Fun Indoor Fitness for Kids

Need some ways to beat the winter indoor blues? I always try to get my kiddos outdoors for some fresh air, even in the winter, but when the cold is just too cold, we have to get creative inside.

If you need some help getting your kids to go from this --

to this --

I hope you find this post helpful! =)

Jumping rope:  We don’t have space to do this indoors for real, but we can lay the rope out on the floor and do several jumping games.  (If you don’t have a jump rope, just use a piece of yarn or string.)

• Jump over and back on two feet – or try one foot!
•  See how many jumps it takes to get to the end of the rope
• Bear-walk, crab-walk, crawl, roll, etc. the length of the rope and back
• Make shapes with the rope – triangle, circle, square etc – and hop in and out

Parades and Trains:

My boys love music!  We have a few musical instruments that come along with us on our parades.  The boys take time leading or following each other around the house, while we play lovely music! If you don’t have any traditional instruments, fill up a plastic peanut butter jar with some rice for a quick shaker and grab a small pot or lid with a wooden spoon for a quick percussion instrument.  If you are joining the parade, I do advocate ear plugs! 

Trains are also fun! Make a train with your bodies by holding onto the person in front of you. Take turns being the engine, freight car, or caboose and explore your house… all the while making amazing train sounds. Of course!

Obstacle courses:

Create a kid friendly obstacle course in your living room! Crawl under tables or couch cushion tunnels, shimmy through tight spaces, jump over “fire or water” (red or blue paper), bear or crab walk over a couch cushion, walk backwards for a specific distance, or make a limbo rope. Jumping jacks, crawling, turning in circles, and other movements can be added in specific areas.  If you are making a course for older children, add challenge by having them carry something in their hands or by adding a balance challenge to some of the obstacles (For example, balance a light book or paper on their heads.). 

*Please make sure all fragile items are out of the way, and there are no sharp corners where your children might get hurt.  

Don’t Touch the Floor! is another game that goes along these lines.  Use pillows, blankets, cushions, paper etc. to have your children get from point A to a point B without touching the floor.

“Clean up Parties”

I laugh at how my little guys love “clean up parties” at our house! Not sure exactly how this originated, but the name has stuck and we usually do these several times a week –if not every day.  We crank up the kids tunes and race all over the house cleaning up.  I have to say that I love the results of “clean up parties” too! =)

 

Outdoor toys inside!

This doesn’t work well for us, because right now we don’t have a good basement space for this, but if it works for you- great! Outdoor soccer balls, hula hoops, small trikes, scooters etc. can all be used indoors if you have a safe space to enjoy them.

Making Roads:

There are an incredible number of options that go along the lines of this idea.  At our house, we make roads through the living room with small alphabet and number squares.  Tiptoeing, hopping, or jumping along the path or on the squares can help with balance and coordination and burn off some energy.

Red light- Green Light:

This game doesn’t need a road to play (just a safe place to run or move), but if you don’t have a large space, a path can help.  We often drive along the ‘road’ and pretend to be cars that have to stop and start, when I say “red light” or “green light”.  If you have a smaller space, but older children, try racing from a start to finish by crawling, walking backwards, or doing a crab walk.  If they don’t stop when you say “red light”, you may have them start back at the beginning. 

Balloons!

We LOVE balloons at our house! Balloons are one of the cheapest methods of entertainment for my kiddos.  They run around chasing them, see how long they can keep them in the air, kick them, throw them, and just love playing with them.  Try turning on a fan to make the balloons move around more on their own and make them more difficult to catch.  Or, lay down on the floor and try to keep a balloon up with your feet.  If you have several colors available, have them run to find a specific color and bring it you.  Older children might enjoy play a game of balloon volleyball back and forth over a string – or even just a line on the floor.  

There really are so many active games to play, for kids of all ages. These are just a few favorites from our house.  If you are a mom of a preschooler, try this link for more game ideas! 
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2013/12/winter-time-large-motor-play-for-the-preschool-classroom/

  

Do you have other fun indoor ACTIVE-ities that your children love? Feel free to share below!

Get OUTDOORS for Your Health! (Part II)

 There are an infinite number of outdoor activities, but oftentimes we draw a blank when we have the opportunity to get out the door.  Whether you are by yourself, with younger children, or spending time with your entire family, I hope you’ll enjoy and utilize this large list of outdoor activities in a safe and fun way.

