By Noelia Trujillo
Updated by Kate Cohen on May 4, 2026

 

If there’s one thing every mom can agree with, it’s that life gets busy,

Carving out time for you and the kids to work on your wellness can feel like a juggling act.

Incorporating healthy activities like going to the gym or a fitness class often means finding someone to watch the kids.

Meanwhile, making time for their activities, like playing soccer or running around the park, usually means mama sits on the sidelines.

There’s healthy mama-time.

There’s kids’ activity time.

And for those times when the calendar is full, you feel like you’re having to choose between one or the other. Or maybe you simply crave more quality time with your little ones.

Time to bring in wellness we-time.

This important calendar block is all about finding ways to be active with your kiddos by your side.

If you’d love to incorporate more wellness we-time into your routine, check out our list of 7 healthy activities moms can do with their kids.

Key Takeaways

• Nature Walks
• Family Yoga
• Dance Party at Home
• Gardening
• Cooking Nutritious Meals
• Mindful Coloring or Journaling
• Swimming

 

Nature Walks

Ahhh, fresh air for the lungs.

Beautiful views for the eyes.

The natural smells of budding flowers and aging trees for the nose.

One of the simplest ways to boost your health and move alongside your little ones is with a nature walk.

From improving your mental health, heart health, muscles, bones, and beyond, there are many benefits to walking. Especially in the great outdoors.

The best part is that no two nature walks are the same.

You may see different wildlife or teach your kids about a new plant spotted along the way.

You can also dial up the fun on your nature walks by playing games like “I Spy” or creating a mini-DIY scavenger hunt.

It’s not only a great healthy activity to do with kids, but a wonderful way to create new memories together.

 

Family Yoga

No need to stretch your schedule to fit this in – simply stretch yourselves instead!

Yoga is a great beginner-friendly healthy activity to do with kids.

Yoga has many known health benefits like improving concentration, focus, flexibility, stress management, and more. Best part, moms and kids alike can benefit.

If you don’t have access to family-friendly yoga classes in your area, don’t sweat it.

Simply search family-friendly yoga, yoga for kids, or yoga for all ages on YouTube to find hundreds of free videos to lead the way.

This playful way to stretch and find your Zen isthe perfect way to spend quality time together while working on your wellness.

 

Dance Party at Home

Never underestimate the power of a good shake-shake-shake in the living room.

Having a dance party at home is a great healthy activity to do with kids.

It’s free, fun, and gets you all moving.

To make an at-home dance party even more engaging for your kiddos, let them craft music playlists for different moods or days of the week.

This can help make it an activity they look forward to and one that feels more personal.

Imagine your kids’ smile when they see their mama busting a move to a song they chose!

Fitness that feels more like fun could be a big win-win in your household.

 

Gardening

Yes, getting your hands dirty can be healthy!

Gardening is a wonderful healthy activity to do with kids that nurtures both body and mind.

Digging, planting, watering, and weeding gets everyone moving. It also teaches life-skills like patience, responsibility, and the fulfillment of growing your own food or flowers.

Imagine the joy your little one will feel after seeing something they planted and nurtured become fully grown.

You don’t need a big backyard or fancy materials to get started either.

A few pots on the patio or a sunny windowsill will do.

Let your little one pick out plants or veggies. Then enjoy the process of bringing them to life, together.

Gardening is a great way to slow down, and connect with yourself, your child, and nature at the same time.

 

Cooking Nutritious Meals

Wellness can start in the kitchen.

Cooking doesn’t have to feel like a chore when you make it collaborative, educational, and fun instead.

Bond with your little ones while whipping up smoothies, creating colorful salads, or baking whole grain muffins. At the same time, you can reinforce healthy eating habits.

From toddlers to teens, there are plenty of age-appropriate tasks your kids can handle in the kitchen.

Tiny tots can wash the veggies or stir the ingredients. School-aged kids can read the recipes or set the table. Older ones can take charge in making a side dish for everyone to enjoy.

Cooking nutritious meals together is a healthy activity to do with kids that teaches valuable skills – and fills your bellies.

 

Mindful Coloring or Journaling

Activities don’t have to be physically active.

Mental health practices are a big part of your wellness, too.

For a slower paced healthy activity to do with kids, try mindful coloring or journaling.

This is a calming and creative way for moms and kids to nurture their minds.

Whether your tool of choice is a crayon, marker, or colored pencil, you can each mindfully scribble in your own coloring books while sitting at the table together.

Or give your kids a notebook and pen and teach them how to journal.

You can start with a prompt, like “What are you grateful for today?” and write your answers or simply crack open to a fresh page and let yourselves free write anything that comes to mind.

For more connection, share your writing out loud or show off your coloring to each other.

These peaceful moments offer powerful health benefits like stress relief, self-expression, and emotional bonding.

 

Swimming

Make a splash while making memories.

Swimming is not only an excellent full-body workout, but also an exciting healthy activity to do with kids.

Whether you’re teaching them new strokes, racing across the pool, or simply floating together, swimming boosts cardiovascular health, builds strength, and improves coordination.

The best part? You don’t need your own backyard pool to dive in.

Just pop down to the Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center. You and your family can enjoy access to top-tier swimming facilities in a clean, welcoming environment.

Practice water safety, get your heart rate up, and enjoy quality time in the water — all under one roof.

Come make wellness we-time a part of your routine, one lap (or splash) at a time.