Active family games

Activities for kids six and under

Colour Tag
Everyone wearing one particular colour chases after those wearing the other colours, and tags them.

Monkey in the Middle
Everyone stands in a circle, with one person in the middle as the "Monkey." Those in the circle toss a soft ball or beanbag from one to the other. As the beanbag flies through the air, the monkey tries to grab it. If successful, he joins the circle, and the one who didn't catch the beanbag becomes the monkey.

Counting Games
Count how many volleys the two teams can get back and forth across the net, how many Hula-Hoop rotations each of you can do, or how many seconds a child can stay poised in a handstand. Challenge each other to better the numbers at every go.

Pretend Games
You all become a herd of wild horses, or a track full of race cars, or a tag team of wrestlers.

Wallyball
This is like volleyball, except it's played on a racquetball court. You bounce the ball off the walls, or kick it with your feet. Play with as many people as you like, divided into two teams.

Nuke-'em
This is also like volleyball, but you're allowed to catch the ball, which slows the game down and makes it easier for small kids to participate.

Soccer
Play three on three with an oversize bouncy ball.

Bonky Baseball
Use a big plastic bat and a big bouncy ball.

Kickball
In this variation on baseball, the pitcher (you) rolls the bouncy ball to the child, who kicks it, rather than bats it.

Activities for seven- to nine-year-olds

• Don't underestimate the power of a new toy. It doesn't have to be expensive-marbles, a skipping rope, a HulaHoop, liquid soap bubbles, or a plastic snow slider may be enough. Once you've brought it home, suggest that your daughter invite a friend over and try it out.

• Plan a hike for the family that gives the children an opportunity to explore nature, to watch tadpoles and frogs in their natural habitat, or to collect samples of different leaves or nuts and pine cones.

• Plan an outdoor scavenger hunt. It's like hiking, but with the added
thrill of the hunt.

• Take your child wall climbing at an indoor facility. It's popular, it's
safe (they'll be in a harness), and it's an adventure.

• Offer to enroll them in dance classes, which require a fair amount of exercise and movement with a purpose. Many cultural groups offer classes to teach their traditional folk dances, which are very energetic.

Activities for 10- to 12-year-olds

• Offer to take them snowboarding and provide instruction.

• Try in-line skates for the family, but be sure to get the appropriate protective gear at the same time.

• Suggest a water balloon fight in the playground.

• Take your daughter and her friend to play laser tag.

• Take your son door-to-door canvassing with you, on the Terry Fox
Run, or on a bike-a-thon for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Excerpted from Raising great Kids: Ages 6 to 12 by Christine Langlois. Copyright 1999 by Telemedia Communications Inc. Excerpted, with permission by Ballantine Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.