Keep the Kids Active These School Holidays: 5 Fun Indoor Exercises the Whole Family Will Love

Meta description: Discover five fun indoor exercises to keep your kids entertained and active during the school holidays while promoting family fitness and bonding.

For many families, school holidays can feel like a juggling act—keeping kids entertained without relying entirely on screen time is no small feat. But what if you could combine quality family bonding with active play and physical fitness? By introducing your kids to fun, engaging workouts indoors, you’ll not only help them burn off energy but also instill healthy habits that could last a lifetime. With a little creativity, fitness can become a family adventure that your children actually look forward to.

Creating an environment where movement is exciting is the first step. Set aside time each day for family workouts and make them feel like a game or friendly competition. Whether you track personal bests or pit parents against kids in playful challenges, these activities are sure to bring smiles, laughter, and a healthy dose of movement into your home.

Here are five exciting indoor exercises your kids will love and tips to keep the fun going:

1. Bear Crawls: Let the Wild Fun Begin

There’s something about pretending to be an animal that kids can’t resist—and the bear crawl is no exception. Have everyone get down on their hands and feet, backs arched like a grizzly on the prowl. Now it’s time to race! Challenge your kids to bear crawl across the living room, or if you’re feeling creative, build a mini obstacle course using pillows, chairs, or toys. Not only does this exercise help build upper body strength and coordination, but it also fires up their imagination. Watch your home turn into a jungle gym of giggles.

2. Star Jumps: Bursting with Energy

Star jumps are a fantastic way to burn energy quickly—and kids absolutely love them. Start a countdown timer and see who can do the most in a minute. Want to take it further? Create a personal best chart to encourage daily improvement. This not only makes the exercise more exciting but also fosters a sense of achievement in your children. It’s a simple move with big results for both cardio fitness and family fun.

3. Burpee High-Fives: Teamwork Meets Challenge

The burpee can be intimidating, but with a little teamwork and a lot of enthusiasm, it becomes a high-energy game. Start with a jump, move into a plank, do a push-up, and leap back up—then give your workout buddy a high-five! Turn this into a team challenge to keep the motivation high and encourage accountability. Your kids will love the fast pace, and you’ll love the teamwork and perseverance it helps build. Plus, it’s a full-body workout disguised as fun.

4. Planking Competitions: Who Can Hold the Longest?

Nothing brings out friendly rivalry like a good old-fashioned challenge—and planking is perfect for that. Ask your kids to balance on their forearms and tiptoes, holding their bodies in a straight line. Set a timer and see who can last the longest. It’s a simple core-building exercise that’s safe for all ages and encourages mental toughness. Add a leaderboard on the fridge to keep track of records, and you’ve got a new family tradition.

5. Squats with a Grip Ball: Catch, Squat, Repeat!

Standard squats become exciting when you add a game of catch into the mix. Grab a soft grip ball, and after each toss, instruct your kids to squat before throwing it back. This variation not only enhances lower-body strength but adds the coordination of timing and reaction. The anticipation of catching the ball and getting the squat right turns fitness into a fun rhythm-based game that feels like play—not work.

Make Fitness a Family Affair

Beyond burning calories or building strength, these activities provide something even more valuable: connection. Moving together, laughing together, and challenging one another promotes a bond that’s hard to replicate through passive entertainment. Exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones, making your kids happier and more energized. And unlike digital games, these moments become real memories—snapshots of joy and togetherness during the holidays.

For families looking to support their child’s physical development while managing school holiday boredom, these at-home exercises are a perfect fit. If your child has an existing condition or recent injury, seeking guidance from local professionals, such as those who specialise in physiotherapy Townsville, can help you adapt movements safely for their needs.

So this school break, skip the screens for a bit and bring the fun indoors. Whether it's crawling like a bear or competing in plank battles, these exercises turn your living room into a playground of health and happiness. Let the family fitness journey begin!