GeoPalz.com
The folks at GeoPalz are in business of making products to get families moving with a variety of pedometers and activity trackers. They’re also full of great ideas. Here’s a list of suggestions they sent over to get every one up and moving in the lovely Spring air.
- Pick-up kickball game – Throw out some makeshift bases and get to kicking! Running around the bases and fielding the ball will have both teams sweating.
- Beachside scavenger hunt – Hide sand toys around your beach site and see who can find the most first. Be quick!
- Jump rope competition – Every player grabs a jump rope and hops as many times as possible in a two-minute interval. You can use a pedometer like GeoPalz (www.geopalz.com) to track your activity.
- Build a fort – Use old sheets over tree limbs and pretend it’s a tent. Eat dinner there, stay up and tell “ghost” stories and listen to “night sounds” and try to identify them. Keep a kid-sized headlamp handy (www.coghlans.com) so you don’t trip in the dark.
- Grow an edible garden – Encourage your kids to plant seeds such as tomatoes and herbs like parsley, thyme, coriander and basil. After they grow, have a picnic and invite the whole family!
- Car Wash – Park your car in the driveway, and let your kids wash it with a pot of water and sponge. Get the whole family involved and wash two cars. Make it a race for a little friendly competition.
- Geocaching – Go treasure hunting! Adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices play geocaching all over the world. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online (www.geocaching.com).
- Bug Safari – Search for worms, lizards, frogs or tadpoles. Keep track of your findings and at the end, tally up who found the most to see who wins!
- Relays – Set up a “Neighborhood Relay”. All the kids in the neighborhood can participate! Spend the summer with your kids walking, jogging or running and near the end, whoever took the most steps wins!
- Camping – Find a local campsite and spend the weekend exploring the outdoors. Go for a hike, roller-blade, throw a Frisbee or fly a kite.
