Fun family activities that promote physical fitness for all can make such a difference in health and relationships amongst family members.

There are times when this can be difficult, especially when kids are young and you live in an area with  a lot of rain, snow, ice, etc.

We currently live in upstate NY where snow fall amounts are taller than my children, which means we spend a lot of time indoors.

To ensure that all remain healthy and fit we've come up with 24 Fun Family Physical Fitness Ideas!

Everyone in the family, no matter their age or abilities have enjoyed these fun family activities.

24 Fun Family Physical Fitness Ideas

1. Play Hide N Seek

Use the whole house or just one floor, it depends on the ages of the kiddos.  

I gave up on the no running in the house rule a long time ago.  

Perhaps it's because my first two children were boys, one very sensory seeking.

2.  Have a Dance Party

It doesn't matter what kind of music,  create a free Pandora Station and dance the time away.  

Believe me, you'll sweat!

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3.  Animal Movement Races

If you don't have a large area, plan a route for the race through a few rooms in your home.  

The crab walk is always a great one to start with, add slithering like a snake, frog jumping, a bunny hop, etc.  

Let the kids call out which animal to be next.

4.  Create an Obstacle Course

Use couch cushions, tables, blankets, etc., whatever you can find.  

One of the activities could even be doing the army crawl underneath the bed to the other side.

5.  Circus Games

There are so many to choose from.  You could juggle, do a ring toss, target practice, etc.

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6.  Balloon Games

Try to keep the balloon up in the air with your head, your feet, your shoulder, while doing the crab walk, etc.  

Play volleyball using a balloon, or any number of games. 

The balloon is soft and gentle enough it won't break a window.

7.  Follow the Leader

Give every kiddo a turn.  

Go through the whole house.  

Have the parent start first so they understand all the physical movements they have as options.

8.  Hula Hoop Activities

What a blast! We did this Monday.  

How many things can you think of doing with a hula hoop? 

We practiced jumping, holding it with our toes, climbing through it, the typical games, etc.  

My husband can't wait to do this again. Lol.

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9.  Rope Activities

Grab a jump rope or two.  

How many ways can you use it. 

What skills can you practice?  

You'll definitely be working hard.

10.  Ball Activities

Once again, how many different ways can you use a ball, besides throwing it, which is not allowed in our house.  (Bulldozer's aim is too perfect.  Dinomite's aim is the opposite.)

11.  Gymnastics

If the floor is too hard, grab a mattress off one of the kid's beds.  

Practice forward rolls, backward rolls, stretches, head stands, and even cart wheels if you have enough room in your house.

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12.  Yoga

Our library has fabulous yoga books for kids and adults.  

Check one out, learn the poses and take your kiddos through all of them.  

My kiddos really enjoy this.

13.  Relay Races

Clear a space, practice the wheel barrow race, the three legged race, etc.  

Wheel barrow walking provides such great muscle strengthening and sensory input.  

Again if you don't have enough space in one room, mark out the track you want them to follow using several rooms.

14.  Bowling

You don't have to have a bowling set.  

Make one.  

It can be as simple as soda bottles or cans.  

Grab a ball and go!  

Have a family game or two. 

 Keep score.  

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15.  Pillow Fight

Boxing is a little rough, but having a pillow fight, with a few rules, is the ultimate fun for any kiddo (and adult)!

16.  Go for a Walk

This is the only activity on the list that requires you to go outdoors.  

I figure unless there is thunder and lightning, high winds, or a blizzard, it should be possible.  

We have the kiddos go a on a themed scavenger hunt at the same time so they're focused on that, rather than the walk.

17.  Sports Charades

Write down as many types of sports as you can. Create teams.  

Have the kiddos act each one out.  

Make it more difficult by using a famous player, team, etc. for older kids.

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18.  Table Top Games

Try Ping Pong, Shuffle Caps, Three Penny Hockey, etc.  

Your dining room table will work perfect. 

If you don't have a net, just draw a line with a white board marker or use tape that can be easily removed.

19.  Sock Wars

Make a line in the middle of the room.  

Place several rolled up socks on the line. 

Separate into two teams, one on each side of the line. 

Then, throw socks to your heart's content until the timer goes off. 

See who has less socks on their side.  

Play a few rounds.  

Tons of fun!

20.  Twister

If you don't have the board game, use colored clothes, paper plates, or just plain colored paper for that matter.  

If you don't have a spinner, make little folded up pieces of paper that can be drawn to be given for directions.  

Make it as simple or as difficult as the ages permit.

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21.  Balancing Activities

Practice walking across the room with a book on your head.  

Put an egg (plastic) on a spoon.  

