With snow days and colder temperatures, parents can find themselves cooped up indoors with kids who have lots of energy to spare. With ParticipACTION’s Active Healthy Kids Report Card recommending kids get at least an hour of daily physical activity, winter can be a challenging time to build in fitness for children. When it’s snowing and cold, there’s no need to default to TV and electronics. There are ways to keep kids busy and having fun, while using their energy and being active. The main thing is to be spontaneous and suggest activities that involve movement and minimize screen time.
Winter can create cabin fever for kids, not to mention rowdy moods. Instead of letting everyone build up with holiday stress, here are three fun family activities that start by getting dressed in the morning.
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.
Ahhh... Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Whether you want a simple stroll somewhere close or a bit of a day trip, there are some great areas to investigate. Many parks throughout Calgary, such as Bowness and Fish Creek Park, are open year-round. Activities are available within the parks such as cross-country skiing, skating and just simply walking the trails and observing the wildlife.
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