There are many activities to help you and your children stay fit. It doesn't have to be boring or too complicated! Here are 10 of the most effective and interesting sports activities with children.

Bicycle

To a child, a bicycle is more than transportation. It’s going speeds you can’t reach walking. It’s the thrill of beating a steep hill. It’s the joy of racing with friends and trying new tricks! Take the time to teach your child to ride a bike next summer. The bike trainer is the only one on the market that fits a child-size bike, and it holds the bike firmly in place, so your child can feel what it's like to ride a bike. Your child can practice while watching TV.

Picnics

Riding bikes or walking to the nearest park might seem like a small adventure to you, but it’s a wide-open opportunity of fun for children. Once there you can relax and enjoy some sunshine, while your kids run around a play tag, climb a tree, play on playground equipment, or hide-and-seek. Bring some chalk or balls and be amazed at how many activities kids can imagine with such simple toys.

Simply get outside

Sunshine has vitamin D which helps us all stay fit. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium from the diet. Low levels of vitamin D have also been linked with poor muscle strength. Doctors call it "the sunshine vitamin". It is also the only vitamin that does not need to be consumed in food or supplements because our bodies are efficient at making it when our skin is exposed to direct sunlight (not through a window).

Look out for another great ball

Balls are among the oldest toys, in fact, it is probably one of the oldest tools of mankind. It’s simple but virtually unlimited in uses. Small rubber balls are great for bouncing contests, playing jacks, and chasing after. Stickball – a low budget version of baseball – needs just a good ball. Everything else – from the “bat” to the “bases” can be made from things you can find outside. Line up some empty tin cans and make a bowling alley with a good heavier weight ball. Find an empty basket and shoot hoops with an air-filled ball. Whether you rich or poor or somewhere in between, a ball is a simple yet bountiful toy every child should have.

Jump rope

Kids can learn to jump rope at an early age. It is more than great exercise. It’s about counting games, tricks, memorizing silly rhymes, and teamwork. Jumping rope is a simple exercise that provides excellent cardio loading and strengthens the whole body. The benefits of this simple and cheap sports equipment are invaluable for your children!

Swim

Swimming is a great exercise, and the way kids do it must burn thousands of calories. You can find a pool open to the public for a small fee, and many cities have a public swimming pool. Make friends with people who have pools, or visit your nearest lake or pond or river if a lifeguard is provided and the area is approved for swimming.

Indoor games

Television is not the only indoor activity, but it is certainly a favorite among kids. If you have TV make a game out of it. See how long kids can work together as a team to pedal the bike and keep the TV going. Set that as the limit for TV time! Before you know it, your child will be collecting friends to help! Another good indoor game is a treasure hunt. Write clues on pieces of paper and hide them, each clue providing the next location. The treasure at the end can be a small prize, or even a perk wrapped up in an envelope, such as “good for one extra hour before bedtime”.

Go outside: the buddy system

It’s not easy to tell your kids to just go outside. Too many cars, too many strangers, and not enough adult supervision makes it challenging for all parents. As your child gets older, encourage the buddy system whenever outside. Tell your kids the importance of sticking together. Staying together gives typical kids four legs instead of two for running away, four eyes instead of two for watching for cars, and two voices instead of one to call for help or give warning. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s better than going it alone.

Go to your friend's games

Organized sports aren’t for everyone, but watching your friends play is a great way to get outside, build friendships, and join in on the fun. Ask other parents for their child’s game schedule, and make plans with your children to go to their friend's games. Before and after games kids are always around playing, so even just coming to cheer will be a great social structure for your child.

Block the driveway with your car

If you have a driveway it can be a great place to play, if not for all the cars on the street. You worry about a ball going into the street and your child chasing after it, or a car pulling into your driveway without seeing the kids playing. Move your car so it sits right in front of the end of the driveway. Balls stay in, cars stay out. You might end up with a few dings on your car, but those are easier to fix than more terrible consequences.