Try the penguin walk. Then of course there's the balance beam and more. 

Just use tape on carpet, or a white board marker on the kitchen floor.

22.  ABC Exercise Cards

There are many option to choose from.  I personally love the ones from Chasing Cheerios.  

Grab a couple of dice and roll them to determine how many seconds you'll hold the pose or how many times you'll repeat the exercise.

23.  Parachute Activities

Grab a flat sheet from the closet and go to town.  

Add items, take away items.  

Practice going under, etc.  

It's amazing what one can do with a sheet.

24.  Sports Jeopardy

This isn't an activity that will get your heart rate up, but it's part of physical fitness.  

I figure once in a while, it should be a lot of fun, as we learn about different sports, especially during the Olympic season.

If you have any other family physical fitness ideas, please share in comments.  I always love adding variety!

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Sunshine is so anxious to learn just like her older brothers and sister.  For that reason we're attempting tot school.   Apples are the theme of our fall activities right now.

If you're looking to have your own apple themed tot school, we hope these activities inspire.

Much of the focus of these tasks is to develop fine motor skills and help with sensory regulation.

 

Apple Tot School

Here's what Sunshine is doing!

A is for Apple Q-Tip Painting Activity

I thought this was the cutest idea when I saw it. Sunshine will use the Q-tips and red paint provided to fill in the dots on the A is for apple page.  She can also use her fingers and finger paint as well.

Source:  I found this free printable at 1+1+1=1.

Apple Tracing Practice

Sunshine loves using markers.  She begs for them when her siblings have them.  I thought this was a cute introductory activity for her.  I'm not so sure she understood what to do, but she still enjoyed herself.

Source: I found this free printable at The Intentional Mama. Unfortunately it is no longer available.

Apple Prints

An apple unit wouldn't be the same without apple printing.  Sunshine wasn't the biggest fan of it, but she did ask to do it twice.  I'm hoping I can help her be okay with  paint on her hands sooner than later.

Apple Sensory Bin

Sunshine doesn't quite know what to think about sensory bins yet.  She really struggled with the rice today.  

I did teach her how to stir the rice with the cinnamon stick and she liked that.  It's so funny how each kiddo is so different.  The boys LOVE sensory bins, especially rice.  She's the opposite.

This sensory bin includes

• Rice
• Red and green plastic apples
• Cinnamon sticks
• Yellow and red plastic jewel beads

"Apple" Deposit

Putting things in and out of containers is Sunshine's FAVORITE thing to do, next to opening and closing containers.  She did a fabulous job with this activity.  All I used was a wipes container and large pom poms.

Though Sunshine wasn't quite sure what to do with some of her apple activities, she enjoyed herself.  She felt like her big brothers and sister.  We hope to continue with tot school as long as time permits!

For those who are interested in more activities for toddlers, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter by clicking the link below.

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The start of October brings with it our apple activities for preschoolers with free printables. 

This is definitely a fall unit that awakens the senses, includes many practical life activities, and aids in fine motor skill development.

Our kids absolutely LOVED it. 

Apple Unit with Free Printables

A is for Apple Sand Tray

Bulldozer struggles with writing. As we've introduced the alphabet this year, it's taken two weeks to conquer writing each letter.

We're now switching gears and using a sand tray to practice writing letters.  Red, yellow, and orange glitter, as well as cinnamon have been added to the tray, to make it more festive for Fall.

I can't believe how much using the sand tray has improved Bulldozer's writing abilities.  He practices writing all of the letters we've learned this year each time he selects this work.  

Source:  The upper and lowercase alphabet cards can be found for free at Homeschool Creations.

Phonograms:  Long U

We've been studying the Montessori Green Series and phonograms lately.  Right now we're focusing on the long "U" sound.  Dinomite thoroughly enjoyed sorting these cards.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Long Vowel U Phonogram Cards printable is a subscriber's only freebie. For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Montessori Green Series Long U Writing Activity

My boys despise writing.  Many activities on our shelves are designed for them.  This one was designed with Princess in mind.  She loves to write.

The kiddos will write the missing letters in each of the words provided.  A control is available if they need it.

Source: I created the printable for this activity.  The Phonogram Writing Cards printable is a subscriber's only freebie. For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Counting Apples by 10

All three kiddos know how to count by tens, while singing a song. I wanted to see if they could apply their knowledge.

They're doing quite well so far!

Source:  I created these cards. The Counting Apples by 10 Printable is is a subscriber's only freebie. For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Writing Numbers

The kiddos now know how to write all of their single digit numbers. Hooray!

Since it's been a while since we've written some of our numbers, I decided to provide a refresher.

