{"id":5232,"date":"2023-01-02T09:21:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T14:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4-c.org\/?p=5232"},"modified":"2023-06-15T18:51:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T22:51:41","slug":"more-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4-c.org\/indoor-activities\/more-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"MORE Activities to Keep Children Active When Bad Weather Keeps Them at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 2023 – Published by 4-C<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that young children need to stay active to ensure healthy physical and mental development. But what do you do when bad weather keeps them at home or inside? Sure, you could let them watch TV or play video games, but that doesn\u2019t really count as being \u201cactive.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what should they do, instead?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Black<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Here are some fun indoor activity ideas:<\/h3>\n

Indoor Obstacle Course<\/h4>\n

Set up an obstacle course using everyday items like cushions, blankets, and chairs. Encourage your child to move through the course, either by crawling, jumping, or walking on their hands and feet. If you have stairs, you can add those too.<\/p>\n

Dance Party<\/h4>\n

Put on some upbeat music and encourage your child to dance. Add fun props like scarves, hula hoops, or streamers. Try taking turns teaching each other dance moves and see who can be the silliest. Build in breaks by pausing the music and having everyone freeze.<\/p>\n

Indoor Scavenger Hunt<\/h4>\n

Hide items around the house and make a list of the items for your child to find. You can also assign points to each item, so you can keep track of who finds the most. Help or have your child make a list of different shapes, colors, or letters of the alphabet. Can they find a corresponding item to match each?<\/p>\n

Indoor Bowling<\/h4>\n

Set up some empty plastic bottles or cans and use a ball to knock them down. You can even draw a lane with chalk or painter’s tape on the floor for some added fun.<\/p>\n

Build a Fort<\/h4>\n

Grab some blankets, sheets, pillows, and chairs and have your child help you make a fort. Once the fort is complete, you can use it for playing hide and seek, as a cozy reading area, or for pretend play. For added complexity, you can have your child draw or re-create their fort using blocks.<\/p>\n

Yoga<\/h4>\n

Teach your child some simple yoga poses and encourage them to practice. Yoga is a great way to develop strength, balance, and flexibility. Once they’ve learned the basics, have your child take a turn leading.<\/p>\n

Indoor Ball Games<\/h4>\n

There are lots of indoor ball games that your child can safely play. Some popular ones are balloon volleyball, paper plate basketball, and balloon baseball. Try having your child come up with their own game with rules and a point system.<\/p>\n

Indoor Hopscotch<\/h4>\n

Use masking tape or painter\u2019s tape to make a hopscotch grid on the floor. If you have a beanbag or a small ball, your child can toss it into the squares and hop around the grid. Tape cutouts of hands or feet to each square to add complexity to the game.<\/p>\n

Indoor Snowball Fight<\/h4>\n

Make some paper “snowballs” and have a snowball fight. Once that game is finished, try using the “snowballs” to play other ball games like the ones mentioned above.<\/p>\n

Indoor Adventure<\/h4>\n

Create an indoor adventure with your child. Have them pick an imaginary destination, draw a map together, and then have them complete tasks to get there. Once you’ve arrived, throw a dance party!<\/p>\n

Cook Together<\/h4>\n

Collaborate with your child to decide what you want to cook or bake together. Grab aprons and talk about each ingredient as you measure it for your dish. This is a great opportunity to discuss math, explore differences in texture, and engage your senses.<\/p>\n<\/div>

No matter what you choose to do, the key is to find activities that your child enjoys and that keeps their body moving. By encouraging them to be active, even when indoors, you can help them maintain their physical and mental health in engaging ways. Spend your time together having fun, even when bad weather keeps them inside.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Read About It<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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Additional 4-C Resources<\/h3>\n