Winter Activities To Keep Kids Active And Engaged

Introduction

Winter is the time for lazy mornings and warm cups of cocoa. It is the season of picnics and activities. In most Indian states, winter means the ultimate reprieve from the tropical heat. While it snows in some areas, other places make do with sharp, chilly winds and biting cold weather. This is also the reason why many kids like to cuddle up in their blankets all day or remain cooped up in front of the fireplace.

But that will not do. While it is not necessary for your kids to engage in physical activity intense enough to make them sweat every day, it is wise to mix up their daily schedule. Add a healthy dose of indoor and outdoor activities that include family time, leisure, and playtime. But what kind of activities will keep kids active and engaged throughout the day, even in the lazy winter months? Here’s a quick guide to it.

Activities To Keep Kids Active and Engaged All Winter

Indoor Activities

1. Family Twister

Family Twister is the ideal game to get every member flexible and join in. The elders can be the judges and in charge of the spinning and choosing of colors and body parts. A fun game where parents and siblings get hilariously entangled and work together to win is enough to awaken the silent winter eve with a lively chorus of giggles and laughter.

2. Board Games

Board games like chess, checkers, Ludo, Cluedo, and more are excellent for lazy winter afternoons as they ensure your kid’s brain remains active and engaged. If they truly enjoy playing them, try playing more advanced versions of them to hone their cognitive and problem-solving skills. It will help them in the long run.

3. Winter Baking

When the weather is chilly and cravings run supreme, take your kid baking. While it may initially appear daunting to some children, make it fun by assigning them responsibility and making it seem like their idea. Start with something easy, like cookies or mug cakes, before moving on to more challenging confectioneries. You can also teach them nutrition and healthier food alternatives to many ingredients in this manner.

4. Dance Party

Dance parties are always a hit among kids. Make it a family dance party and you have set the scene. Take turns manning the music and have dance-offs to various online music challenges and decade-wise music. This will introduce everyone to one another’s musical taste before teaching many more new things about each other. For example, your kid may be surprised to see how well their parents dance and that their grandmother is an erstwhile kathak pro.

Outdoor Activities

1. Gardening

Gardening is an excellent hobby to engage in winter. While not many flowers grow in the winter months of December, January, and February, your kids can still tend to, such as snapdragon, marigold, petunia, sweet pea, dahlia, and winter jasmine. Such plants are not only bright and colorful but also bloom well when your kids tend to them daily.

2. Hikes And Trails

Winter is the perfect time to go on hikes and trails, as the weather is fine, and most reptiles are asleep. It is ideal to start early in the morning and return by late afternoon. Your kid will get to enjoy the fresh air and burn some restless energy while experiencing and learning about nature first-hand.

3. Picnics

Picnics are the ultimate winter activity, as the weather and skies are usually perfect in winter. slightly overcast with a light, chilly breeze that the jackets ward off. Your kids can easily pack a nice basket full of food, drinks, blankets, and toys or games to play with their friends and go off on a picnic. It will improve their physical health and enhance their mental wellbeing.

4. Combine Treasure Hunts With Obstacles

Obstacle races are wonderful for kids throughout the year. You can devise them at home, in as big or small a space as possible, be it a mini terrace, a backyard garden, or a big entire hall. Instead of spending money on equipment, you can creatively use household and available items, like upturned flowerpots and piled watering cans. But when you combine obstacle races with a treasure hunt, it hits the jackpot on the fun-o-meter for kids.

For example, at the end of every homely obstacle, such as climbing monkey bars or doing 10 push-ups, there will be a chit with a clue. These adventurous treasure hunts will always be under parental supervision, with them offering clues after every task completion. The child who solves the main puzzle or figures out the location of the treasure first wins. Such games will keep kids engaged all day and make sure their stamina and energy levels do not slouch in winter.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to rouse your kids into action during winter. They may want to sleep in during the vacations and not go out in the evening on school days. While rest is important, do not let digital leisure occupy it. Give this guide a try this winter, and watch your kids remain active and engaged throughout the chilly months.