Active Kids, Active Parents!

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7. Make family activities active

When you're planning family activities make them active ones.

Take the whole family out for a walk after dinner
Go for a cycle around the river or lake, stopping for a picnic half way
Go bowling
Organise a picnic with other families or friends and be sure to include a game of cricket
Set up a flying disc golf challenge - it's like golf but using a flying disc! Take turns choosing the next 'hole' (target) to hit and keep track of your scores
Have a friendly game of 'piggy-in-the-middle' or chasey
Hire tandem bikes for a day
Get everyone in the family to choose their favourite songs and dance to them all - the kids will think your "daggy" music is hilarious and you'll have a laugh trying to dance to their "modern" music
Hire a catamaran, try sailing or go canoeing
Go for a bushwalk in a national park
Explore an area in your city by foot - follow an historic trail or make your own route based on your family's interests
Take a wander around your local markets - as a bonus you might even pick up some fresh healthy produce for dinner

Teenagers

Teenagers are very different to younger children. The teenage years are often about determining their own identity and asserting independence.

While your teenager may have loved participating in games and physical activities as a child, this could stop suddenly once they hit the teenage years. Many teenagers, both girls and boys, become very self-conscious. Girls may worry that they'll look silly, that people are looking at them, that they might trip in front of their latest 'crush' or they may feel uncomfortable about their changing shape. Boys may feel embarrassed if they're not naturally gifted at sport or don't have an athletic body type. School sports change rooms can be a place of anxiety for many teens.

Helping teens keep up their activity levels requires thought, compassion and encouragement. Maybe your teenager would prefer to join a gym or take aerobics classes, or maybe an organised sport would help them combine social desires with fitness?

Even if they don't participate in organised activities, you can still make sure your teen gets plenty of physical activity by encouraging them to join in family activities, such as a game of footy in the backyard or an evening walk with the family. Maybe you can start a routine with your teenager where you walk regularly together, giving you the chance to spend some quality time with them as well as helping both your and their fitness?

Talk to them about fitness and how important it is to their health now and in the future. Ask them what types of activities they would enjoy participating in, and help them to maintain a regular exercise routine (this might mean being the taxi yet again as you ferry them to soccer training or to the gym).

Think broadly, be creative and be clever - if you don't announce that it's "exercise" they just might not notice!