Dreary winter weather can be enough to stop even the most active kids. Stuck at home, apathy can spread quickly among children as they reach for their electronic devices or plop down in front of a television screen. “It’s important to keep the mind and body active,” says Norma Wright, occupational therapist. “Increased body movement activates the mind and whole body while enhancing learning.” Wright, along with her co-partner, Valerie Goodfriend, have put together five clever activities for indoor play. Some involve inexpensive items you may already have at home, like balloons, bubble wrap or flashlights. Use these fun activities to get your kids moving and entertained as winter sets in.
1. Balloon games. Kids of all ages love balloons, so give the game Air Balloon a try. Blow up a balloon for each kid. Instruct them to bounce it to keep it in the air. Challenge your kids to see who can keep it afloat the longest without it hitting the ground. For more fun, add multiple balloons.
Have a Balloon Volleyball game. Set up your court by stretching out a jump rope to make two sides. Have players alternate serves. Play until one player reaches the score of 21, the winning score in volleyball.
Move onto Balloon Kick by using a blown-up balloon with string or yarn tied to the balloon and to a chair leg. Balance on one foot and try to kick the balloon. Play alone or with a partner. Try different lengths of strings.
2. Paper plate fun. Turn a room into an indoor ice skating rink. Each child puts a paper plate on each foot. Skate around a non-carpeted floor to the music. Hold another set of paper plates in hands and clap with them, wave overhead and get dancing to the music.
3. Bubble wrap game. Popping bubble wrap delights every child, so show them how to play Follow the Leader where part of the game is popping bubbles. Place pieces of bubble wrap around a carpeted room by taping the bubble side up with masking tape to prevent sliding. The leader moves to each piece in different ways like jumping, crawling or crab-walking. At each piece of bubble wrap, stop and pop some with your fingers. Try with or without shoes or socks for extra sensation. Take turns being the leader.
4. Puzzle obstacle course. With your children, create an obstacle course around the house. Think about incorporating different actions such as crawling under a blanket, rolling across a room, hopping in a figure-8 shape around chairs and jumping into a pile of pillows. Add a scavenger hunt twist by hiding puzzle pieces of an age-appropriate puzzle within the obstacle course. Bring the puzzle base to the child along the way or the child can try to carry all pieces and put the puzzle together at the end.
5. Flashlight games. Since just about every kid loves playing with flashlights, teach them Flashlight Tag. Sitting in a dark room, each player has a flashlight. Take turns being ‘It,’ whose task is to shine the flashlight on the wall or ceiling and then move the light quickly to a different place, pausing briefly at each new spot. Other players try to catch the light with their lights before ‘It’ moves to a new place.
After Flashlight Tag runs out of steam, try Move to the Light Relays. Turn off the lights and shine the flashlight beams on the floor. Players take turns choosing ways to move to the light such as jumping or crawling. Be sure the area is clear of obstacles, so everyone stays safe.
Sara is a freelance writer, and mom of two daughters.
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