Five Tips To Keep Kids Moving This Winter

Winter weather can make it harder to keep kids on the move, but it’s also a chance to get creative with fun ways to stay active. This guide is packed with practical tips to encourage movement, imaginative indoor activities for chilly days and exciting outdoor ideas to make the most of winter adventures.

Tips To Encourage Kids To Stay Active in Winter

1. Be a Role Model

Kids are more likely to stay active when they see their parents or caregivers participating. Join them in outdoor activities like sledding or take part in indoor fun. Let them see that movement is a natural and enjoyable part of daily life.

2. Embrace the Outdoors Safely

When the weather permits, dress warmly and head outside. Explore local parks, go on an adventure walk or try winter sports like skating or tobogganing.

3. Turn Indoor Time Into Active Fun

On harsh weather days, keep kids moving indoors. Set up an obstacle course, try kid-friendly workout videos or play games that encourage movement.

4. Let Them Take the Lead

Encourage children to choose activities they enjoy. Support their interests with the necessary gear and praise their efforts.

5. Encourage Free Play and Creativity

Structured activities are great, but free play is just as valuable. Allow kids to play independently in the backyard or indoors, where they can create their own games or projects.

5 Indoor Activity Ideas

1. Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

Turn your living room into an adventure zone. Use household items like pillows, chairs and cushions to set up tunnels, balance beams and climbing challenges.

2. Host a Dance Party

Turn up some fun music and let the kids dance around the room. Dancing is an easy and enjoyable way to burn energy and improve mood during cold days.

3. Play Active Games

Games like charades, hide-and-seek or movement-based activities like “the floor is lava” can keep kids moving and engaged. These activities are easy to set up and require minimal space or equipment.

4. Get Creative With Chores

Involve kids in tidying up by making it fun, like playing upbeat music and turning cleaning into a game. Assign simple tasks like dusting or organizing and encourage dancing or skipping while they work.

5. Try Kid-Friendly Workout Videos

Explore online workout routines designed specifically for kids. From yoga to interactive movement games, these videos keep children active and can even involve the whole family.

5 Outdoor Activity Ideas

1. Go on a Winter Adventure Walk

Bundle up in warm clothes and explore a local park, nature trail or your neighborhood. Turn the walk into an adventure by looking for animal tracks, playing "I spy" or discovering new sights together.

2. Build Snow Creations

Encourage creativity by building snowmen, snow forts or trying snow painting with spray bottles filled with water and food coloring. These activities get kids moving while letting their imaginations run wild.

3. Sledding and Tobogganing

Find a safe hill for sledding or tobogganing. Walking back up the hill after each ride provides great exercise and a fun way to enjoy the crisp winter air with the whole family.

4. Ice Skating or Snowshoeing

Head to a nearby ice rink or a snowy trail to try skating or snowshoeing. These activities help build balance, coordination and endurance.

5. Organize a Snowball Fight or Outdoor Game

Gather friends and family for a playful snowball fight or play classic games like tag or hide-and-seek in the snow. These activities encourage movement and social interaction.