Indoor and Outdoor Winter Activities That Keep Kids on the Move
Winter has shorter, colder days — and usually much more family time indoors. But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your kids active and enjoying themselves. With a little foresight and a lot of imagination, you can ensure your family stays fit and active year-round — no matter what’s happening outside.
So why is it important for kids to get active in winter?
No matter what season it is, exercising is important. It also helps children keep strong muscles and bones, builds cardiovascular strength, lowers the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes and enhances mental health. You want to keep a healthy, positive approach toward activity, particularly in the gray-bluer, colder days of winter.”
What can families do to stay motivated to exercise during the winter?
Don’t worry if you can’t carve out an hour a day for exercise, which can be challenging for busy families, anyway. Instead, the goal is to get in several 15-20 minute bursts of movement over the course of a day — and keep it interesting. Keep in mind that kids most move when it is part of a game.
A little goes a long way — keeping kids active doesn’t mean they have to do sets of push-ups or crunches. Instead, add physical activity to games like hide-and-seek or house tag and relay races to get them squatting, jumping and moving around objects, so they’re getting body-weight exercise through play.
It is also important that all of your health and wellness activities this winter are fun, so your kid can stay motivated.
To prevent your kids from logging too many hours on the couch this winter using screens, find fun, simple ways to incorporate movement into their daily routines. Choose creative games or activities indoors or bundle up and have some outdoor fun. In winter, children can do just about any activity they can do in the summer, as long as they dress warmly.
Winter Activities for Kids to Do Inside
- So turn commercial time into exercise time. During commercial breaks of their favorite shows, have kids get up and do jumping jacks or duck walks around the living room. No commercials? Just put a timer for a break in the middle of an episode.
- But with your body moving, play video games. Hold a family game night playing Just Dance or Wii bowling — or other games that encourage participants to get up and move.
- Sneak in mini dance parties through the day. Blast a favorite song and have kids dance around the room. Or have them dance to a video on websites like Go Noodle.
- Do a clean-up sprint. Challenge kids to dust, vacuum or declutter as many rooms as they can in five or 10 minutes.
- Set up an indoor obstacle course. In the same way you might set up a little obstacle course, using items around the house or garage to entice kids to crawl, jump and wiggle their way to fun.
- Hold a scavenger hunt. Get kids zooming all over the house on a race to locate objects on personalized search lists.
Activities for Kids to Chase Away Winter Blues During the Outdoor
- Go for family bike rides or walks. There’s no reason your family can’t enjoy the outdoors year-round, as long as you dress for the weather. Make plans and enjoy outdoor activity when the sun is bright.
- Make a nature collage. Have children gather rocks, leaves and twigs in your yard or a close-by park, then work together to create a collage.
- Practice shooting baskets, throwing a baseball, jumping rope or riding a scooter. Make a list of your child’s favourite outdoor activities and give them the option of which ones they’ll do during a specified period.
- Have backyard relay races. Time your people doing relays across the yard dribbling a soccer ball, skipping or hopping.
- Enjoy the snow. And if you’re as fortunate as we are to have a few snowy days, then take Full Advantage. Build a snowman. Snowball duel. Have a snowball throwing contest. Go for sled rides. “Paint” the snow with food coloring and water using spray bottles. No snow in sight? Use household items to create a “snowman” perfect for throwing, or instead hold a throwing contest using balls of your choosing.
How can children make sure to play safely outdoors this winter?
Children should wear sunscreen and stay hydrated while playing outside — even in winter.
Kids need to be dressed in layers to keep warm when playing outside in cooler temps. Get kids to wear hats and gloves when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. If the kids are playing outside in the rain or during snowy icy conditions, it is helpful to have them come in often to swap out wet clothes (especially socks!) and warm up.
While in the summer it’s a good idea to stay out of the outside world during peak sun time, try to do the opposite in the winter months. Besides, the sun will keep you warm even in cold days, and help you to be more visible. If your children go out as it’s getting dark, dress them in bright or reflective clothing.
