If you’re thinking about building a more active lifestyle, summer is an ideal time to start. And for those of us with kids to entertain at home, these 30 ideas will keep the whole family moving (come rain or shine). Try as many as you like for an action-packed summer!
Our unique active lifestyle programme is all about moving more in a way that feels comfortable for you and that suits your lifestyle. So, don’t be afraid to skip, repeat or adapt any of these ideas.
30 summer activity ideas
Find a new park
Chasing the kids around and pushing swings will definitely get your heart rate up. If you’ve grown tired of your usual park, find somewhere different to rekindle the excitement. Ask on social media for local favourites, or search here – you could set yourselves a challenge to visit a new park every week (or even every day!).
Try an adventure activity
If you’re looking to pack maximum activity into your day, a visit to an outdoor adventure centre ticks all the boxes. There’s something to suit every age and activity level, from zip wires and challenging obstacles to rope walkways and bounce nets.
Adventure-loving Consultant Glen Tansey has abseiling, wild swimming, canoeing and bungee-fitness on her summer activity hit list!
Play a game
When the weather’s playing ball, garden games of catch, frisbee and chase are a fantastic (and free) way to get active with the kids. You could also invest in a swingball set, a basketball hoop, child-friendly skittles, croquet or quoits – or an oversized set of dominoes, Jenga or snakes and ladders. If the sun stops shining, simply move playtime indoors!
More on the blog: Pack a Slimming World picnic
Check out the leisure centre
Local leisure centres often have special timetables for families during the holidays, which can include everything from roller skating to badminton. Alternatively, running around a play centre after small children can be a workout in itself!
After losing more than 6st (38kg), the tube slide is child’s play for our member Sascha. Read her inspiring weight loss story. here
Plan an active day trip
Spending a whole day at a theme park or zoo can tot up a surprising number of steps. To reap the biggest health and wellbeing benefits (and get the most out of your day out!), explore at a brisk pace – one that increases your breathing, raises your heart rate and makes you feel warmer.
Steven loves theme parks even more after losing more than 6st (38kg) in a year with Slimming World. Read Steven’s story.
Opt for an outdoor gym
There are thousands of outdoor gyms across the UK, so there’s likely to be one near you (you’ll find interactive maps online). These gyms include bikes, cross-trainers and toning machines to give you a well-rounded workout – and they’re all free to use.
Press play on a workout video
Slimming World members can take their pick from 90 exclusive activity videos that are specially designed to help them enjoy the benefits of regular activity, whatever their fitness level or ability. The collection includes seated workouts, strength training, dance, cardio and balance exercises – everything’s covered!
Our member Elsie gradually worked her way through our activity awards and feels stronger, more energised and proud of what her body can do. Discover how she transformed her habits for a healthier lifestyle here.
Hit the arcade
Arcades aren’t just for seaside trips – you’ll find them in shopping malls and entertainment centres. Jump on the dance mat, whack-a-mole or hoopla to tot up activity while scoring plenty of brownie points with the kids.
Head to the beach
If you’re off to the seaside, there’ll be buckets (and spades) of activities to try, from frisbee and kite-flying to beach volleyball and watersports. Or release your inner child and build a sandcastle – all the squatting, digging and walking to and from the shore definitely counts as activity!
Yvonne lost an incredible 9st 7lbs (60kg), and has maintained her weight loss for 10 years. Discover how it changed her life completely.
Take the dog out
Even though walking is one of the simplest ways to get active, sometimes there may be barriers that stop us from stepping out. If you feel self-conscious walking by yourself, or you just find it a bit dull, a furry walking companion can help. Those who aren’t dog-parents themselves could borrow a willing one from family, friends or a neighbour. There are also apps that connect would-be dog walkers with local pooches, for the best paw-sible match.
Our member Shazza enjoys long walks with a furry four-legged friend (or two!).
Make a splash
Swimming is an energy-burning, body-toning stress buster that works every major muscle group without putting pressure on your joints – which is why it’s suitable for so many of us. If little ones need a bit more variety to keep them occupied, a trip to a water park is a real treat.
More on the blog: Our guide to swimming for fitness
Download a new app
There are thousands of fitness apps – many of them free! With apps for everything from running to home workouts, you’re bound to find one you enjoy – and that’s the secret to making activity a lasting habit.
Slimming World members can track workouts using the Planner on the Slimming World app. Plus, Fitbit, Apple Health or Google Fit apps can be linked to our Planner to automatically track steps and achievements.
Hit the shops
Making the most of your local greengrocers, butchers and food markets is a great alternative to driving out to a supermarket. Give the kids a list and make it a game to find what you need, clocking up steps as you go.
Go retro
Think back to your own childhood and what kept you occupied during the long summer holidays. Hula- hooping, roller skating, skipping, hopscotch… a trip down memory lane can be a lovely way to add some movement into your day and get the kids off their devices.
Our member Alex built up his activity levels at Slimming World through setting achievable targets. Read about his step-by-step journey to running the London Marathon!
Set up a sports day
Even if you weren’t a fan at school, setting up a garden ‘sports day’ can be brilliant for a sunny afternoon (whether it’s with the kids or a game-for-a-laugh group of friends). You can pick up inexpensive kits containing everything you need – or go ‘old school’ and hard-boil some eggs for the egg-and-spoon race!
Take a walk
Fresh air, lovely views, birdsong… no wonder a study found that people who head outside for a stroll can feel their mood lift in just 15 minutes – and you can up the family fun-factor by taking along scooters or bikes.
