How to Keep Children Active in Winter

Children are less active in winter, especially in the cold and snowy climates. Start when children are young with winter activities that keep their bodies moving, their minds engaged and reduce dependence on television and video games. This helps them grow into active teens and adults.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Community recreation guide
• Used winter sports equipment (optional)
• Music
• Warm outdoor clothing

1. Place limits on passive activities. Television and video games are passive.
2. Get a recreation guide for your community. Indoor swimming often costs only a few dollars, there are free drop-ins for children and many offer low-cost or no-cost recreational sports such as basketball, volleyball, gymnastics or karate.
3. Go out in the snow. Dress warmly make snowmen, snow angels and go skating. Give the children small shovels, and make them responsible for a section of the sidewalk.
4. Walk to school, if you can. Unless the weather is really bad, teach your children an active lifestyle by bundling up and walking to school. If your work schedule doesn't always allow this, set up a "walking school bus" with other parents and caregivers in the neighborhood.
5. Dance. Even the littlest ones love to move to music. A long winter afternoon cooped up inside can become fun with some music and beats.
6. Shop used sporting goods stores and garage sales for equipment to keep children active. Snowshoes, skates or even inexpensive cross-country skis can be found at decent prices. These are activities that can be self-taught and don't need to be expensive.

Tips & Warnings

• Teachers have great ideas for keeping children active in winter. Look on teacher websites, or ask at school.
• Think old-fashioned. Sleds, snow forts, a walk in the forest. Even if this only happens on weekend, it's better than no winter activity at all.
• Monitor children's winter activities in day care. Most caregivers are aware of the importance of staying active in winter, but you want to know what they are doing.
• Shop second-hand stores or get a hand-me-down arrangement going with friends so there's two sets of outdoor winter clothing. This allows morning and afternoon outdoor times, if items get wet.