By yourself (or with your hubby or friend!):

1. Simply sit outdoors, take some deep breaths, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
2. Trade the gym for the park one day a week. Enlist some friends and have a outdoor bootcamp.
3. Check into dates for the next meteor shower and spend an evening stargazing (if you live in a well-lit city you may want to head towards a more rural area for better viewing). (http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors)
4. Try your hand at gardening.  You can improve your flower beds or veggie intake during the summer months, while you soak up a little sun.
5. Plan to be outdoors everyday for a walk or a run—take your dog along!  Layer your clothing during the colder months, don’t simply stay inside.
6. Sign up for a sports league that meets outdoors during the warmer months.  Volleyball, softball, basketball, and soccer are all popular sport activities—check with nearby recreation departments for their schedules.
7. Go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, bicycling, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, or roller-blading.
8. Grab a camera and head to a special location.  Catch a sunset, fresh snow, or fall trees in a new light.

With Younger Children:

1. Have a picnic.
2. Grab a blanket and watch the clouds go by overhead.
3. Play Angry Birds with water balloons : http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/05/angry-birds-inspired-water-balloon-game.html
4. Pretend to be animals and ‘walk like a bear’ or ‘jump like a frog’.
5. Pull out the sidewalk chalk and work on letters, shapes, and colors. For slightly older children, have them create roads for their bicycles complete with stores, ponds, trees, and houses.
6. Enjoy bubbles, trikes, bikes, hopscotch, jump rope, Frisbees, and balls –then use your imagination and see what games you can construct using those favorite outdoor toys.
7. Make your own ‘golf’ course with a small ball and plastic cups.
8. Wash the car… or have the kiddos make their own toy car wash.
9. Create an outdoor scavenger hunt. 
10. Play in the mud, puddles, sprinkler, leaves, snow, or dandelions.
11. Fingerpaint --Or use your feet on the driveway instead!
12. Collect worms, insects, frogs, butterflies, or other critters.
13. Grab a blanket and read some stories in the backyard.
14. Create your own fun fitness obstacle course.
15. Gather leaves, blades of grass, acorns etc. for a nature collage.
16. Plant a flower, vegetable plant, or seeds.
17. Go sledding or make a fort in the snow.
18. Set up a bird feeder and count the birds (or squirrels) that come to eat.
19. Go fishing. Children don’t need a license to fish and it is great fun if you don’t mind the hooks and worms.
20. Play in the rain. Send your kiddos outdoors with umbrellas, boots, and raincoats.  Just be careful to watch for lightning.

With your entire family:

1. Try your hand at geocaching, a real-world treasure hunt using your GPS.  Check out www.geocaching.com for more info and cache locations.
2. Take your meals outdoors.  My kids love eating outside, whether at home or on a picnic at the park. Plus, the cleanup is often a little easier! Surprise them with a summer morning trip to the beach/pool for breakfast.
3. Do yard cleanup together. Whether picking up sticks or cleaning up leaves, our yards often present opportunities for fitness and fun – we just need to get creative when we enlist our children’s help!
4. Do some shopping at outdoor farmers’ markets.  Enjoy the fresh air and extra veggies.
5. Go for a family hike in a neat location. Even teenagers that aren’t interested in nature might perk up if there are rocks to climb or a waterfall to reach.
6. Go camping or cabining in the woods. Or, if you don’t enjoy staying overnight out in nature, enjoy a state or local park for the daytime hours.
7. Pick apples, strawberries, blueberries, pumpkins and more! Start with selecting your product and then see what fun and healthy foods you can create.
8. Be an outdoor tourist in your own city.  See how many unique outdoor activities you can fit in one day or afternoon. Ditch the car and grab bicycles or simply walk!

Do you have more suggestions for fun outdoor activities?  Leave a comment below with your favorites! 

 

Resources: 

Schuman, C. (2011). 10 Unique Family Activities: Tired of the same old routine? Spend quality time with your family while trying some fresh and fun activities. Parents. Retrieved September 18, 2013. http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/unique-family-activities/#page=5 

 Walters, J. (n.d.). Why Getting Outside is So Good for You: Are you Nature-Deprived? Sparkpeople. Retrieved on September 11, 2013, from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1680&page=2

 McDonald, A. (March 7, 2012). 50 Simple Outdoor Activities for Kids. No Time for Flash Cards. Retrieved September 18, 2013. http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/03/50-simple-outdoor-activities-for-kids.html

 Photos courtesy of Microsoft Office