Source:  The printable for this activity can be found at Homeschool Creations.

Montessori Addition Strip Board

All three kiddos are working on their addition skills.  After many other failed attempts to help them improve their skills, I've turned to the Montessori Addition Strip Board for help.

I do not have an addition strip board, nor do I have the funds to purchase one right now.  Instead, I made my own. The board I have created fits on an 8 x 11 sheet of paper.  It fits perfectly on one of our trays.

I printed out all of the pieces on card stock and then laminated them.  The homemade material is working fabulously.

When I showed Dinomite how it works, he was SO EXCITED!  Princess selected this activity off the shelf before any other activity.  I am so thankful for Maria Montessori, her work, and materials.  They have benefited my children so much.

Source: I created this Addition Strip Board and the Addition  Problem Template. Both are Subscriber's Only Freebies. For your free copies, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Countries & Flags of South America

This month we're studying South America.  I am unable to have the kiddos do the typical flag/country activity with toothpicks or other objects, because of Bulldozer's adhesive allergy. I have no way of attaching the flags to the toothpicks.  So, instead, I created match up cards for each country with their flag.

Source: I created the printable for this activity.  The South America Flag and Country Cards printable is a subscriber's only freebie. For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Apple Picking

We went apple picking as a family for the first time on Saturday.  It was a BIG deal.  Bulldozer was allergic to apples up until he was 3 years old.  We are so thankful he outgrew this allergy.

Bulldozer loved picking the apples.  It wasn't until three out of four bags were full, that he decided to start chucking them.

Dinomite has had opportunities to go apple picking, but has refused due to anxieties, sensory issues, etc.  This year he finally decided to try it.  We are so proud of him!

Sunshine, had an apple in her mouth at all times. When she accidentally dropped one she just picked another.  She was super cute!

Princess had fun as well. Every time the wagon went over a bump she shot up about 4 inches.

Each day this week we're making a different apple treat.  Tonight we made apple cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Parts of an Apple

Bulldozer likes this activity because it's easy.  The kiddos already seem quite knowledgeable about the parts of the apple.  The only parts they didn't know were the core and flesh.

Source:  I found this free printable at 2 Teaching Mommies. It appears it's no longer available.

Life Cycle of an Apple

The kiddos have enjoyed arranging cards in the order of the life cycle of an apple using the control above.

Source:  I found this free printable at Montessori for Everyone. If you'd like an updated version of this printable be sure to check out the resource below.

FREE Montessori-inspired Life Cycle of an Apple Printable Pack

Source: The Life Cycle of an Apple is a subscriber's only freebie. For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Apple Varieties

The kiddos were pretty amazed by how many different kinds of apples there were at the apple orchard.  At the same time, they're super picky about their apples. I thought it would be fun for them to match up apples using this chart.

It came as no surprise that Dinomite picked out the exact apple he prefers on the chart, without knowing it's name, because of it's distinct color.  He has such a good eye for details.  In case you're wondering, he will only eat Fuji Apples.

Source: I found this free printable at 2 Teaching Mommies. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available anymore.

Cutting Apples

The kiddos practice their cutting skills while doing this activity.  I peel and slice the apple up into quarters. The kiddos then cut the apple into tiny pieces that were used for our apple cake.

Slicing Apples

The kiddos practiced slicing an apple.  None of them can do it on their own yet, but they did try!

Apple Taste Testing

Apple tasting will be on ongoing thing this week.  In this picture there are samples of unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon applesauce, apple juice, and apple cider.  Missing from the picture are two different apple slices.

Apple Peeling

Bulldozer LOVES to peel carrots. He was super excited when he saw this activity.  However, all three kiddos are really struggling to peel the apple.  The coordination is tricky and then to add muscle strength... I'm hoping they keep trying!

Transferring Apples with Tongs

I love my little plastic apples.  They work for so many things!  In this activity the kiddos use the tongs to transfer the apples from the basket to the tray.  Bulldozer decided he was going to roll the apples across the room, and then go and pick them up using the tongs.  He always has his own ideas about things.

Tweezing & Sorting Apples by Color

The kiddos use the tweezers to pick up the pom poms and place them on the trees. This activity is much harder than it looks. Princess did a great job with it today.

Source: I found the apple tree coloring page at coloring.ws.

Spooning Apples

The kiddos will remove the red "apples" from the bowl using the spoon provided. The goal is not to use their hands.  I've been impressed at how well they've done with this so far.

For those who would like more botany or seasonal Montessori activities and printables, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter by following the directions below.

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If you're interested in more apple themed activities, be sure to visit the post below.

   

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