Keeping Kids Active to Beat Winter Boredom

Contributed by Amy Russell, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator

Winter is here, bringing cold temperatures and snowstorms! As parents, you'll likely hear plenty of “I’m bored!” from your kids in when the weather keeps them indoors. This year, beat winter boredom and keep the whole family active with these fun, easy ways to stay moving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), daily physical activity is important because it helps:

  • Children grow and develop

  • Keep our bodies and brains working well

  • Improve sleep

  • Lower anxiety

  • Reduce the risk of chronic diseases

Kids need at least 60 minutes of activity each day. Aerobic exercises, like swimming, walking, or dancing, are fun ways to get their hearts pumping. For more intense activities, try biking, hiking, or a game of kickball. You can also focus on strengthening muscles (like climbing, push-ups, or using monkey bars) and building strong bones with activities like running, jumping rope, or yoga.

Sometimes, all you need is a safe space. But during the winter, storms and freezing temperatures can keep you indoors. Don’t worry—there are plenty of fun indoor activities to keep the kids moving while they get their daily exercise without even realizing it! Try sugggesting a friendly, jumping contest or maybe watching your shadows as you do jumping jacks and hopping on one foot.

Source: MASNAPED.org

As a former school teacher, these are some of the activities I enjoyed with my students during inside recess:

  • Toss the ball or rolled up sock into a laundry basket

  • Target practice-tape up your own bullseye on a wall or door

  • Play toss and catch with plastic mixing or storage bowls

  • Tape maze 

  • Imitate animal walks (sometimes we make it a race!)

  • Hallway bowling

  • Bubble wrap or ballon stomps 

  • Freeze dance tag

  • Make music with plastic containers and spatulas. 

Whether you are inside or outside, keep your body moving 60 minutes every day with fun, physical activity with the whole family! 

Healthy Acadia’s Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators offer year-round cooking and nutrition classes in partnership with schools and organizations throughout Hancock and Washington counties. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Shannon (shannon.cherry@healthyacadia.org) or Andrea (andrea.coffin@healthyacadia.org) in Washington County, or Amy (amy.russell@healthyacadia.org) in Hancock County.

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