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Summertime is a time when kids can get a much-needed break. After a long school year full of tight schedules, organized activities, getting up at the same time each day, and always having to be somewhere at a certain time, kids often like to just loaf a bit in the summer. They enjoy the freedom of summer play, sleeping late, spending time with friends, and being out in the sunshine. But often when the summer heat hits, many kids will prefer to sit inside watching TV or playing computer games. In our typically lazy and sedentary culture, kids are becoming more prone to doing what they see the adults do - they rarely spend their summer days outdoors anymore. What we, as parents and caregivers must do, is come up with ideas that keep the kids moving. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination, and some water. Remember, when in doubt about kids' summer fitness ideas, just add water! Following are a few ideas on how to get your kids out into the backyard and keeping healthy and fit.

1. Soccer. Soccer is traditionally a fall sport, though many leagues run all year. Still, soccer is a great way to get some exercise in the back yard. Set up a makeshift soccer goal and it only takes two or more people to play. If you have an only child, get out there and play with him - the exercise will do you good as well! Add to the summer fun by turning on the sprinklers; encourage the kids to dribble the ball around the sprinklers without getting hit by the water. Many fun games can be invented with soccer balls and sprinklers.

2. Trampoline. Trampolines are popular backyard play equipment, but always make sure you have taken the proper safety precautions: have an enclosure net for safety, limit the jumping to one at a time, and always have adult supervision. Turn on the water hose and let the kids make water arcs over the trampoline while someone else tries to jump over the arc without getting wet. This is a game that always makes for lots of laughs, and when the trampoline gets wet, it becomes bouncier. Fitness will happen and they won't even realize it.

3. Swinging. If you don't have a swing set, hang a swing from the branch of a tree. If you don't have large enough trees in your back yard, hang one from the rafters of a porch. Turn on the sprinkler and point it in the direction of the swing. If it is a rotating sprinkler, the kids can try swinging to avoid the water as it comes back around.

4. Climbing. This activity is best done without water, for safety reasons. Have the kids climb a tree, climb on a jungle gym, climb up the swing set. Climbing builds muscles and strength.

5. Sprinklers. If you don't have a swing set, trampoline, tree, jungle gym or soccer ball, turn on the sprinklers and make games for running through them. Rare is the child who sees water shooting across a lawn on a hot day and does not want to run and frolic in the cool drops.