Physical inactivity is known to be associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and decreased mental health. Adult caregivers of children ("parents") are less active and are at increased risk of stress and poor mental health compared to non-parents. Parents are also known moderators of their child’s physical activity levels. Children are encouraged to participate in playful physical activity, or "active play," due to the child’s natural inclination to play, but adult play or active play are less studied even though enjoyment is a key motivator for continued engagement in physical activity. This project aims to uncover what is currently known about active play in families, what resources and interventions are designed for parent-child active play, and what are parents’ current perceptions of play, physical activity, and quality time with their children. The purpose of this dissertation is to inform and add to the literature about active play and its potential to increase physical activity levels in both children and their adult caregivers. The research is a three-project investigation of dyadic active play behaviors of parents and their children.Peer-reviewed articles from three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched to include those that described physical activity interventions that included parents and their children ages 6-11, measured PA at the parent level, and were available in English or Spanish. It was found that interventions that used play and behavior change theory are more effective at improving PA outcomes in participants than those that do not. Second, smartphone apps from the Apple App Store were reviewed to assess the availability of apps that are designed for children and/or families and include fun and physical movement. While most apps that met inclusion criteria also met active play criteria, not all were truly designed to be used with another person, indicating that app developers do design apps for fun or entertainment, but not for that engagement to be done with a family member. Lastly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of daughters aged 6-10 years to learn how they spend time together in playful and active ways among others. Mothers described barriers to quality time with their children including work and other family members and that quality time was prioritized more than how active that time may be. These findings underscore the importance that play can have on physical activity in both parents and children, but the interventions, resources, and parent understanding of that importance may not be as readily available or understood. Play and other enjoyable methods of physical activity should continue to be promoted to create active families that might be healthier together and throughout the lifespan.