It’s no secret that we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but perhaps the scariest thing is that children are now more affected than ever. Research has shown time and time again that obese children and teens more often than not go on to become obese adults, massively increasing their risk of all kinds of preventable illnesses.

Diabetes, heart attack, stroke- it’s something that as parents we never want to imagine for our kids. Thankfully, children are naturally energetic and there are plenty of ways we can ensure that they’re getting the activity they need- the only trouble is we need to make it fun to lure them away from their gadgets and technology. With summer on the way, here are some of the ways you can go about getting them moving– but they’ll be having so much fun it won’t feel like exercise!

Hire a bouncy castle

Bouncy castles are the ultimate idea of fun for most kids. And spending a day or weekend bouncing away will burn up a whole lot of calories as well as get them moving all areas of their bodies. Perhaps you could throw a party one weekend, invite their friends from school or your relatives who have kids who would also enjoy the fun. It’s the perfect way to spend a warm summers day! Bouncy castle hire companies will come and deliver, set up and pick up for you so there’s no hassle for you- and your kids are sure to love you for it. 

Buy some garden toys

Running around in the garden is great fun when you’re young- making up games, cartwheeling across the lawn, chasing the family dog around or perhaps swinging on a swing set. Purchase a few things that kids can play with in the garden, it could be really inexpensive items like chalk to draw a hopscotch on the floor or a skipping rope. Or you could invest in a climbing frame with slide or a jungle gym to really get them moving around. 

Have a water fight

Buy some water guns or just fill up some empty washing up liquid bottles and chase each other around! You could grab the hose, or set up a sprinkler and let kids jump through it. It’s fun, exciting and there’s an element of competition there. Just make sure kids are wearing shoes to avoid injuries, and ensure that there are no tripping hazards in the garden that could cause a problem.

Play games at the park

If you can get the whole family together, why not arrange a meet up at the local park? You could go on hikes or bike rides, or play a big game of rounders together. The best way to socialise while giving adults and children alike a fantastic workout.