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Re-Schedule Your Family Calendar.
Begin by looking at how you and your family spend time and money. Tightly packed calendars put unhealthy stress on relationships and perhaps family budgets as well. Families need opportunities to eat dinner and play together, time to be relaxed instead of rushing off in the car to the next activity. Kids (and spouses) crave attention and connection. Consider improving the quality of your family life by setting a limit on the number of activities for each member. Outside interests are important, but so are family relationships. Reclaim this important value.
 

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Re-Think Screen Time.
Most homes have multiple entertainment screens—televisions, computers, video games—and often, more than one of each category. Such devices use an amazing amount of electricity. Just the TVs alone use about 3% of household energy. Turning them off saves energy and helps all of us be healthier. While pediatricians recommend no screen time for children under the age of 2 and less than 2 hours per day for older kids, the entire family benefits from limiting screen time. Establish a screen time budget that applies to everyone. Less screen time leaves more time for active fun—playing ball, riding bikes, taking walks.
 

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Re-Define Transportation.
This idea helps the budget and the environment as well as the health of all. The effect of exercise on physical, mental and emotional health has been well documented. Children do better in school and have fewer behavior problems when they get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Walking or biking to school and other activities (with you alongside!) gives them (and you) a good start on getting the movement we all need. Many errands are less than a mile from home, a distance easily walked in less than 15 minutes. Relying on personal power instead of gas power is better for you and the environment.
 

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Re-Discover the Joy of Family Time.
The saying that a family that plays together, stays together is true. We all get more than a healthy body from family playtime. Children learn important values like taking turns and fair play through games, and have fun doing it. Adults need fun just as much as kids, so playtime is good for them too.

Gear for playtime like bicycles, bats and gloves can get pricey. Save money by shopping for active play equipment at garage sales and thrift stores. Good used items can often be found for a fraction of the cost of new.