Get-Active Games for Kids and Families

For a homespun version of disc golf, hang a hoop from a branch or clothesline, then grab a Frisbee and try these spins on the game.

D-I-S-C

The game's the same as H-O-R-S-E in basketball. One player throws a disc through the hoop, then the others have to match that shot or earn a letter; last one to spell D-I-S-C wins.

Baseball

Set out four bases (cardboard squares work well) with home plate near the hoop. Players start at home and work around the diamond, shooting from each base. Three "strikes" (misses) and you're out; complete the circuit to earn a run and another turn (with three strikes).

Obstacle Golf

Starting and ending with a disc shot through the hoop, players race to complete a course of challenges (jump rope 25 times, kick a soccer ball into a net, and so on). Keep time; fastest player wins.

Originally published in the April 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

This after-dinner activity is great for building brain power. Cut out a dozen or so newspaper or magazine pictures of fun objects (flowers, a cookie, and so on), then have an adult moderator secretly sort them into groups of three to five, based on something the images have in common (all are related to water, say, or all are green). The moderator then shows the other players each picture in a group, holding them up one at a time for about 3 seconds. Players must remember what flashed by as they try to guess what the objects have in common. The first to make the connection takes the round.

Originally published in the April 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Stretch the life of an old yoga mat by turning it into an indoor version of a classic sidewalk game. With a ruler and pen, lightly outline a hopscotch board on the mat, then cover the lines with duct tape strips (we used duct tape rolls and sheets purchased from a craft store). Use more tape to add designs to each square. To make an indoor tossing "stone," fill a child's sock halfway with rice and knot the end.

Bonus: Find the traditional hopscotch diagram and play instructions at parents.com/hopscotch.

Originally published in the December/January 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Get active with balancing exercises that provide multiple health and fitness benefits for kids.

Originally published in the April 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Bring the fun of snowy weather indoors with a zany (and energetic!) game fit for the whole family. Clear a large open area for play and lay down a length of string or rope to create a center line. Gather small sponge or Ping-Pong balls and distribute them evenly between two teams, which take positions on either side of the line. Set a timer for two minutes (a phone timer with an alarm works well). At "Go," players start tossing balls into the opposing team's side, gathering and returning any balls tossed into their own. When the timer sounds, play stops, and balls are counted. The team with the fewest balls wins.

Originally published in the December/January 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

If lousy weather is producing a bumper crop of couch potatoes around your house, try injecting some movement into your family's day with a classic exercise: jumping jacks. "They're a great cardiovascular exercise that helps you use a lot of your muscle mass, consume a lot of oxygen, and burn calories," explains Neal Pire, Director of Sports Performance at Volt Fitness in Glen Rock, New Jersey. Even better, a good cardio workout can "help control blood sugar and mood, and balance your energy," says Pire. To see for yourself, try these with your kids.

Originally published in the November 2013 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

With PVC pipe, pipe fittings, and colorful tape, you can build a set of hurdles just the right size for your family. Jumping over and crawling through the hurdles will help your kids improve their agility, and they can use them as goals for backyard ball games.

Originally published the September 2013 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Get your kids' fitness plan on a roll with a set of homemade movement dice. To make a pair, use duct tape to seal the edges and cover the sides of two small, cube-shaped boxes (we recycled tissue boxes). With a permanent marker, write numbers on one die (numerals no higher than ten are best), and various movements ("Hop on one foot" or "Spin around," say) on the other. Players take turns rolling the dice, then performing the movement for the number of times shown.

Originally published the May 2013 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

This fast-paced fitness game, based on a simple sprinting drill, gets kids exercising bodies and minds.

Originally published the March 2013 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Need a fun trick to get your kid's heart pumping fast? All it takes is a stopwatch to transform simple activities like running, skipping, and balancing into fitness challenges that will have everyone racing to do their best. Below, we share a few of our favorite timed games.

Originally published the October 2012 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Challenge your family to sprint, walk, or swim in the spirit of the Games by completing an Olympic distance endurance event, but over the course of the summer. You might try a triathlon (swim, bike, and run a total of 32 miles), 1,500-meter swim (30 laps in a 25-yard pool), men's 50K speed walk (31 miles), or women's cycling road race (87 miles). Use a handy log to keep track of your activities. When you're done, treat yourselves to a special prize.

Originally published the June/July 2012 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

This fast-paced game gives traditional tag a colorful twist. You'll need several sets of rubber bracelets or bands, one color for each player (so for six players, you'll need six red, six blue, and so on). One player is chosen to be "It." At "Go," players start trading their bands, trying to collect one band of each color. It, meanwhile, tries to tag a trader. When she does, the trader must trade a bracelet with her and becomes the new It. The first player to collect a bracelet in each color wins.

Originally published the May 2012 issue of FamilyFun magazine.