With winter upon us, it can sometimes seem hard to get the kids moving. However, there are so many different ways to be active as a family even if it’s cold outside. Oftentimes kids themselves seem to gravitate toward sedentary activities during this season, so it is up to parents to keep them moving. Here are eight ways to keep your children active as the weather cools down:
1. When the first snow hits, get out there and enjoy it. Make tracks. Make snow angels. Make a snowman. Often the first snow does not last, so embrace it. Kids will be excited to get out there and catch snowflakes on their tongue and dance around. Find your inner child and remember just how fun those first snowfalls can be.
2. Surprise your school-aged kids with a pickup if they are usually on the bus and let them stay and play with friends they might not see every day. It is a true treat to stay and play and gives your kids a way to play out some energy before supper. And if your kids are home schooled, surprise them with a field trip to somewhere new. Use this adventure as a lesson in math or science.
3. Try skating as a family. There are many rinks with recreational skating. And lots of communities work to put outdoor rinks together as well. And always remember to wear your helmets when ice skating. It is a great way to meet people from your neighborhood.
4. Go in search of a geocache. These hidden treasures are everywhere. All you need is a GPS and off you go with some coordinates and clues in search of the cache itself. Many geocaches contain little trinkets, which can be traded out with something you’ve brought to leave behind. There are geocaches all over the city and with a smartphone, it is easy to plug in the coordinates and go searching. If this is new to you, check out geocaching.com to learn more about how it works and to find the ones nearest to you. Some are large and easy to find, and others are tiny and very well hidden. They are in the city, the country and the mountains. It is a great way to liven up a hike. And geocaches are there all year round. It is fun to track the ones you’ve found and maybe someday you’ll even create your own for others to find.
5. Take your kids climbing. There are lots of indoor places to climb, and it is a perfect activity for days when the weather is not so agreeable. This is a great activity to do as a family. A quick lesson on the basics of climbing and you’ll be set to belay your kids. Kids use their whole bodies while climbing, and it is a great activity to teach problem-solving and help build confidence. Depending on the place, kids can climb as young as three or four. Some places include equipment with entry and others charge a rental fee depending on what you want or need to use. And if the kids love it, you can move the adventure outdoors in the spring or summer.
6. Visit the zoo. After being devastated earlier this year by the floods, the zoo needs our support more than ever. The zoo is a great place to go as well in unpredictable weather. There are lots of buildings so time can be split between the outside and inside offering chances to warm up on chilly days. And with the island set to re-open at the end of November 2013, soon the zoo will be back in full swing again. With all the walking, kids stay active and burn lots of energy all the while learning about different animals.
7. Plan a day trip outside of Calgary. We are so lucky to have the mountains right here in our own backyard. There are many family-friendly adventures to be had in the mountains for kids of all ages. Hiking is easy and fun with so many different things to see and do. By now, there is likely snow on the ground. Maybe it is time to try snowshoeing as a family. Kids as young as three will be excited to give it a try. Looking for that perfect trail? There are lots of ideas to be found right on the Calgary’s Child website; search under ‘Family Fun’.
8. Most importantly, dress for the weather. Make sure their gear matches the conditions. No matter the weather, if kids are dressed appropriately, they can have fun outside even as the temperatures begin to drop. Rain boots or snow boots help keep their feet warm and dry. Hats or toques keep their head warm and, in turn, their cores. And a pair of rain pants goes a long way to keep kids dry even as the first snow falls and it maybe isn’t quite cold enough yet for the snow pants. Dressing for the weather is a huge part of keeping kids happy and outdoors. Kids will play outside longer when they are nice and warm.
Getting outside and being active with your kids is important. It sets them up for a lifetime of active living. If you make it a habit for them now, it will continue as they get older. Weather can make this challenging, but if you get out as the weather gets colder, it will be even easier when it warms up again. Being active as a family also creates so many great memories they will cherish and keeps the conversation going as the kids get older.
Sharon is an active mom with two young boys to keep her busy. She blogs about being active as a family at www.activekidsactivefamily.blogspot.ca and can be found on Twitter @911shazza.
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