In Australia, we’re lucky that in most places you can get outside for some exercise and fresh air on any given day. Even on the most wintery (or blisteringly hot) of Melbourne days, I send my kids out for a quick run around, kick of the footy or a five-minute swing at the park. However, not all parts of the world are so temperate and long, snowed in winters can make exercise outdoors difficult. So, what to do with all that pent-up kid energy?

Like nothing I’ve seen before is Exerblast – an innovative fitness-slash-gaming concept created for kids in New York. Melding video-game story lines with obstacle course challenges, Exerblast is like a life-size gameboard. Working as a group, kids chase moving lights, build with crates, bounce through the ball pit, dance and climb a revolving rock wall – all the while wearing individual monitors that measure step counts, time, distance and calories burned – this is a serious workout!

There are different classes geared toward various age groups but littlies as young as two and a half years can join in at Exerblast. The ‘gym’ also caters for families with special programs such as the ‘Friday Night Family Fitness Blast and Food Adventure’.

There’s so much to love about this concept, particularly that exercise is fun and can be done as a family activity, whatever the age and ability. How do you think this sort of program would go in Australia?

If you are visiting New York and want to try Exerblast, non-members can drop in for one-off sessions, although bookings are recommended.