Sometimes it is just not feasible to go outside. Or maybe it is just not fun to go outside so your kids are trapped in the house or apartment. These can be trying times for any family with young kids. Young kids need to move. They need to be active. If they do not get a chance to burn off some energy they and their parents may go crazy.
Where I live we just went through two weeks where getting outside was just not worth it. For one entire week the temperature was 32 or below. Many days started in the single digits. At the same time there was not any snow to play in. Then the second week it was a bit warmer but almost constant rain. This makes for two weeks that many people just decided to remain inside.
So what can a parent do when their kids are stuck in the house for an extended period of time? Let’s get creative. It is possible to get movement while inside, it just may be limited. My first suggestion is to work out as a family. I am not talking about forcing your kids to do push ups until they cannot do any more or doing bicep curls to failure. I’m referring to having your young kids do things just to see if they can do them. Start off with questions like “lets see if you can do a push up” or “can you do this yoga pose”. Start by just seeing what they can and cannot do. Let them decide if they want to push themselves. They may decide that they want to see how many push ups or dips they can do.
For younger kids you can use larger space or a hall to see what type of movements they can do. Find out if they know how to skip, gallop, or do high knees. This is a great location for bear walks or crab walks. Doing these things with your kids can be fun if you do not put any pressure on them and laugh at their failures as they learn to use their bodies.
Stretching and yoga can provide some activity and movement while at the same time being fun and challenging. Having young kids trying to get into a yoga pose could be the funniest part of your day, but maybe not as funny as trying it yourself.
Another way to get some movement and be creative is to play hide and seek. This is fun for kids anywhere from 9 down to 2 years of age. You can also play hide the stuffed animal where one person hides a stuffed animal and then the other child has to roam the house finding it.
Looking for an easy way to get in some strength training without the kids realizing that’s what they are doing? Then let’s rearrange the furniture or move the furniture so you can clean the house. Even housework itself can provide some movement.
Other types of movement when shut in the house could be dancing, martial arts, or even throwing a ball that is soft enough that it would not be hazardous inside. You may say, “but we don’t dance, do martial arts, or practice yoga.” That’s even more of a reason to give them a try. Get on Youtube and try to find some instructional videos. It may be something the entire family can learn. When it is something new for the family it may be even more hilarious to try. In the end you are trying to find movement for your children that can break the depression of being trapped inside. It could be a win for the entire family.
