The Christmas season is fast approaching and the winds are already cool. Going outdoors can be difficult and even dangerous due to with the cold weather and slippery snow. However, the wintry season is no excuse for not exercising, especially for you and your kids. Children are naturally active; the cold winds will not deter them from playing outside. Thus, here are some simple exercises you can do with the kids to take keep them busy this winter:
Play indoors
There are a lot of games you and your kids can play indoors. Play hide and seek or a fetching game with the kids. Get a jumping rope and burn some calories alternating jumping with the kids. Make sure that the ceiling is high enough so your kids won’t bump their heads. Have the kids play with the family dog and have them run around the living room.
Play a video game
There are also a lot of video games that will require the kids to do some physical activity. If you have an Xbox One at home, get an Xbox Kinect sensor that attaches to the Xbox console. This sensor enables you to command your Xbox, and also allows you to play games as if you are really doing so. Some games require you to run in position, engage in friendly boxing, throw a virtual javelin, or embark in an adventure where you have to run, jump over barriers, or duck down. This is one fun way to engage the kids in some exercise.
Dance party
Invite your kids’ friends over and have a dance party. Get some pop dance tunes in your iPod and crank up the volume on your speakers. Get some dance games going including Trip to Jerusalem or Statue dance game. Hang some lights and tie some ribbons around the living room. Serve some juice cocktails and get ready to have fun. Your kids will think you are the coolest parent ever.
Yoga or Pilates
Yoga and Pilates are low impact exercises that can be done by both adults and children. Have a yoga instructor over so they can prescribe the right positions for the kids. Nonetheless, kids are generally more flexible than adults so it won’t be much of an issue. You can also utilize exercise videos that you can buy from the video store or download some online. All you need are yoga mats for you and the kids, as well as some good athletic wear. No matter what exercise you embark in, as long as you do it with the kids, they will surely have fun being cooped inside during this wintry season.
Morning jog/running
Combat the cold by wearing compression athletic wear and appropriate running gears when taking your morning jog with the kids. Do this when there is minimum to none snow cover, as the snow can be slippery. A morning jog will serve to energize you and your kids for the whole day. However, take care to keep the jog or the run for a limited time only as the kids might get too cold if you stay out too long.
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