Family, Running & Fitness

Activities To Keep the Kids Active During the Winter

by Matt Orlando
Matt Orlando
Follow Me
Latest posts by Matt Orlando (see all)

Getting the kids active is easy in the summer. You can hit the hiking trails, go swimming, or even just run around the yard, and you’d know that both you and the kids got their exercise for the day.

But there aren’t quite as many options when everything is encased in ice, and Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. That’s why we’ve compiled this handy list of our favorite activities to keep the kids active during the winter—to keep your kids healthy all season long.

Create a Home Workout Space

Many dads have gym memberships that allow their kids to come with them to work out. But let’s be honest: that foot-and-a-half of snow we mentioned earlier doesn’t exactly make anyone excited about piling into the car and going anywhere. And one great way to get around that is by making a home gym.

You can tailor home workout spaces to your space and your needs. For example, some choose to put them in their basements, while others use them as a way to repurpose their garage. Whichever option you go with, the goal is to have plenty of space to move around or to fit exercise equipment, including workout mats or yoga balls.

Pro Tip

The idea of letting kids use exercise equipment scares a lot of parents, and for a good reason. But there are some pieces of equipment you can use that are kid-friendly, like mini trampolines or climbing ropes.

Try Indoor Sports

All the outdoor sports fields are buried under a foot-and-a-half of snow. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to ignoring sports until the spring frost. There is a whole slew of sports that are better to play inside that you and the kids will love. For example:

  • Basketball
  • Indoor roller skating
  • Floor hockey
  • Rock climbing
  • Dodgeball
  • Ping pong 

Beyond that, plenty of communities have indoor sports arenas or youth centers where you can play your favorite outdoor sports inside, like soccer, flag football, or volleyball. (Be sure to check the CDC’s latest guidance on indoor activities and if able please get vaccinated.)

Play in the Snow!

We can’t make that foot-and-a-half of snow go away by sheer willpower. And since it’s here to stay, we might as well embrace it. While the idea of taking your kids skiing or snowboarding may make you nervous, there are plenty of other snow-related activities to keep the kids active during the winter, including:

  • Building a snowman
  • Having a snowball fight
  • Taking a wintery walk
  • Going sledding
  • Shoveling neighbors’ driveways

Getting active in the winter can be a challenge. But nothing good ever came without hard work. And besides, between the indoor soccer games and the snowball fights, we’d say that this is hard work you and your kids will have fun doing.