My son played basketball this winter, but there was a month or so lag time before baseball tryouts. Practices are starting next week and we're both looking forward to it. He really enjoys organized sports. But family-based activities are important too. Spring is a great time to shed those winter blues and get the whole family outside and moving. Try these ideas:

• Visit a nearby pitch and kick a soccer ball around
• Play a game of catch in the backyard
• Teach your kids jump rope songs or try out some fancy double-dutch footwork
• Go for a family walk after dinner
• Ride bikes along a rail trail
• Hike on a wooded path
• Go to the beach and explore, play a game of Frisbee, or swim (if weather permits)
• Shoot a game of HORSE or Around the World at a nearby basketball hoop
• Visit the park and play on the equipment with your kids.

Being active as a family sets a wonderful example of physical activity for your kids. It also creates more quality time with your family -- developing stronger bodies while developing a stronger bond.

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My son started soccer last year at the age of five. I loved watching him smack the ball around when he wasn't picking grass. But I could not stand watching the soccer snacks handed out after each and every game. Sugary cookies, juice boxes filled with sugar -- one family even brought Krispy Creme doughnuts and chocolate milk. I was disgusted. Call me a soccer snack grouch if you will, but why do kids need a snack after sporting activities? What happened to the coach taking the team to the ice cream shop ONCE during the season? According to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, about 17 percent of American students are overweight.

But there's hope. This year, his soccer league handed out a flyer requiring healthy snacks. For parents unaware of the distinction, they listed a few examples. This grouch actually smiled upon reading the flyer, but it was fleeting as I think the snack should be banned altogether. This is exactly the policy change taken by our park district's preschool this year. Snack time was taken out of the curriculum. No surge of calories near the end of the two hour and fifteeen minute class. The snack never made any sense to me -- class ends at 11:30 am, just in time for lunch.

Don't get me wrong, I admire parents inspiring kids to keep fit and learn new skills via organized sports. But if you still believe in that soccer snack, check out these healthier alternatives provided by No Junk Food.

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