11: Indoor Activities for Kids
This is the eleventh installment of 12 Nutrition Hints & Tips for Your Children which can also be downloaded from our free eBook library.
On a rainy day, it’s difficult to avoid the rut of television or video games as the primary activity for your child. However, it’s still important to find ways to get in at least an hour of activity, even if you’re stuck indoors.
It may be hard to get your child to do a work-out video with you, so you have to be a little more creative. Here are some ideas for indoor activities for kids that will keep them active, but don’t involve running through the house!
Build a Blanket Fort – Although this isn’t a high-level cardio activity, it still requires you to keep moving. Grab some flat sheets, blankets, and stable objects for “support beams”, and get to work!
For younger children, this one requires supervision and help from an adult, so it may help you stay active as well! Here’s a great step-by-step instruction of how to build a great blanket fort.
Get Your Groove On – This one is also fun for the whole family. Just make sure you have your video camera handy! Put on some upbeat tunes and take turns with your kids breaking out your favorite dance moves.
You can have a dance-off and judge who has the best moves in various categories (creativity, fast dancing, silly dancing, technical moves, etc.) Our teachers at Child Care of Southwest Florida have learned that children LOVE to silly dance which makes this one of the best indoor activities for kids, in our opinion.
Twister – This isn’t a cardiovascular activity, but it does promote muscle strength and balance (it’s basically like a yoga/Pilates combo for kids!) The adults can be the spinners…or, if you’re feeling especially flexible, take your chances and join in!
Play “active” video games – Some of today’s video games actually require kids to be active and off the couch. Games such as “Dance Dance Revolution”, Wii Fitness, or Kinex, can keep you active and raise your heart rate.
Rearrange the Bedroom – If they are old enough to move small pieces of furniture, have your children help reorganize their room and rearrange the furniture.
Make it a fun activity by letting them choose how they would like to set up their room and redecorate, giving them a sense of individuality and independence (meanwhile keeping them physically active).
Visit an indoor Playground – Most areas have some sort of indoor playgrounds, either at Family Fun Centers, or in a mall. Take a little trip and let your children enjoy hours of fun on indoor playgrounds or bounce houses. By the way, if you love devoting your time to young children, have you ever considered volunteering your time at CCSWFL?
Go to an indoor skating rink – Roller skating or ice skating rinks are great indoor activities that will keep your kids active, regardless of the weather!
Indoor activities for kids can be just as fun as outdoor ones. As their role model, children look up to you for fun, playful ideas. You can learn more tips to keep your kids healthy by clicking the eBook icon to your right.
If you’re looking for an outdoor activity that’s not only fun but helps to benefit children in Southwest Florida, please check out the Tee Time for Tots Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 9th at the Pelican Preserve Golf Club in Fort Myers. All proceeds will go toward scholarships for needy children and families at one of our 6 child care centers.
~Beth
