KEEPING KIDS ACTIVE DURING WINTER
Keeping active is important for kids ( and adults alike ) but winter weather can often mean we are stuck indoors a lot more than we want to be and as a result we become a lot less active .
Being active doesn ’ t have to be restricted to warm weather though ; there are plenty of simple ideas that can get your kids up and off the couch and moving around even on the dreariest of winter days .
Indoor activities
• Have a dance party Kids love to dance , so crank up the music , pull the curtains , put in a coloured lightbulb and have a dance party at home !
• Create an obstacle course Turn your hallway / lounge into an obstacle course - you ’ d be amazed at what you can create with things lying around the house . Try crawling under a row of chairs , make a line of hula hoops and jump from hoop to hoop , walk the tightrope of a skipping rope , use placemats as stepping stones , throw a soft ball into the laundry basket , belly flops onto a pile of pillows , or army crawl over a woolly blanket .
• Make a fort It ’ s an oldie but a goodie . Pull out the blankets , duvets , pillows , chairs and let the kids build away .
• Play Simon Says Make it as active as possible – jumping , running on the spot , dancing , stretching and spinning .
• Hopscotch Use chalk or masking tape to mark out a hopscotch game in the hallway or in the garage and let the kids jump away !
• Scavenger Hunt Send the kids off on a hunt around the house for a list of things to find – for example try finding a red sock , a newspaper , a candle , something beginning with “ D ”, something soft / hard , the options are endless and will keep the kids busy for ages !
• Balloons They say it ’ s the simplest things that are the best , and balloons fall into this category . Try filling a room with balloons and watch the kids go wild , tie a piece of string between two chairs and play balloon volleyball , make bats out of paper plates and iceblock sticks and you have a game of balloon tennis !
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Heading out of the house
• Rug up and head outdoors ! Let the kids jump in puddles , make mud pies , head to the local park , the outdoors don ’ t have to confined to the summer months , just make sure you rug up warm !
• Indoor activities Find some activities that you can do indoors ; why not head to the local pools where the water is heated , try an indoor playground where the kids can run as wild as the weather outside , or find a class to join – like our own Mini Rockers , dance classes , sports , or gym classes .
“ Rug up and head outdoors !”