Easter Family Fitness Challenge: 14 Days of Fun
The Easter holidays arrive, the weather cannot make up its mind, and by day three the kids are bouncing off the sofa on a chocolate high while you are trying to answer emails. I have been there with plenty of the parents I coach in Archway. So here is something I have tested with real families: an Easter family fitness challenge that runs for two weeks, uses egg hunts and relay races as the main event, and gives everyone daily movement points to chase. No gym kit, no big budget, and it works whether you have one child or five.
How the Easter family fitness challenge works
The idea is simple. Every family member earns points for moving each day. Points go on a chart on the fridge, and on Easter Sunday (or the last day of the holidays) you count up and hand out a small, silly prize. Make it “chooses the film”, not more chocolate.
Set it up in ten minutes:
- Draw a chart. One column per person, one row per day. Kids love colouring in an egg for every point.
- Agree the points. Use the table below so everyone knows the rules.
- Pick three “big days”. These are the egg hunt days, where bonus points are on offer.
- Adults play too. This is the bit that matters most. Kids copy what we do, not what we say.
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes of active play or a brisk walk | 1 |
| Complete the daily “egg move” (see below) | 2 |
| Walk or scoot somewhere instead of taking the car or bus | 2 |
| Help someone else finish their daily move | 1 |
| Take part in a big-day egg hunt or relay | 5 |
Keep it generous. The goal is for the youngest child to be able to win at least one day, otherwise they lose interest fast.
The daily egg move
Each morning, someone cracks open a plastic egg with a move written on a slip of paper inside. That is the family move of the day. Everyone does it three times during the day, whenever suits: before breakfast, after lunch, before bath. Here are 14 to fill your eggs with, one for each day:
- Bunny hops: 10 small two-footed jumps
- Chick flaps: 20 arm circles, forwards then backwards
- Egg-and-spoon squats: 10 squats holding a spoon with a (hard-boiled or plastic) egg on it
- Lamb crawl: crawl on hands and feet across the room and back
- Carrot reaches: 10 big stretches up high, then touch your toes
- Duck walk: squat low and waddle for 20 steps
- Basket carry: carry a shopping bag with a few tins in it around the house twice
- Bunny ears plank: hold a plank (knees down is fine) for 15 to 30 seconds
- Hot cross jacks: 15 star jumps
- Rabbit thumps: stamp alternate feet quickly for 20 seconds
- Nest builder: 10 lunges, picking up a cushion each time and placing it in a pile
- Chocolate melt: stand still, then slowly “melt” to the floor and spring back up, 8 times
- Bonnet balance: balance on one leg for 20 seconds each side
- Easter parade: march round the house or garden with high knees for 2 minutes
Adults, do the same move but add your own set: for example, if the kids do 10 squats, you do 3 rounds of 15. That way the family challenge doubles as your own short workout. If you want more ideas for exercising alongside the kids, my post on exercising with your kids has plenty.
Three big egg hunt days
Big day 1: The hill hunt
Hide eggs (or paper eggs with letters on, if you want less sugar) on a slope or set of stairs, so every find involves climbing. Kids have to bring each egg back to a basket at the bottom, one at a time. That is a lot of up and down. In North London, a grassy slope in a local park works brilliantly for this, or the stairs at home on a wet day.
Big day 2: The relay hunt
Split into two teams. Eggs are hidden at the far end of the garden, hallway or park. One person from each team runs out, finds one egg, runs back and tags the next person. First team to find their colour of eggs wins. Mix ages on each team so the older kids help the little ones rather than flattening them. My relay race ideas for kids post has more formats you can borrow.
Big day 3: The clue trail
Each egg contains a clue to the next egg and a move to complete before you can open the clue: “Do 5 frog jumps, then look under something green.” Write the last clue to lead to the final prize. A lovely way to finish.
Keeping it fair for different ages
- Under 5s: count any active play as a point. They do not need sets or reps, they just need to move a lot. The NHS activity guidelines for under-5s suggest at least 180 minutes of activity spread through the day once they are walking.
- 5 to 10 year olds: they are the most competitive. Let them be “move captain” for a day and lead the family.
- Older kids and teens: give them a stretch target, such as a running total of squats over the fortnight, or put them in charge of filming a family “egg move” video.
What about you, the tired parent?
Holiday weeks are often when parents’ own exercise falls off a cliff. The routine goes, the kids are home, and by the time they are in bed you are done. The family challenge helps, because you are moving with them, but you also deserve an hour that is just for you.
That is where my bootcamp classes fit. They are 45 minutes, indoors, and you can just turn up, work hard and go home feeling like a person again. If you have a partner, grandparent or friend who can cover one slot a week over the holidays, use it. The SYP Recharge energy and focus class is a good one for that worn-out holiday feeling. For more holiday ideas, have a look at my guide to half term activities for active kids, which works just as well at Easter.
FAQs
How long should a family fitness challenge last?
For most families, one to two weeks is the sweet spot. Long enough to build a habit, short enough that the kids are still excited at the end. If it goes well, roll it into a monthly challenge.
Do we need to cut out chocolate to do this?
No. This is about adding movement, not banning treats. Using paper eggs or small non-food prizes for some of the hunts just stops the sugar from piling up.
What if it rains all holiday?
Every daily move works indoors. For the big days, use stairs, hallways and bedrooms as the hunt zones. Clear breakables first.
Book your first class
Once the Easter eggs are found and the holidays wind down, come and train with me. SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group classes in a church hall in Archway N19, with a maximum of 10 people, every exercise with an easier and harder option, at £15 a class. Book my £15 class or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215 and I will send you the timetable. If you and your partner would rather train together with full attention, take a look at my partner personal training in Archway.
About the author
Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.
