Games for Outdoor Fun

Battle the boredom blues by adding these super-fun games to your babysitting routine.

Sometimes it can seem ridiculously easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle, especially when babysitting. Video games and television are the main culprits, but kids learn by example and so any of you sitters out there actually sitting right now better be prepared to start moving.

Make it a priority to get outside with the children. There are so many fun things to do, and you might be able to get a little work done, too (disguised as a game, of course).

1. GO OLD SCHOOL

Remember the days when you would head outside and go, go, go until the sun went down? You didn't need fancy toys or exercise videos to get your blood pumping, you just needed a few friends and maybe some chalk! Teach kids the wonderful games you used to play, like hop scotch, leap frog and freeze tag. All of these games incorporate coordination and aerobic exercise but your kids will never know it! They'll be too busy running, jumping, leaping and hopping to notice that they are actually building muscle and gaining important balancing skills.

2. PLAY BALL!

One of the best ways to get exercise into your and your child's everyday routine is to play a sport. You don't have to belong the YMCA or pay costly fees to play through your city's parks and recreation department; just have a variety of balls on hand and get out in the yard. Soccer, basketball and football are all amazing cardiovascular exercises and help to improve hand-eye coordination. You can even pick one day a week and arrange to have neighborhood games. Get the neighbors involved, whether or not they have children. And if you do end up with a broken window, well, at least it was all in the interest of promoting good fitness. Right?

3. YARDWORD, SCHMARDWORK

How long has it been since you jumped into a heaping pile of fresh fall leaves? Probably too long! So get the kids together, hand each of them a rake and go to town making one enormous pile of leaves. With this activity, you will not only get the yard tidied up in record time, you'll have a barrel of fun.

4. TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Plan a nature walk either in the neighborhood or at a nearby park one evening. Before setting off, choose one or two things from nature that you'll be looking for, such as interesting rocks, acorns or leaves in a variety of colors. Take small, brown paper lunch sacks or even plastic grocery bags and write each kid's name on one. Have them pick up items that are on your "nature list" as you walk along. You'll find that the time and distance will pass more quickly that you imagined. Then, when you get home, you and the kids can sit down and make collages with all the great items they've found along the way.

5. CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

Kids love the opportunity to overcome challenges, and a homemade obstacle course can be just the ticket for some healthy exercise and friendly competition. Making sure that the obstacles are age-appropriate, you can take items from around your home and turn your backyard into a fun and daring contest. Create "stations" to incorporate many different activities, such as a ball that must be tossed in the air and caught five times or small logs from your firewood pile that must be carried a short distance before moving on to the next station. Have the kids help you make up obstacles so that they can get a little brain workout, too.

6. HOP TO IT

Jumping rope is one of the best physical workouts anyone can do, including adults. Get a few ropes so that you can all jump together and make it a game to see who can jump the highest or the longest. Teach your kids the rhymes that you used to jump rope to when you were young or make up some of your own. Jumping rope will improve balance and endurance while giving their whole body an oxygen boost with aerobic activity. And, that oxygen boost has the added benefit of boosting the mind as well. Feeling daring? Teach yourselves to play double-dutch.

7. REINVENT THE WHEEL

We all know that kids have a huge sense of adventure and anything with wheels can take you on that adventure! There are lots of fun and rewarding exercises that you can do with your kids such as an outing on your bikes, or perhaps a little rollerblading, skateboarding or even scootering. Always be sure that you and the children are outfitted with the correct safety gear and that it fits properly, then get out there and turn some RPMs.

8. FREEZE!

This game has many different names. One of them is Statues, while another is Red Light, Green Light. No matter what you call it, it's a great disguise for exercise. The idea is to stretch, move and then when the leader tells you to stop, you must hold the pose you are in until they tell you to go again. This game can teach your kids the wonderful feeling of stretching while they learn muscle control. You could even research yoga poses that are good for kids and have them imitate your movements. All in all, this is a fun way to get everyone moving. Or not.

9. SIMON SAYS

We're all familiar with this old favorite, and it can easily be a great game to get your kids jumping, touching their toes, doing arm circles or even push ups. In addition to developing their physical well being, you are helping them to hone their listening skills. They might even listen when you tell them it's bedtime. Don't hold your breath, though.

10. PLAYGROUND PLAYTIME

Playgrounds are a great place to exert energy and have fun with your kids. Make sure you get out there and do it all with them. Play a game of chase from one piece of equipment to the next or simply see how far you can get across the monkey bars! (Falling off? Maybe it's time to hit the gym.) Have fun and get physical!