Being Active As A Family
Connect and create memories as a family by being active together
Date: 1 August 2025 Author: Energise Me
Moving as a family creates memories that last a lifetime. This summer, why not give these activities a try!
School’s out and summer’s here! While that might bring some well-earned excitement, it can also mean one more thing for parents and carers to juggle – especially if you’re balancing work, house chores, and now, keeping the kids entertained too.
That’s why we’re making this August about Active Play! No big spending, no long-distance travel necessary. Just ways for families to move together, laugh more, and feel energised throughout the month.
Active play is exactly what it sounds like: moving around through play. Think walking around like your favourite animal, the floor is lava game and water fights. It’s all about adding movement into games. For example, Giant Jenga makes you stand and stretch, and Twister makes you bend and balance.
The best bit? It doesn’t have to cost a thing, doesn’t require special equipment, and can be done anywhere.
Whether your children like noisy, wild games or more imaginative, quiet activities, there are plenty of ways to move more at their pace, and yours.
Roll up socks and take turns shooting them into the laundry basket. Try from different distances or move the target around for an extra challenge!
Hide toys, puzzle pieces or snacks around the house or garden. Then give your children clues that involve moving to find them like ‘hop like a frog’, ‘spin three times’, ‘crawl under the table’.
Want to bring your street to life with games and play? This movement helps neighbours safely open up their streets so children can play freely and actively, right outside their homes. Get your street active by visiting the Playing Out website.
Need a little daily inspiration to keep the family moving this summer?
We’ve created a simple Active August Calendar packed with fun, bite-sized activity ideas for every single day of the month. Each one is quick, easy to do at home or outdoors, and designed to fit around real family life. No equipment, no pressure.
Whether you’re hunting for fossils in New Forest or looking for fairies in Royal Victoria Country or tracking the Gruffalo and his friends at Alice Holt, there’s lots of ways to active play outdoors.
From climbing frames to zip wires and balance beams to open spaces for ball games, your local park is a free gym for kids!
Check out the Toddle Doddle guide to Hampshire play areas to find one near you. It includes photos, equipment info, and even reviews from users.
Spot butterflies in your garden or local green space and take part in this national count. It’s a great excuse to get outside and explore with your eyes wide open. Find out more on the Big Butterfly Count website.
This is an annual treasure hunt in the Portsmouth area. From Wednesday 23 July to Monday 1 September, children are invited to walk, wheel, and scoot their way to fantastic prizes. Find out how to get involved on the Portsmouth City Council website.
Go collecting leaves, sticks, feathers or stones then come home and make art with what you’ve found. It’s creative, calming, and surprisingly active.
Summertime probably means going to the sea is on the agenda. Take a ball, splash in the waves, write names in the sand, build castles – it’s all movement, and it all counts.
Fancy trying something new without buying it? The brilliant project ‘Find Your Thing’ lets you borrow equipment like frisbees, cones and other equipment for outdoor games for free! Find out more on the Love Outdoors website.
An exciting £3.50 assault course for kids aged 4–10, included in their ‘Summer at Fort Nelson’ programme. Visit their website to find out more.
If you’re headed to Milestones Museum this summer, admission includes participation in ‘Summer of Sport’! Each week, a new sport takes centre stage with themed activities and challenges for all ages. Activities include football, cycling and motor racing to name a few! Learn more on the Hampshire Cultural Trust website.
Only £4 to take part — kids follow clues, get moving and enjoy a silly prehistoric adventure. Find out more on the Hampshire County Council website.
£5 for under-5s to take on a giant inflatable obstacle course and soft play! Check out the Places Leisure website to find out more.
Helping us tackle inactivity to boost health and happiness
