According to the American Council on Exercise, 30 minutes of low-intensity aerobic exercise will burn about 200 calories. The general definition of aerobic exercise is anything that gets the large muscles of your body moving in a consistent, rhythmic pattern. This is good news because, if you're brisk about it, any number of home activities can be turned into a fun aerobic workout.
Dance
According to the Harvard Heart Letter, a 155-pound person can burn anywhere from 112 calories (slow dancing) to 223 calories (fast dancing like the twist) in just half an hour of exertion. You don't have to have a professional partner to burn calories by dancing at home; just put some good music on and boogie down for half an hour, or follow a dance aerobics DVD to learn a few moves. Even if you don't dance for 30 minutes straight, breaking down a few moves as you clean house or cook dinner is a fun way to increase your calories burned during everyday activities.
Yard Work
While raking leaves may not be everyone's idea of fun, many homeowners take great pride in keeping their abodes looking good. Some even use weeding the garden or other outdoor chores like planting trees as their preferred method of relaxation. For those that do enjoy yard work, especially on a beautiful sky-blue day, take heart: In 30 minutes, you can burn 149 calories by raking the lawn and sacking leaves, 167 calories by planting trees, 172 calories by weeding and 186 calories by digging or spading dirt.
Games
Common childhood games like hopscotch and jacks can burn 186 calories in half an hour, as does the vigorous effort of keeping up with your children when they engage in creative play. Even moderate games with your kids can burn 149 calories in 30 minutes.
Big Kid Games
Invite some of the neighborhood adults over for the type of pickup game you used to play as kids. In 30 minutes, a 155-pound person can burn 298 calories playing touch or flag football, 186 calories playing softball and 260 calories sledding or playing soccer. Best of all, you'll have so much fun playing that you'll want to do it again.
Obstacle Course
Keep yourself and your family entertained---and burn calories at the same time---by setting up a backyard fitness obstacle course. Depending on the season this might include tire runs, a limbo station, jumping rope (a real calorie-burning champion, at 372 calories for just a half hour of effort), speed leaf raking, a snow-shoveling or snowman-building contest and snowball throwing. If you play your cards right, you might even get some of your chores done, with a smile, under the guise of a contest.
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