As the days get shorter, many of us begin to hibernate — storing extra food in our tummies for the long, gray winter. On top of eating more, children and adults both tend to be less active during the winter months, which can lead to weight gain for everyone!
HOW TO STAY ACTIVE IN THE WINTER
Whether it’s inside or outdoors, staying active helps both you and your children maintain a healthy weight. There are lots of ways to get your whole family moving this winter. A few ideas are shared below.
INDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS
- Obstacle Course. Set it up with chairs, wastebaskets and toys — whatever is easy to move around. Let your kids make up the rules.
- Scavenger Hunt. Together, as a family — walk quickly around a local store or mall to count how many times you can find a certain item. One person could count red things, while the other counts green. Or you could count shapes, like circles or squares, or textures, like smooth or fuzzy.
- Indoor Circus. Create a family circus with hula hooping, juggling, or even walking the tight rope (a jump rope spread on the floor in a straight line).
- Bean Bag Toss. Who knew your WIC beans could be part of a fun indoor sport? Simply toss the bag of beans between family members. See how many times you can pass them before they land on the ground. (To keep the bag from breaking, you may want to double bag them in a zippered bag.)
- Strong Woman: Strong Man. See how many times each family member can lift a can of fruit or vegetables. Try the bent arm lift, the overhead lift and the over the ear stretch.
- Twist and Shout. Put on your favorite dance tunes and get moving! (Just don’t turn up the volume too much — it can damage babies’ and young children’s ears).
- Musical Chairs. This simple game is fun for all ages.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS
- Build a snowman
- Play snowball basketball
- Go ice skating
- Go sledding
- Make a snow cave or castle
- Draw shapes in the snow with a stick
- Collect pine cones for winter crafts
SAFELY PLAYING & EXERCISING OUTSIDE
- It’s great to get outside and get moving during the winter months, but be prepared to stay safe and warm.
- Know the wind chill factor – the wind can make it much colder and more dangerous to be outside.
- Watch out for ice and slippery slush – wear boots that have a good grip.
- Wear a hat – you lose a lot of body heat from your head.
- Protect fingers, ears, and toes – wear warm gloves, scarves, and socks to protect sensitive areas from frostbite.
- Be extra cautious around frozen lakes, streams and ponds – they may look frozen but could cave in if the ice is too thin.
- If children start shivering, bring them inside quickly – this is the first sign of hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature).