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Getting your kids to eat well is a full-time effort, but healthy food is only part of the equation. In our super-sedentary culture, it takes more than just a one hour dance class or weekly soccer game to keep kids in shape.

Organized sports and active classes are great, but sometimes it’s fun to actually be active WITH your kids! Here are some important steps you can take now to get your family moving…

If  you want an active child, you need to be active yourself.
You can’t just talk about exercise — you need to make it a priority for yourself as well! And you can start at home by limiting TV and computer time. The University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition reports that the average U.S. child spends more time in front of a screen than he does in any other activity besides sleeping.

Encourage active play
Make available jump ropes, Hula-Hoops, balls, scooters and tricycles or bicycles when the weather is nice and play outside with your kids.

Plan active play inside
Livestrong.com suggests a mini-trampoline or indoor hopscotch rug. Kicking a soft, sponge-type ball back and forth down a hallway or even a soft standing punch bag can work up a heart rate, or set up an indoor-friendly obstacle course (And there’s the always favorite, chasing each other around the dining room table). You could also turn on some music and have a dance party, All you need are some great songs and you can have fun dancing anywhere and burn calories at the same time, If you have a Wii, Kinect or other active video game, try a game like KidsBop Dance, Just Dance, Dance Central, or Zumba Fitness.

Institute simple exercise activities with your family.
Plan a walk after dinner, start taking the dog for a longer walk together, or a simply schedule a weekly Saturday morning family walk. Even a quick shopping trip to the mall or grocery can be active if you park farther away and walk the perimeter of the mall or store. Or you can try one of these great, active indoor activities

• Year-round indoor rinks and cold-weather outdoor rinks are open all around St. Louis. For indoor skating, try IceZone at St. Louis Mills or Hardees’s Iceplex in Chesterfield. Some St Louis outdoor rinks you can hit up are Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park and Shaw Park Ice Rink in Clayton.
• If the cold bothers you, you can also try rollerblading with your kids. If you live in a low traffic neighborhood or near a park, nice weather makes it easier. And you can find skates or rollerblades at a sporting goods or toy store, and even gently used ones at places like “Play It Again Sports”. If you go to a park, make sure they do allow rollerblading by checking online for rollerblading locations, though. I once took my kids rollerblading at the zoo, and we were escorted out by zoo security!
• If you are feeling particularly adventurous, and your kids are old enough, you might even want to try indoor rock climbing. Indoor rock climbing is growing in popularity and there are new walls popping up all over St. Louis. Some of the better know rock climbing walls can be found at St. Louis’s REI Store, The Center of Clayton, Upper Limits, or Lifetime Fitness.
• And, one of the easiest activities to share with your kids is bowling at a neighborhood bowling alley.

When my kids were younger, I would take them to a local indoor skating rink a few times a week; not for lessons or hockey but just to skate. At first I kind of just grazed the wall slowly with them, but became much bolder as time went by. They loved going around and around the rink. No pressure to be perfect-just active family fun. It was a great way to work off steam after school and have fun at the same time.  Years later, that fun stayed with them, too! We even hit the ice rink  (although it was a “composite” ice) on a recent family trip!

Once you’ve made suggestion and/or tried places, put your child in charge.
Let your children choose an activity of the day or week. Batting cages, bowling and neighborhood play areas all count. What matters is that you’re doing something active. And continue being active with your kids at home. Have them help yard work, like raking, weeding, or planting flowers; shoveling snow, or washing the car.

Make physical activity a normal part of your kids’ daily life, not just an add-on!