by Miranda Owens

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

Here are some fun ways to get your family exercising, while having fun in your own backyard this summer.

Play a game of soccer. Divide the whole family up into two teams or play one-on-one, winner gets to play the next member of the family.

Kickball which is played like baseball could also be fun. Play the traditional way for the older members. For the younger members, use a smaller ball and make the diamond smaller.

Make an obstacle course that requires climbing, hoping and jumping. You could place four or five jump ropes on the ground to hop over, have a potato sack race and climb up a rope hanging from a tree. You could also crab walk, play leapfrog, the possibilities are endless.

Draw a hop-scotch game on your sidewalk. This fun game not only gets your heart rate going, but kids can also work on their balance.

Have a jump roping contest. Pick out a special prizes for the longest, the fastest and the silliest.

Hold a hula-hoop contest. Hula hoops aren't just for your waist. Try them around your neck, your chest and arms, and your ankles. Make it as fun and as silly as possible.

Play a game of tag. There's the traditional type, freeze tag or any kind you can come up with. Use your imagination. The sillier, the better and the more exercise you will want to get.

Have a backyard pool. Have some swimming contests. For the older kids, go end to end and for the younger ones, side to side. Have the kids make up some water dances and put on a show.

See who can tread water the longest. If you have a diving board, see who can come up with the silliest dive.

Do you have a large trampoline in your yard? Jumping is wonderful exercise and can be very fun. See who can jump the longest, the highest and maybe even the silliest.

Badminton is fun for the older members of the family. Play like you normally would or if you have a large backyard, spread out a lot further and see if you can still get it over the net.

Have an old-fashioned running race. Time yourselves and try to beat your best time. Make the races silly. For the younger members, try crawling instead of running. Dance your way to the finish line. Have whatever kind of race you can think of. Make them as silly as possible, they are more fun that way and the kids won't know they are exercising.

These are only a handful of ideas for fun exercising in your own backyard. Use your imagination and see what else you can come up with.

Have fun and enjoy your summer.

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