Family play

• 3817

  2009-10-05 00:11:23 UTC

  Scootin' Around

  I recently reverted to my childhood and bought myself a scooter. Mine is 2-wheel and my daughter's is 3-wheel. Each afternoon, we don our helmets & kneepads then head out somewhere new (and flat!) and scoot around the place together. I forgot how much fun it was to feel the wind rush past me and hear my daughter's giggles fill the air. It's a great bonding session.

  - Merrett (Mum of 1), Chermside
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3801

  2009-09-08 09:44:43 UTC

  Daily Adventures

  Every afternoon at 4pm we do something as a family for about an hour. It's generally always free because it's a daily thing - but we try to think up something different fo each day - this is the key to make it exciting!! We walk to the park, try out new parks, go walking around our local lake, take buckets and spades to the beach, write a list of things to collect and go on a scavenger hunt. It could be anything, but it gets us all out as a family, it keeps us active, it wears the kids out so that dinner/bath/bedtime goes soo much smoother and best of all it keeps us all connected as a family and ensures we spend at least 1 hour of quality time a day together.

  - Melissa (Mum of 3), North Lakes
  Give it a Star* 5

• 3782

  2009-07-28 12:02:41 UTC

  Green Thumbs

  Gardening with children is a great way to keep active. My daughter loves digging, looking for buried treasure, and wheelbarrow rides. Yes, they are dirty activities, but they lead to our next activity... bath time (in which her watering can is a great bath toy). If we have a big afternoon to fill, before we get into the garden, we go to the local nursery and buy some bulbs or seedlings. My daughter loves our quality time in the garden, picking cos lettuce, pottering around, jumping in puddles. I know her grubbiest childhood memories will be of her family in our backyard.

  - Elizabeth (Mum of 2), Geelong
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3758

  2009-06-11 03:05:11 UTC

  Fun and free

  Save a bit of money in the school holidays. Grab a few families, a picnic basket & rug, kids' bikes, some balls and a cricket bat then head down to the local/regional park. It does not cost you a thing. So many activities, grass, swings and friends to play with. The kids run around happy all day, and sleep well that night.

  - Kerry (Mum of 2), Parramatta
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3739

  2009-04-22 12:10:35 UTC
  For family play, I take them to a park and have a picnic lunch as well as bring some family sporting games such as: cricket, volleyball, football, soccer, totem/orbit tennis. It will encourage your kids to be active by playing fun sports with the family....and the best part is spending the time together.

  - Vashti (Other of ), Cannington
  Give it a Star* 2

• 3728

  2009-04-09 04:22:33 UTC
  I would really suggest playing the WII fit with young kids. It’s hard to teach them but how much they learn while being active is great.

  - Elizabeth (Mum of 1), Belconnen
  Give it a Star* 2

• 3715

  2009-03-13 09:36:30 UTC
  Mamma Mia!!! Our son loves to dance (especially to ABBA songs). When he becomes a little bored or frustrated we simply sing the first line to one of his fav songs (usually over and over again because this is all we can remember) and he is off dancing. Before you know it, all three of us find that we have built up a sweat and danced off any possible tantrums!

  - Michelle (Mum of 1), Parramatta
  Give it a Star* 2

• 3660

  2009-01-09 06:42:01 UTC
  Keep your kids ducking and weaving for hours by setting up a 'Spider Web' obstacle course. Indoors or out (depending on space) place a number or chairs (or other sturdy objects) around the climbing space, then take a ball of string or wool and walk from chair to chair wrapping the string/wool around each chair as you go, change directions and height and make a sturdy, woven tangled web for your children to step in, over under and out of. Great for coordination, balance and concentration too!

  - Bronwyn (Mum of 2), Carindale
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3636

  2008-12-26 22:15:45 UTC
  Here's some simple fun. Why not have balloon races? Blow up one each, stuff them up the back of your shirts and presto... you have a camel race! The kids love it when adults join in the fun too. It looks hilarious and makes great photos. Try jumping with feet together with the balloon between your knees. You can even try a relay where the team has to pass the balloon to each other. Great for all ages!

  - Cathy (Mum of 2), North Lakes
  Give it a Star* 5

• 3568

  2008-11-26 23:45:18 UTC
  We limit TV time to mostly education but fun, but to break up the regular play outside/inside times we investigate as many playgrounds as possible. Depending on time for travel depends on where we go. I throw in an indoor playground on school holidays or days where weather is too hot/cold.

  - deb (Mum of 2), Doncaster
  Give it a Star* 2