By Jerri Bragg, Physical Education Teacher & Coach
How often do you hear your kids state that they are bored when the temperature outside gets cold? I’m sure you are not the only ones scratching your heads to come up with activities or ideas to keep the little ones occupied or give them an energy release during the winter months. Below are a few great ideas to keep them busy until the temperatures climb back up, and they can escape the indoors.
- Utilize this idle time to enroll them in a class or an activity and/or sport they have been wanting to try.
- Visit an indoor play space in our local community or check with our local Parks & Recreation Department for updated activities and classes.
- Clarksville has an indoor pool, which is a great outside of the box activity.
- Visit the local bowling alley. Clarksville is home to 3 different alleys, one located in city forum.
- Roller Skating is another great indoor activity that will sharpen their coordination skills by taking them skating once a month or possibly make it a weekly outing. The ice skating rink is also now open downtown and provides another great winter outlet.
- If we are so lucky to get snow this season, I recommend capitalizing on mother nature’s treat and bundle the little ones up and send them outside. A few hours of sledding and building snowmen usually makes for a great night’s sleep.
- Staying active doesn’t always mean going to do something. Play games at home that require movement like Twister or Dance, Dance Revolution or simply turn the lights off and arm them with glow sticks and posture yourself for a wild dance party! Hide and seek, building forts, and so many other activities will not only entertain your child, but also serve as great family memories.
Another great resource in this modern era is the use of fitness apps. One great app is SKORKIT, provides a variety of workouts to keep you from getting bored. Also try gonoodle, which is a big hit with the kids during adverse weather and can keep them moving. YouTube activities like Debbie Doo, Dance Sweat Live, and Cosmic Kids Yoga—these are just a few to give that are sure to be a hit at your house!
Click this link for more ideas on ways to keep your kids active during the cold months: HealthyKidsHealthyFuture.org