Ways to get your kids moving this winter

The days are short and cold. It’s easy to get into the habit of staying inside. I know just how difficult it can be to remain active during the winter months. But it’s not impossible. With a little creativity and a positive attitude, you can make healthy choices for your family year-round.

Children should have at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Adults should have at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity, five or more days a week. This may vary based on what their health care professionals recommend. How can this be accomplished on those days when a long walk or playtime outside isn’t realistic?

The internet can serve as a fantastic resource for finding ways to get active. Use it to your advantage to get your child up and moving. You can look for kid-friendly exercise videos or video call other family members and work out together. Many online trends, like TikTok dances, are a great way to get your child’s blood flowing and heart rate elevated. Involving the entire family means everyone is getting that much needed exercise.

We often see parents telling their children what they can do instead of asking them what they would like to do. Ask your child what kind of activities they’d like to do this winter — play board games, read books or do arts and crafts. It’s also important to talk about being active with your children. While an adult may enjoy walking on a treadmill, this probably doesn’t sound very exciting to a child. Keep in mind any movement or activity can be exercise.

Allow your child to tell you how they like moving around. Involving your child in the decision-making process will help ensure they are interested in the activities you are trying to incorporate to keep them moving.

Children are much more likely to respond to the need to stay active if they understand the why behind it. Make it a family event to look online for reasons why it’s important to stay active. Then, come together as a family to discuss those things, including the activities your child would like to do. Try to give your child as much control of the situation as possible, as you’re more likely to be successful this way.

If your child isn’t as excited about staying active as you’d like to them to be, don’t get discouraged. Continue finding creative ways to address the conversation and remember that these cold months don’t last forever. Look forward to the future and all the great weather to come. You’ve got this!

Dr. Jeremy Daigle is the medical director of the Healthy Active Living Program for Advocate Children’s Hospital and the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance.

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