When unpleasant weather hits, it can be tough to keep children active. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children need an hour or more of physical activity a day. To help your child meet their minimum daily requirement, here are six tips to consider to help keep kids active:
Build Your Own Playground
It’s easy to transform your play area or living room into an indoor playground. Get your children to explore your home for things to use, such as pillows, blankets, and laundry baskets to build an epic structure. In the afternoon, your child can turn their playground into a fort and fight off imaginary creatures or bad guys from their favorite books or movies. Turns out, you don’t even need to get into the car to find the perfect playground!
Tag ‘Em
When breakables are removed and sharp corners are covered, a game of indoor tag is perfect for the winter blues. Variations like freeze tag also work when brought indoors. For a fun twist on the classic tag, try “Foxtail Tag.” In this version, children tuck socks into the waistband of their clothing, creating a little “tail.” Then, in a take on flag football, they try to grab another player’s tail rather than tagging them. The player who collects the most tails wins!
Try Some (Active!) Screen Time
The best kind of screen time is screen time that requires movement, and there are a few video games that fall into this category. With games like Just Dance, ARMS, Zumba Fitness World Party, Fitness Boxing, and Mario Tennis Ace. If you have an older system, Wii-Fit or Shape-Up or the Wii or Kinect Sports Rivals for the Xbox are both great choices. YouTube is also a fantastic resource for active games, yoga for kids, or great playlists to dance along to. Children can be more active than ever while stuck inside during a day with bad weather. The digital gaming world isn’t just for sitting down anymore!
Throw a Dance Party
Get moving to the radio, online music channels, or even your old albums! Turn on the tunes for a little improv dance session. Get out some flashlights and turn off the lights for an even more fun ambiance. Or, flick the lights on and off for a strobe light vibe. Take turns being the dance leader and trying out some new moves.
Adventure Out
When cabin fever hits, head to the bowling alley, local gym, ice skating rink, or indoor trampoline park! During the winter months, sign your child up for in-person or virtual fitness classes to keep them moving. Your child’s preschool may also have extracurricular activities they can engage in. With so many to choose from: dance, gymnastics, or taekwondo, your child is sure to find a physical activity they love to do.
Weather or Not
When all else fails, bundle up and take your children outside. Pack some warm water in a thermos and a few extra snacks and venture out to a local playground, park, or even your own backyard. Some of the best memories come from playing outside on snowy days, including building forts, throwing snowballs, or making snow angels. Rainy days filled with puddle-jumping also make for great memories. Children can burn a lot of energy outside, so when you return home from your adventure, treat everyone to warm soup, hot chocolate, or caffeine-free tea. Follow it up with a book and a nap, and you’ve got a perfect day.
Supporting Children’s Play All Year ‘Round
The Gardner School knows that play is one of the most important activities children can engage in to help grow their bodies and their minds. Our indoor and outdoor play areas mean children can run, jump, and climb no matter what the weather. To learn why parents choose The Gardner School for their children to grow and learn, contact us to learn more or to schedule a virtual tour.