Be a kid again (with your kids) and have a blast.

Remember when you were in grade school? Dirt didn’t matter, and sweat meant you were having a great time. Why not recapture that feeling and energy? “As a parent, you’re a role model,” says Chris Carmichael, author of 5 Essentials for a Winning Life. “Rather than choose something passive, like going to a movie or the mall, opt for intense outdoor games, which can lead to much richer experiences.”

Batonathon

“Relays are awesome,” says Gayle Hutchinson, Ed.D., “especially if you time them. Kids love the challenge.” Use a banana as your baton and come up with a new way to hold it as you run each lap: between your knees, under your arm, on your head.

Stomp

You’ll need balloons and string for this one: Let the kids blow up their own balloons and tie one to their ankle with string. When you announce “go,” they try to stomp on one another’s balloons until they’re all popped.

Let the Mud Fly

Even if it’s a little soggy outside, there’s still ripe opportunity for rousing sport. Play a game of muddy soccer or tag football, and join your crew as they slip and slide their way to a great time. A little mess means a lot of fun.

Jolly Volley

Picnic blankets are for more than just sitting. You’ll need two teams and two blankets. Each team holds a blanket and volleys a ball or balloon to the other blanket. The goal? Catching — and having — a ball.

No Balls, Balloons or Bananas?

No problem. Start with two people arm in arm. They chase the other players; each person they tag gets added to the chain. Remember: Only players at either end of the chain can tag someone.

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