Staying Active in the Winter
As the holiday season draws to a close, the days are short, and the weather feels dreary, staying active in the winter can be hard. Staying active is important for both our physical and mental health. With less time moving outside in the sunshine, our bodies and brains are missing out on those happy chemicals we get. Below are some free and inexpensive ideas to keep this wintertime full of fun and movement:
-Trip to the Mall – many local malls have a free area with equipment for children to climb play. If not, the mall is a great place to take a long walk indoors.
-Dance Parties – turn on you and your child’s favorite music and get grooving! For extra fun, try some dances like the Macarena or Cha Cha slide for direction following too.
-Recreation Centers – most city’s recreation centers post their monthly schedule online, including activities geared towards people of all ages. Pick some to check out!
-Games – Next family game night, incorporate some that require movement like Twister, Charades, or Simon Says
-Cleveland MetroParks – check out the Cleveland Metroparks website to see the various winter equipment available for rental for all ages, including snow shoes and cross country skies. Most rentals are under $10. The website also lists various free programming and events happening throughout the season.
-Create a “Movement Jar” with slips of paper inside that call for movement. For example, movements like “bear crawls” or “bunny hops”
-Scavenger Hunts – Create a list of items your child can find. These can be completed inside or outside.
-Cosmic Kids Yoga – this YouTube account has free yoga videos for kids. They often include fun themes and characters to keep kids excited and engaged.
-Indoor Activity Centers – Cleveland has many places geared towards indoor fun such as trampoline and adventure parks. PlayCLE in Avon and Adrenaline Monkey near Orange are some of our favorites.