Keeping Kids Active in Winter

This week when my 4th grader came home from school she showed me a physical fitness assessment all 4th graders in her school were participating in. They are required to be active each day for 8 weeks. At first I thought, “This is absurd. How can 10 year olds be active when you can’t go outside and run around because it is so cold.” Then I realized it is the perfect time for helping your children learn how to be active during the winter months. As the cold winter months drag on, we sometimes find our kids just watching T.V., playing video or computer games. So I have come up with some fun “active” ways to break that winter boredom.


Have art supplies handy – foamy stickers, stickers, glue, paint, paint brushes, paper, construction paper, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners…whatever you find your kids like to create with. Kids don’t have to have a specific craft project to do. Sometimes they like to come up with their own ideas. Let them be free and create whatever they want. It is sometimes fun to see what they create!

Play Dough – You can buy it at the store or make it yourself. The recipe is at the bottom of this post. Provide cookie cutters, rolling pins, plastic knives, forks, and tooth picks. Kids like sculpting things with their hands.

Indoor Snowball fight – For those days it is too cold to go outside create an indoor snowball fight. Take newspaper or paper you are going to throw away and have the kids help you crumple it up into balls. When done, put the crumpled paper in the middle of the room. On the word go, let everyone grab paper snowballs to throw at it each other. They usually have a blast and the paper isn’t heavy enough to hurt anyone or break anything. Stuffed animals work great for this idea too!

Dance Party or Competition – Turn on some lively music and let the kids dance. You could even encourage them to get into dress up clothes and put on a show.

Indoor Relay – Create an indoor relay with different obstacles the kids have to run around. You could even make the kids have to run through the whole house. This is a fun activity as a family too.

Indoor Miniature Golf Course – This takes some time to create, but with the help of some older kids can become quite creative. Have each kid create a whole each person must hit the ball through or into. You can use paper plates, paper cups, cardboard boxes, make a lego structure to go through, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, wrapping paper rolls….the list is endless. Be creative and see what you and your kids come up with. Post pictures if you can of your creativity!

Scavenger Hunt – Draw a map that leads the kids to different parts of the house. At each point have a clue for the next part or a prize/treat. Make it fun. The end reward could be a story or game with mom or dad.

Charades – Write or draw animals on a piece of paper. Have each person draw a piece of paper and then act out the animal. Whoever guesses right gets to go next.

Homemade Play Dough
1 C. Flour
1/2 C. Salt
1 C. Water
2 tsp. Cream of Tartar
2 Tbls. oil
food coloring

Mix all the ingredients in a pan and start cooking over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens and stirs into a ball (relatively speaking). Remove from heat. Let cool slightly and then knead dough with hands until it becomes more smooth and pliable. Now play with it. Store in an air tight container.