’Tis the Season: 50 Winter Activities for Kids to Enjoy!
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Snow Much Fun: Kid-Friendly Winter Activities
As the snowflakes fall we think of how beautiful they are and how we all want to get cozy and warm…indoors.
It almost feels like snow induces a sense of hibernation in us.
Physical activity plays a vital role in our children’s overall health and development.
Because of the cold, parents need to make a special effort to prioritize their children’s daily physical activity.
From exhilarating snow sports to imaginative indoor games, these activities cater to various interests and age groups, ensuring that every child can find something to spark their enthusiasm.
Let’s dive into these 50 inspiring ideas that will ignite your child’s enthusiasm for staying active this winter.
Why is exercise so important?
Physical exercise release endorphins that improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Have you heard of a “runner’s high?”
Between you and me-running is not my happy place, but I totally get the concept!
Physical exercise has also been shown to improve concentration and attention span by stimulating the growth of new neurons.
I am not a “sciencey” kind of person.
However, I remember when I was young one of the main “scare tactics” used to convince us not to to drink what the death of brain cells.
We just assumed brain cells made us smart.
And, we learned, brain cells were different from other cells in our body, in that they never regenerated.
Once they died, they were gone and never replaced.
I had awful thoughts of being as smart as I ever would be at twelve years old, only to become dumber and dumber as the years progressed due to my brain cells dying.
Seriously, even if I never touched a drop of alcohol, you know some of those all important brain cells would die!
Well, I have no idea if “new neurons” are brain cells, but that sounds to me like we can help out our “smart cells” that have died.
There is really exciting new research that shows physical activity improves blood flow to the brain, which in turn enhances cognitive performance and reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline.
The study did not outright say demential or Alzheimer’s, but this is what it sounds like to me.
While children are engaged in active play they are also developing essential skills like coordination, balance, and spatial awareness.
Physical activity is too important and beneficial for our children to take a “break” during the cooler months.
50 ideas to help encourage your children to stay active this winter:
Outdoor Activities:
- Create snow angels
- Have a snowball fight
- Build an igloo
- Go sledding/tubing
- Go ice skating (may be indoors depending on the rink)
- Try cross country skiing
- Enjoy ice fishing
- Take a winter nature walk
- Try downhill skiing or snowboarding
- Build a snowman
- Find clues on a winter scavenger hunt
- Visit a winter festival or ice sculpture competition
- Try snow shoeing
- Make ice or snow sculptures
- Go on a winter photo scavenger hunt
- Create an outdoor winter themed obstacle course
- Start a new family traditional game (we called ours “Pie Chase,” I have since found out that it is “Fox and Geese”
- Walk the family pet
- Go horseback riding
- 20.Visit a botanical garden with winter exhibits
In between all of the activities, you can have conversation.
If you are not sure how to get the talking started, I have created 52 conversation starters.
These are fun, random and require more than a “yes” or “no” answer.
Do you want your child to open up? Do you want to have a conversation with them?
I developed 52 conversation starters just for you!- Feel connection with your child.
- Ask questions that start brainstorming and strategize
- Feel Connection
- Learn new qualities, priorities and values about each other.
- Create an atmosphere of confidence in each other, so they know they can reach out to you.
Indoor Activities:
- “Sea” the fish and visit an aquarium
- Play “Simon Says”
- Challenge the family to a hula hoop contest
- Stop and go with freeze tag or freeze dance
- Enjoy roller blading/skating
- Go bowling
- Laugh with some laser tag
- Jump through a bounce park
- Engage in a pillow fight
- Visit an indoor swimming pool
- Have an indoor dance party
- Reach new heights at a climbing gym
- Go to your local YMCA or community center for kids activities
- Build an indoor obstacle course
- Jump rope
- Go to a gymnasium and tumble
- Stretch with indoor yoga
- Visit the planetarium
- Bounce at an indoor trampoline park
- Play balloon volleyball
- Visit a museum or science center
- Go to an indoor play center
*Tip: if your children are small and you are desperate-
the play centers at fast food restaurants will do great in a pinch! - Have a marshmallow fight (we loved these)
- Play racquetball
- Take a dance or martial arts class
- Play interactive video games like Just Dance or Wii Sports
- Shoot hoops at an indoor basketball court
- Incentivize stationary actions (like watching TV) with an indoor mini trampoline-this is my #6 mom hack!
- Sign up for winter camps (may be an inside or outside activity)
- Use exercise videos or apps designed for kids.
Apps and Videos to encourage your child to get moving:
Technology has become an integral part of our children’s lives.
There are several innovative ways you can harness technology to promote physical activity.
An example is if you want your child to do a Zumba or dancing video, type in the YouTube search: “easy Zumba for kids”
I found one that was really great because it was lead by a bunch of children.
The only problem was it was only one song.
The following videos or apps are examples of what is available to you.
You can find many free videos on Youtube under any category you are looking for.
- Just Dance Now: encourages kids to dance to popular songs.
- FitQuest: gamified fitness challenges and progress tracking.
- PokemonGo!: I added this because it is popular, I really do not know a lot about it, however, if you have a Pokemon child, this may be a great option!
- Cosmic Kids: videos that encourage mindfulness, yoga, sleep, relaxation and even freeze dance.
- Go Noodle: features dance, yoga, mindfulness, and short exercise bursts.
- Zombies, Run 5K!: gamified app that turns exercising into an adventure story.
Keeping your kiddos active during the winter months doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
With a little creativity and enthusiasm, you can transform the colder season into an exciting adventure filled with indoor games, outdoor explorations, and family bonding activities.
Whether it’s building a snowman, creating a treasure hunt at home, or trying out a new winter sport, the key is to embrace the fun and make movement a joyful part of their daily routine.
So bundle up, get out there, and let the winter fun begin!