Because we all know staying active is important, for kids and adults, here are ideas to help keep kids active when it is cold outside.
Schedule Mini Movement Breaks
Depending on the age of your kids and their daily activities, schedule movement breaks a few times per day or between
activities.
Keep Up with Sports Conditioning
If your kids are old enough to be in sports, ask them what types of activities they did in practice and see if you can replicate it. For example, if they normally run during practice, they can run in place for a similar amount of time. Have them repeat some of the stretches they are trained to do.
Have a Dance Party
Put on some fun music or take turns picking songs to dance to. Music naturally encourages kids (and even adults) to move. This is a wonderful way to uplift the environment in your house and encourage movement.
Remember to Get Outside
Unless the weather is truly miserable, try to get your kids outside for a little while every day. Just a few minutes of fresh air and
sunlight can improve moods and help everyone get through the rest of the day. Take a quick walk around the block, build a snowman after it has snowed, or take a short trip to the park if the weather is decent.
Let Your Kids Plan Activities
Kids are very creative and probably have great ideas on how to stay active. Any type of movement during the day is helpful, so why not see what they come up with! Additionally, being active as a family and joining in their activities, will help everyone feel better.
Make Being Active Fun
Make being active fun and engaging. It can be helpful to try out several types of physical activity. The more things they try, the more likely they are to find something that they enjoy. Another tip is to align the activities with something that they like to do. For example, if they like nature suggest that you go on a nature hunt rather than a walk.
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