While it’s great when kids can get outside to play, that isn’t always possible. The weather may be an issue, outside air quality could be poor or disease exposure risk could be a concern. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep kids active indoors.
Motion Control Video Games
Most kids enjoy video games, and there are options that don’t involve sitting and staring at a screen all day. Parents of children who haven’t responded to traditional exercise efforts might be heartened to know that studies have shown active video games to be an acceptable alternative. Many popular video games have motion controls and some are specifically designed to provide a workout while having fun. Dancing games in particular are popular, which use a mat on the floor to register a participant’s movements.
Yoga
Yoga is a great option because it uses flexibility, which is an important type of exercise that isn’t heavily used in most common physical activities. Yoga also encourages kids to practice mindfulness, both of their bodies and their emotions, which can lead to lifelong healthy living practices. Yoga has been directly shown to improve aerobic capacity, balance, endurance, anxiety, and academic performance in children.
Mazes or Obstacle Courses
Another great idea for controlled indoor play is to create a maze or an obstacle course. Simple maze plans can be found online and recreated with blankets, tape on the floor, rearranged furniture or other creative arrangements. Obstacle courses should offer a variety of challenges so kids stay stimulated and interested. Prizes such as stickers, small toys, candy or other items can even be given at the end upon completion.
Creative Play
Perhaps the best way to keep kids indoors but active is to let their imaginations determine the activity. Hide and seek is a perennial favorite, but both kids and parents can get creative. For example, kids could pretend to be adventurers going on a quest to find an ancient artifact, or athletes training to participate in the Olympics. Depending on the imagined subject, these games could even have an educational aspect to them in addition to the physical one. Parents should ensure anything important or fragile is put away before playtime begins, or limit activities to certain areas.
There are all sorts of creative ways to keep kids active inside, whether structured or unstructured. Parents should try different approaches, ask their kids what they like, encourage activity and creativity, and make adjustments as needed. It’s not as difficult to keep kids active indoors as one might think.
If you are interested in learning more about childcare, consider attending childcare courses in Sydney.
