Take a family walk after dinner a couple times a week

Go on a family bike ride through the neighborhood

Create sidewalk art with chalk and play hopscotch

Fly a kite on a grassy field at a local school

Enjoy a playground at a school or a park

Play Duck, Duck, Goose or London Bridge

Limit time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching TV, playing on the computer or playing video games to no more than one hour a day.

All children need to be physically active. A child with a chronic health condition or disability should not be excluded from physical activities. Consult your child's doctor about which activities are safe and if the activities can be adjusted to meet your child's needs. An overweight or even a less coordinated child may feel uncomfortable in competitive sports, so activities everyone can participate in, regardless of skill, may be best. Some activities that are less dependant on skill level include:

Walking

Biking, playing outside

Flying a kite

Sledding

Bowling

Tag

Another way to increase physical activity with your child is to use it as a fun reward instead of food or money. When your child reaches a certain goal (like doing well in school) celebrate by going miniature golfing, hiking or visiting a swimming park.

Children need physical activity to build strength, coordination and confidence. All of these characteristics lay the groundwork for leading a healthy lifestyle in the future. Studies show that children who are exposed to various sports and exercise tend to stay active throughout their adults lives. Also, children who are more physically active tend to get sick less often than children who are inactive. So remember, when it comes to physical activity, every little bit counts!