How to Keep Kids Active During Colder Months

When temperatures start to drop around this time of year, it’s easy for both kids and parents to retreat into screen-time routines, but staying active during the colder months is essential for their health and happiness. If it is too cold to enjoy being outside, there are many fun activities that can be done inside as well! Indoors, you can keep them moving with fun activities like creating an obstacle course using pillows and furniture, hosting scavenger hunts, or having dance parties to their favorite music. For outdoor activities in cold weather, you can bundle up and explore nature with a hike or scavenger hunt, looking for animal tracks or collecting interesting rocks and leaves. Even playgrounds can remain a source of activity in colder months if they get covered in snow later on!

Of course, many children are involved in more structured exercise like being on sports teams in and outside of school. School-aged children should have the goal of meeting at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. Some exercise is achieved at school during gym classes and recess. With holidays just around the corner, it is a time when many organized activities and school will be taking breaks. Aim for at least 20–30 minutes of movement daily and involve the whole family to make it more engaging. Remember if your child is involved in sports or other extra-curricular activities not push them too hard as they are already meeting exercise goal recommendations.

The key is to keep it fun and flexible! Let kids choose activities they love and switch things up to maintain excitement. The upcoming colder weather doesn’t have to mean inactivity—it’s the perfect season to get creative, stay active, and make lasting memories together.