How to motivate children to exercise even in the cold months

04. 11. 2024

Author of the article: Iveta Bartošová

As the months get colder, daylight decreases and we naturally retreat to our homes where we rest more and don't move as much. However, movement is very important for us and we should not forget about it even in winter. Preschool children go for walks together every day and include various exercises and movement games among their daily activities, whereas school children have a minimum of exercise. So how can we motivate children to move when we don't go out as much?

Why movement is important for children

Movement is an integral part of our lives, it keeps us fit, helps us to feel better, sleep better, train our muscles and prevent overweight. Therefore, if we keep movement to a minimum then it will have a big impact on our health. For children, movement is especially important, as they form habits into adulthood.

How to get children moving outdoors

Whether it's autumn's slushy days or winter's snowy sidewalks, it's always possible to come up with some outdoor activities and adapt them to the weather. Outdoors you can with your children:

• Just go for a walk and play hide and seek or baba;
• if you have a dog, then you can give the children the responsibility to walk the dog;
• collect leaves, chestnuts, acorns or pine cones and then use them to create some DIY autumn projects;
• geocaching
• fly a kite - we don't move much for this activity, so you can walk to the place where you will fly the kite or park your car somewhere further away so you have to walk;
• ride a bicycle or scooter, if the condition of the roads and pavements allows it;
• go to an outdoor ice rink or frozen pond and skate;
• ski;
• bobsleighing or sledding;
• snow balling or making snow angels;
• build a snowman.

How to get children moving inside

Movement in the fresh air is therapeutic, but it can be difficult in the cold months, so we choose indoor physical activities more often. You can visit:

• Group exercise classes - gymnastics, swimming, floorball, dance etc.;
• a children's playroom - if there is a slide or some bouncers, then the children will certainly get plenty of exercise;
• an ice rink and ice skating;
• a climbing wall;
• if you don't want to leave the house, you can set up a monkey bars with the kids to get them moving.

In a nutshell

During the cold months, we naturally reduce our outdoor exercise and naturally retreat indoors. Being out in the fresh air is great, but we don't always go outside with the kids. If you do decide to go outdoors, then you can just go for a walk, bike or bike ride, or in the winter go skating, skiing or bobsleighing. Popular indoor activities include group exercise classes, a climbing wall, swimming, ice skating at the rink or even a monkey bars that you create at home yourself.

How do you motivate your children? What are your favorite activities to do with your kids during the winter months?