You may know your kids are out of shape, but you might not be aware of the extent of the problem. Do you know how long it takes them to run a mile, or how many sit-ups they can do in a minute? Do you know what standards you should be measuring them against? If not, you might want to think about administering the President's Physical Fitness Test to assess your children's fitness in relation to that of other kids their age.

The test was created by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a government agency started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 after a study found that America's youth weren't as fit as European kids. The specifics of the test have changed a few times over the years, but the goal is the same: to measure kids' strength, endurance, and flexibility. The test used to be administered in gym classes nationwide, but without mandatory PE in schools, many kids don't take it anymore. But it remains a great way to identify areas of physical fitness that your kids should work on and to measure their progress over time.

If your kids aren't motivated to take the test, try to sell it as an Olympics-style game. You could even offer "awards" (but not food!) for improvement in each area of the test. Remember, the idea isn't for your kids to compete against the national average but rather to compete with themselves to get fitter and stronger