My children are about to break up for the school holidays, and I am trying to get them to be more active, instead of just sitting in front of the DVD and computer. Any ideas?

How you encourage your children to be more physically active is partly dependent upon their age, but combining learning with exercise opportunities can be fun and effective.

Encourage them to keep a colour-coded, 24-hour activity chart, each hour filled in with a colour that represents the different intensity of activity they may have taken part in. The idea is to spread activity throughout the day. Older children can keep track not just of themselves, but also of their parents.

History walks in your local area or treasure hunts organised with other families over a weekend can be a great way to involve different generations. With skilled games, tailor them so all members of the family can enjoy early success - for example, customise beach cricket to allow a player more than three goes, increase the size of the bat or ball, or try to hit off a stationary bowler. Alternating these can keep up interest, as well as increasing each child's successful exercise experience. This is important, because early success creates a foundation of positive experiences on which future activity can be built.

Or why not initiate a family walking project, giving each member of the family a pedometer and logging their steps on a family chart? Making an older child responsible for the step chart helps give them a sense of fulfilment - and keeps Mum and Dad on track with their walking, too.

· Joanna Hall is a fitness expert (joannahall.com). Send your exercise questions to Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER (weekend@theguardian.com).