Any walk that makes you feel warmer and speeds up your heart rate brings benefits, and choosing a route with a hill or two will work the muscles in your thighs and bum even harder.
Joining Slimming World helped Cheri to discover a love for walking – and achieve her target 3st (19kg) weight loss!
More on the blog: Fancy some company? Tune in to our Slimming World walking podcast
Set a challenge
Adding a challenge or competition element can give you extra motivation to get active – and it adds a fun element for the kids.
Walk the World with Slimming World to boost your step count and tick off famous landmarks along the way.
Get on your bike
Dry days are a perfect opportunity for a bike ride. If it’s been a while since you were last in the saddle, a flat cycle trail is the safest bet (you’ll find routes on the Sustrans website). If you’ve got really young children, you could hire a bike with a trailer or child seat.
Top tip: If you struggle to get your tribe out for a walk, scooting or cycling –like our member India and son Freddie – feel much more fun.
Organise a treasure hunt
A trip to the woods is great for keeping the kids entertained in the holidays – throw a treasure hunt into the mix and turn your walk into a real adventure! Plan your own course and clues, or head to Treasuretrails.co.uk to find routes near you.
Give watersports a go
Whether you visit a watersports centre or book a taster session at the seaside, activities like kayaking, sailing and surfing are adrenalin-pumping ways to squeeze in some exercise.
Mary Watkins has lost 7st (44.5kg) with Slimming World. Discover her ‘lifesaver’ tip for busy mums here.
Switch on the console
Video games have come a long way since the early days of Mario and Sonic, and you can now combine activity with boosting your top score. Depending on your console, you can play a variety of fitness games – from fun dance party games to bowling, boxing, skiing, yoga and tennis. They’re ideal for those inevitable rainy days during the holidays, too!
Spruce up your garden
Summer is always a busy time for your outdoor space. Energetic digging and raking count as cardio, while pushing a wheelbarrow or mower and carrying heavy pots will add some strength training, too.
Take a leaf out of Andrew’s book with a day of mowing, digging, raking and planting – it all gets your muscles working, boosts flexibility and leaves you with a garden that’s had a glow-up, too!
Sign up to Parkrun
Organised running (or walking) events are brilliant for boosting your commitment to activity – and for discovering new routes and meeting other runners. Going along to a Parkrun is a good starting point, as there’s likely to be one near you and they also offer junior events.
Our member Whitley Lloyd loves being an active mum to her young daughter, Aleena. She says; “My biggest motivation is my daughter, Aleena. I want to show her that with the right support, you can achieve absolutely anything.” Read Whitney’s success story.
Try a new outdoor sport
Do you live near a tennis court, a golf or mini golf course, or a cycle track? Make it your mission to try something you’ve never done before this summer and, who knows, you might find an activity you really love.
Slimming World Consultant Judit made the most of the sunshine by playing a few sets at her local outdoor tennis court.
More on the blog: Beginner’s guide to tennis
Get in your lane
Bowling alleys are another fab place to strike off your daily activity with friends or family – or you could invest in a bowling set for the garden (works best on a flat patio surface). Trampoline parks, climbing centres, laser tag and Ninja Warrior obstacle courses are other options for drizzly days.
Do a little dance
Are you going to a music festival or garden party this summer? Let your hair down and show off your moves to get your heart rate up and the feel-good endorphins flowing – or challenge the kids to a kitchen dance-off and show them how it’s done!
Our member Hannah has so much more energy since losing weight. She loves Zumba classes and listening to the Slimming World Podcast while walking her dog. Discover how she found her ‘bikini confidence’ here.
Join a club
Now’s a smashing time to road-test a new hobby, and joining a club will help you maintain your commitment. Climbing, jogging, archery, horse-riding, tennis, wild swimming, dog agility, axe throwing… the list is endless!
Stretch it out
On those days when you just want to take it slow, a simple stretching workout can help to boost flexibility and leave you feeling relaxed. Slimming World members have access to 16 flexibility workout videos on the member website, ranging from 5 to 15 minutes long so they’re easy to fit into your day.
Gather a team
If you’ve got playing fields or a beach near you, organise a light-hearted game of rounders, cricket or football. You can set the pace and there’s no need to keep score unless you want to. It’s all about getting together in the fresh air for some fun with friends and family.
Devinia didn’t just lose 13st ½lb (82.8kg) – she gained energy, freedom and moments with her daughter she never thought she’d have. She says; “Nowadays, I can enjoy theme park rides without wondering if I’ll fit. I can take my daughter to trampoline parks and jump, laugh and play alongside her.” Read their touching story here.
More on the blog: Discover five brilliant benefits of playing team sports
Walk and talk
A sociable stroll can turn a simple walk into something to really look forward to – and buddying up can be an excellent motivator. Putting plans in your calendar will make you more likely to stick to them, especially if you know they’re on someone else’s calendar, too!
How will Slimming World help me get more active?
Our unique active lifestyle programme supports you to build up your fitness levels at your own pace. When you join Slimming World, you’ll get access to our full get-fit tool kit, including:
- expert support to help you recognise, then overcome, any personal barriers
- 90 fun, easy-to-follow activity videos
- a series of guided walking podcasts
- activity awards to celebrate your progress
- fitness quizzes and articles, including exercise guides and activity ideas
- member-exclusive podcasts to listen to on the go
- a handy online tracker to plan and record your activity