6 Fun Ways for the Kids to Exercise during Winter
Squeezing in a workout during the winter can be challenging. Not only do you have the weather to contend with, but you also have to deal with the busy schedule of the holidays. It is challenging to motivate children to get in their exercise during the cold winter months. Here are six fun ways for your kids to get out and move their bodies this winter.
Make It Fun
Many kids resist exercise because they see it as work. You can encourage your kids to get outside and exercise by making it fun. Think outside of the box to brainstorm activities that will count as exercise but are fun for your child.
For example, your kids will get in a great workout trudging up a hill through the snow pulling their sled. They will have so much fun that they will not even realizes how much they worked up a sweat under their snowsuit. By finding ways to exercise that seem like play, you can kill two birds with one stone.
Go For A Winter Nature Hike
Hikes should not be reserved just for the warmer months. There is something special about the quiet wonder of the forest during the winter season. Do not let a little snow or cold temperatures stop you from getting out and exploring this winter wonderland.
Be sure that your children dress appropriately for the weather so that they do not complain as you trek along. You can also make the hike educational by turning it into a nature scavenger hunt. For example, maybe they have to find critter footprints in the snow or a frosted pinecone?
Harness Technology
Today’s modern technology makes it possible to improve your game without even having to leave your home. You can harness this technology and use it as a platform to provide a workout for your child.
For example, if your child is a budding baseball player, there are many sport-specific workouts that they can do from home to improve their skills and deliver a solid workout. A pitching analysis app will put your child in touch with professionals that will provide feedback and tips for improving their mechanics. By giving your child practical workouts to do, they will emerge in the spring better than ever.
Find Streaming Options
Especially in the era of COVID-19, there are loads of streaming options that provide workouts aimed at children. Spend a little time trying out a few options that fit your child’s fitness level and attention span. The best thing about an online fitness class is that you are not limited by weather or schedule to make it work. Your child can simply get in their exercise whenever it is convenient for them.
Sign Up For A Winter Sport
There is a long list of winter sports that are begging to be explored during the year. Signing your kids up for a new winter sport will motivate them to get out there and start moving. Good ideas include snow skiing, ice skating, and snowboarding. If you sign them up for lessons, they will be less likely to try to get out of going. The key is finding a sport that piques their interest and motivates them to keep trying to get better.
Make It Social
Exercising should not be a solitary activity for kids. Instead, you need to make it fun by making it a social endeavor. Consider inviting the neighborhood kids over for a snowman making contest followed by a snowball fight. If the weather allows, maybe you want to organize a fun run with your friends and family?
Kids are more likely to be excited about participating if there is a social factor. This social interaction during a time of the year that can often be isolating will be as good for their mental health as it is for their physical health.
There is no limit to the fun that you can have encouraging your kids to exercise during the winter. Instead of looking at the weather as a hindrance, find ways to embrace it and use it to change up your child’s fitness routine in new and creative ways.
