Does the gaming console appear surgically attached to your son’s hand? Is your daughter’s skin emitting an electronic glow? During the winter months, a little lethargy is understandable—severe weather can limit the types of exercise available to some children. But with the arrival of spring, this same “excuse” for avoiding physical activity doesn’t hold water.

Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, although this time can be accrued in smaller blocks of 10 minutes or more.

Warmer weather means it is time to get your kids moving again. But how do you motivate children who seem to have lost the fundamental skill of motion? And, in a world of boundless internet, gaming, television and movie options, how can an antiquated thing called “exercise” compete for the attention of your child?

With children spending an average three hours a day watching television—not including time spent online, playing video games or watching DVDs—finding 60 minutes for exercise can be difficult. Limiting your child’s screen time to one or two hours can help free up this vital time. Allowing your child to choose his or her media of choice—television, internet, video games, DVDs or any combination thereof—can make this restriction feel less restrictive to your child.

Many of us grew up roaming the neighborhood, on bikes and on foot. These days, many parents have legitimate fears about allowing their children this same freedom. So what other options are available? Below are some great ways to engage your children in physical activity:

• Rent or buy a marital arts video.
• Participate in a charitable fun run or walk as a family.
• Have a dance-off and strike a pose whenever the music stops.
• Pillow fight!
• Walk the dog.
• Plant a garden.
• Water gun fight!
• Go on a family walk or bike ride each evening.
• Play flag or touch football.
• Do a community service project—landscaping, picking up trash, etc.—as a family.
• Keep track of miles walked with a pedometer and reward performance.
• Play hacky sack.
• Make up cheers and choreography.
• Paintball fight!
• Shoot hoops or play a pick-up game.
• Rent or buy a fun exercise video (dance, yoga, etc.)—check your local library first.
• Play Frisbee golf.
• Have a themed dance party (disco, eighties, etc.).
• Assign active chores (sweeping, mowing, raking, etc.).
• Hang a target on your fence and hurl water-balloons at it.
• Enroll your child in dance or gymnastics.
• Go on walking-intensive outings to zoos, museums, etc.
• Sign up for classic team sports—football, baseball, soccer, basketball, etc.
• Go fishing.
• Buy Wii Fit or other active video games—these burn four times as many calories per minute than seated video games.
• Hunt for bugs, frogs or turtles.
• Play tennis, badminton or ping pong.
• Make a music video of your child dancing to a favorite song.
• Hit the park or neighborhood playground.
• Have some retro fun with hula hoops, hopscotch or jump ropes.
• Install a punching bag or pull up bar.
• Have a family “bootcamp”—wear camo and make a game of doing drills.
• Join a school, church or community athletic team.
• Visit a rock-climbing gym.
• Turn on the sprinklers or Slip ‘n Slide.
• Sign up online for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award … and win prizes.
• Wash and wax the car together.
• Host a mini-Olympics—invite your friends or neighbors.
• Go camping together.
• Get wet with swimming, diving or scuba sessions.
• Go fly a kite.
• Go roller, in-line or ice skating.
• Have your child teach your dog fun tricks—watch canine obstacle courses and Frisbee challenges for inspiration.
• Rent a moonwalk for your next party.
• Play ball in the backyard—playing a game of catch or kicking around a soccer ball with your child provides exercise … and quality time.
• Join a family-friendly gym.
• Check out free day camps—try the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
• Enjoy Dance Dance Revolution, Cyber Groove or another dance-based game.
• Go on a hike with your child—let them photograph items along the way.