Winter Wins - How to Stay Active (and Sane) Indoors!

Ahhhhh!  With Christmas over and all the holiday excitement gone, we are left with just winter…cold, short days where the kiddos can’t get outside to release all that exuberant energy.  How can magical moments happen when kids are too wild and unable to properly release their energy and parents are going crazy trying to handle it!?!   Here are a few fun suggestions to pull out in times of extreme need that may be able to infuse some fun and magic into a cold, wintry day!!

Indoor Obstacle Courses!

By simply using things you have around the house you can create a fun and challenging obstacle course that will help kids expel some energy.   Here are some ideas for your courses:

• Use string to make a laser course
• Gather items that get progressively taller to jump over
• “Mountain Climb” up the stairs
• Walk backward and/or forward on a straight or zig-zagged line
• Using only paper plates to stand on, slide across a rug or a carpeted room without falling
• Tip-toe across a room
• Do a number of jumping jacks
• Do zig-zag hops on either side of a string or a jump rope
• Do forward rolls
• Crab walk
• Using tape, make circles or squares to use as a hop scotch or have kids take large steps into

You can make your course large or do many small ones.  You can time your kids or see how many challenges they can complete.  Either way, your kiddos will love being challenged and getting out some energy.

Dance Parties!

My kids love to dance.  If I turn on some good music and promise to take a video of their awesome moves, they will dance their little hearts out - releasing all sorts of energy along the way!!

Play “Action Add-On”

This is a memory game:  The first player does an action; the next player must do the action of the first player and then add on his/her own action; the third player then does the actions of the first two players in order and then adds another action.  The game continues until someone forgets one of the actions in the series.  And then you start again!!

Bring back a classic game - Twister!

Twister is a game I played and loved as a child.  I have had so much fun watching my kids enjoy this game as much as I did as a kid.  It is a great way to challenge your body, stretch out muscles and help children learn colors and the difference between right and left!  Plus, it is just fun!

Have fun and stay active…for mom and dad’s benefit as much as your child’s!!

~Mary

I love hearing from you!  Email me at mary@poopoofary.com or leave comments below!