Fun Ways to Keep Kids Active through the Winter
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Health Tip of the WeekPublished on
Health Tip of the Week It’s that time of year. The days are shorter, the air is colder. And while snuggling up on your couch under a blanket may be all you want to do, the need for exercise doesn’t hibernate for the winter.
Thankfully, Rachel DeHaven, an exercise physiologist with the Healthy Weight Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has lots of ideas to help kids (and adults!) stay active through the winter, and all year long!
Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean your kids have to stay inside. Dress them warmly, in layers, with a hat, scarf, mittens or gloves — and boots if it’s snowy or muddy. (A good rule of thumb: Older babies and young children should wear one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear.)
Clear some space in your home for active play, so your children can enjoy moving around without risk of hurting themselves or breaking something.
A good way to make exercise part of your children’s weekly routine is to enroll them in a class. Help your child find a sport or activity to try out. Or consider improving their skills in a sport with instruction.
Winter classes or teams are available in many communities for a wide range of active sports, including swimming, yoga for kids, dance, gymnastics, basketball, tennis, indoor soccer, martial arts, fencing, skating, rock climbing and many more.
Your investment in a class this winter could lead to a lifelong love of a new sport or activity your child might not otherwise have tried.
No matter what the weather, following these three guidelines can make it easier to keep your kids active:
Read more on this topic in a post on the Healthy Kids blog.
Contributed by: Rachel DeHaven, BS