How to motivate children to stay active even in the colder months

Article author: Iveta Bartošová

As the colder months come, daylight decreases and we naturally retreat to our homes, where we rest more and move around less. However, movement is very important for us, so we should not forget about it even in winter. Nursery children go on walks together every day and include various exercises and movement games in their daily activities, whereas schoolchildren already get very little exercise. So how can we motivate children to move when we do not go outside as much?

Why movement is important for children

Movement is an integral part of our lives; it helps us keep our bodies fit, improves our mood, helps us sleep better, trains our muscles, and prevents excess weight. Therefore, if we reduce movement to a minimum, it will significantly affect our health. For children, movement is especially important because they are forming habits that will last into adulthood. 

How to get children moving outside

Whether it is the damp autumn weather or snow-covered sidewalks in winter, it is always possible to come up with some outdoor activities and adapt them to the weather. Outside you can with children:

• go for a walk and play hide-and-seek or tag while you are at it;
• if you have a dog, you can give the children the responsibility of walking the dog;
• collect leaves, chestnuts, acorns or pine cones and then use them to make some DIY autumn projects;
• search for geocaches (geocaching)
• fly a kite - this activity does not involve much movement, so you can walk to the place where you will fly the kite, or park the car somewhere farther away so you have to walk there;
• ride a bike or balance bike, if the condition of the roads and sidewalks allows it;
• go to an outdoor ice rink or a frozen pond and go ice skating;
• go skiing;
• go sledding or sled on a toboggan;
• have a snowball fight or make snow angels;
• build a snowman.

How to get children moving indoors

Movement in the fresh air is beneficial, however in the cold months it can be complicated, so we more often choose indoor physical activities instead. You can visit:

• group exercise classes - exercise in the gym, gymnastics, swimming, floorball, dance, etc.;
• a children's playroom - if it has a slide or some ride-on toys, the children will certainly get enough exercise;
• an ice rink and go ice skating;
• a climbing wall;
• if you do not feel like leaving the house, you can prepare an obstacle course with the children so they can get moving.

In short

In the colder months, outdoor activity naturally decreases and we naturally retreat indoors. Being in the fresh air is great, but we do not always go outside with children. When you do decide to go out, you can simply go for a walk, ride a bike or balance bike, and in winter go skating, skiing, or sledding. Popular indoor activities include group exercise classes, climbing walls, swimming, ice skating at the stadium, or even an obstacle course that you create at home yourself. 

How do you motivate your children? What activities do you and your children enjoy most in the winter months?