If your children see you regularly enjoying physical activities, they're much more likely to follow your example. It's never too early to introduce children to the fun of exercise - start taking regular walks with your baby in a stroller and they'll continue to expect it to be a part of everyday life as they grow older.

You can even start them young and take swimming lessons with your baby!

Take every opportunity you can to step up the pace of your everyday activities. In other words, make the most of incidental exercise opportunities like walking to the store. Research has shown that exercise doesn't need to be done all at once; 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there is just as good.

• Try walking or cycling with the children for short trips, instead of driving
• Park farther away from the mall entrance when you go shopping
• If you take a bus or train, get out a stop early and walk the rest of the way
• Make a game out of household tasks - for example, the first child to clean their room gets to choose the program at TV time
• Keep a soccer ball, football, basketball or baseball and bat in the car - you never know when you might have a chance to use them