with a second hand (optional)
Method:
1. Mark off a start and finish line. The race distance will depend on the number of players in your snake and the age of the racers.
2. Have Player 1 sit on the ground with his or her legs extended.
3. Player 2 sits in front of Player 1 and snuggles back between the legs. Player 1 then wraps his or her legs around Player 2's waist.
4. Player 3 sits in front of Player 2 and gets linked to the snake chain as in steps 2 and 3. Continue adding links to the snake chain until all the players are part of the snake. The longer the snake, the more challenging the game.
5. On the count of three, have the silly snake players inch forward by wiggling their bums on the ground. Make the game harder by not allowing hands to touch the ground.
6. The race is over when the snake reaches the finish line or when the snake rolls over in a giggling heap.
7. You can add more excitement to the game by making it a beat-the-clock activity. Kids in the snake chain have to work together to get to the finish line in shorter and shorter times. Give simple prizes to the snake if each challenge is met. Alternatively, if you have a larger group (six or more), form two snakes and have them compete for the fastest time.