Tips to keep your kids active indoors this
winter Although the sun is going to bed earlier and earlier
each day, your kids have no intention of following its example. And
while it is OK for the kids to play outside before dark as long as they
are dressed for the weather, Shelly Summar, a nutritionist at
Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, offers some ideas to keep the
kids busy inside until their bed time arrives.
Keep a variety of balls around the house (softballs, tennis balls,
rubber balls) and a list of active games handy, such as Mother May I?,
tag, duck duck goose, hide and seek, etc.
In the basement or on garage floors, let your children roller
skate, jump rope, skip, etc. Also, keep exercise mats for tumbling in
the basement.
Twister, dancing and karaoke are some other fun alternatives to
your children busy, as well as slides, ball pits and mini
trampolines.
Give the kids a chance to get out of the house to go bowling or
play laser tag. And if there should happen to be any snow, sledding is
(of course) a fun activity for kids.
And do not be afraid to put your children to work around the house
as well.
“The main thing is to involve the kids in all of the work that’s
being done at home, from cooking to cleaning,” says Summar. “It keeps
them active and helps them to feel useful as well. It also teaches them
responsibility.”
