20 Ways to Exercise with your Kids

Even though summer is over and the kids have gone back to school, there's still plenty of time to play outdoors. Maximize the time spent outdoors with your children by fitting in a workout, too. Involving your kids will not only be FUN for them and you, but it also sets a great example for your children on taking care of yourself and exercising. Involve your kids on your weight loss journey. Remember, anything is better than nothing!

1. Hopscotch
Go to the local elementary school or get some sidewalk chalk at the drugstore and make your own hopscotch. 

2. Elementary school playground

Monkey bars for hanging crunches or pull-ups, stairs for jump ups or jump and switches, climb the slide, park bench tricep dips, swing ab curls (like TRX) and bridge and curls, laying pole taps ( via TheBetterMom.com) 

3. Middle/High School track

Run around the track with your kids. You can alternate from running, to skipping, to running backwards, etc! If you have little ones, they can play in the middle of the track in the grass. 

4. Jumping Rope

Jumping rope is one of the best cardio workouts. It is cheap equipment that can scorch calories in minutes and can be used by the whole family. You and your kids can each have a jump rope, or your kids can each hold an end while you jump rope in the middle. 

5. Ride Bikes

Ride bikes to run your errands or just to burn some of the kids' energy while you get a workout in. 

6. Rollerblading

Rollerblading is another awesome form of cardio that is low impact and FUN. But, don't forget your safety gear!

7. Organize a game of kickball at the park with family or friends

8. Sprints in your neighborhood 

You can run sprints up and down the street. Your tinier kids can help you keep count of how many times you've sprinted. 

9. Running 

Your kids will think it's fun to bike or roller blade beside you + they're good entertainment!

10. Ring around the Rosie 

Sitting down and standing up using is great for your quads, glutes and abs. 

11. Jumping Jacks

12. Airplane

Playing airplane with your child makes for a great at-home leg press!

13. Relay Races

Crab walk (great for your abs!), two legged jump, wheelbarrow, frog jump etc. 

14. Marching in Place (high knees)

15. Swimming

Swim laps as a family, or you jump in the lap lane while your kids keep time and count of your laps while playing. 

16. Yoga

We all know kids love to imitate you. Get them their own yoga mat and have them sit down with you next time you put in the yoga DVD. 

17. Run the stairs

Run the stairs in your home. No stairs? Head the nearest high school or middle school stadium and run the bleacher stairs. There are stairs all over you city. Find your favorite (maybe even one with a view!) and make it a weekly field trip. 

18. Jump on the trampoline 

19. Play tennis
Go to the park and play tennis! Make it a point to run to every ball that you have to get, and let your kids be your "ball kids" for you. Or, run "suicides" using the lines on the tennis courts. 

20. Run the bases
See how many times you can run the bases in a certain period of time. Let the kids run with you or keep count of many times you've run them all.

Do you have any other great ways to exercise with your kids outdoors? Share them with us in the comments below!