Many kids are out of school this week for spring break. Need some active spring break activities to keep your kids busy and not in front of a screen? No fear, there are several different free and low cost activities to help you and your kids get active this spring break!
Check Out a New to You Playground
Johnson County is home to over 100 parks. You are sure to find a few that you and your kids have never visited. Meadowbrook Park, in Prairie Village, KS is a popular one. Enjoy the amazing playground, pickleball courts or bring a soccer ball and have fun in all the open space! Another popular choice in the area is Celebration Park in Gardner, KS or Leawood City Park in Leawood, KS. Playing and chasing after your kids for just 30 minutes can burn about 215 calories for a 175 pound person. Have fun!
Take a Walk
There are over 350 miles of hiking, walking and biking trails in Johnson County. You could choose a new spot to hop on a trail every day during spring break and never visit them all! Maybe a hike on a nature trail sounds fun? Enjoy a family scavenger hunt at Ernie Miller Nature Center. Be on the lookout for animal tracks, a squirrel’s nest and other fun items in nature. And did you know, just 30 minutes of walking each day decreases your risk of stroke, reduces your cholesterol and lowers your blood pressure? So keep you and your kids from being glued to a screen this week and do something good for your health!
Explore Johnson County by Bike
Riding a bike is a great, low-impact way to get some physical activity in for you and your kids this week. Biking is not only beneficial for your physical health but it can also improve your mental health as well. Exercise promotes the release of endorphins in your body, which helps you feel better while lowering your stress levels.
Johnson County has a wonderful trail system throughout the county perfect for exploring on two wheels! Don’t have two wheels of your own? No worries! Many Johnson County parks and trails now offer bike share programs. Johnson County Park and Recreation and the City of Lenexa have partnered with RideKC to offer Classic and Electric (e-bikes) at over 20 locations in Johnson County.
Need to brush up on your bike safety before you hit the trail? Our Johnson County Safe Kids Chapter has lots of tips for you and your kids to keep safe while outside exploring and having fun.
Go for a Skate
In case the weather isn’t great, how about a lap or ten around a roller skating rink? Skate City in Overland Park will be open during spring break to help you and your kids get active. A 160-pound person will burn about 548 calories during 60 minutes of roller skating, while a 200-pound person will burn about 683 calories in that same amount of time. Talk about a workout!
Prefer the ice instead? KC Ice Center in Shawnee will be hosting several spring break public skates throughout the week. Ice skating is a great aerobic workout, which is an important part of heart health. So layer up, enjoy the ice and protect your heart!
There are several different activities to keep you and your kids active while doing great things for your health! Enjoy the week and get moving!