The cold winter months often mean children spend more time cooped up inside. While it’s important they get outside for fresh air and exercise when possible, there are plenty of ways to keep them active even when stuck indoors. Use these tips to get your children moving and burning energy all winter long, whether you are a parent or carer.
Set Up an Indoor Obstacle Course
One of the best ways to keep children active inside is to set up an indoor obstacle course. Use furniture, pillows, boxes, hula hoops, and other household items to create an exciting course for them to crawl through, climb over, and race around. Tailor the course according to their age and abilities. Make sure to supervise carefully, especially with younger children. Rotate the obstacles regularly to keep it interesting and challenging. Time the kids as they run through the course and have contests to see who can complete it the fastest. This is a fun way to get their bodies and minds working.
Play Active Games
Active video games that involve movements, like dancing, yoga, and sports games, are a great way to keep kids active inside. You can also play classic physical games like Twister, hide and seek, tag, hopscotch using tape on the floor, and balloon tennis across a hallway.
Act out stories with costumes and props to get them up and moving in character. Set up a pretend obstacle course or boot camp with stations for activities like jumping jacks, crawling, crab walks, and more. You can use some of your allowances from www.thefca.co.uk to buy supplies if you are a foster carer.
Create an Indoor Playground
Bring the playground indoors by designating an area just for active play. Use foam floor tiles or soft mats to create a safe surface for climbing, tumbling, and jumping. Invest in a mini trampoline, indoor slide or tunnel, small balance beam, and other pieces of indoor playground equipment to assemble your own unique playground space. Rotate toys and equipment to make it new and exciting. Supervise closely while allowing self-directed play in the indoor playground area you’ve created just for them.
Dance Parties
One of the best ways to burn energy is by dancing! Hold regular family dance parties in your living room or playroom. Let the kids pick their favorite upbeat songs and make up dances or follow along with YouTube dance videos.
Hand out props like scarves, maracas, and tambourines to encourage movement. Take turns showing off silly and creative dance moves. Armed with good music and imagination, your kids will get their wiggles out dancing up a storm.
Chores for Burning Energy
Household chores may not seem like fun, but when framed as burning energy challenges, kids often respond positively. Can they finish picking up all the toys before the timer goes off? Who can sweep the floors the fastest? Challenge them to small chore “races” for time or quality to expend energy in a helpful way. Praise their efforts and inject silliness and laughter. Match chores according to abilities so they can take pride and ownership in contributing.
The cold weather doesn’t have to put a freeze on your kids’ activity. Use these indoor ideas to keep them happily moving and exerting energy all winter long while staying warm. Adjust the activities based on your child’s age, abilities, and interests. Most importantly, join in the active fun and games yourself to motivate them and strengthen your familial bonds.
