Across the state, below freezing temperatures are predicted for the next few days. With the expected wind chill, many schools have already canceled classes so kids, parents and teachers won’t have to brave the cold.
When you’ve got your children in the house all day long, it can be a challenge to find ways to keep them occupied and active. Instead of letting them spend hours in front of the TV or just sitting around on an electronic device, there are many ways exercise can be used to keep them busy.
One of the best methods: try disguising exercise as play. This is a great way to get younger kids moving while channeling their energy. Some easy ways to do this could be:
- Test out kid-friendly yoga. Look online for videos that walk through how to do different yoga poses that are tailored for kids.
- Play a game that gets them moving. Blow up a balloon and have your kids volley it to one another without letting it touch the floor. You could also lay pillows on the floor and have your kids pretend the ground is lava as they jump from pillow to pillow.
- Start up a dance party. Turn on the radio or queue up your favorite kid-friendly playlist and then dance like nobody is watching. Have a competition to see who has the best dance moves or take turns lip-syncing their favorite songs.
Helping Young Athletes Stay in Shape
If you happen to have a young athlete in the house, there are many ways that they can keep in shape even if they aren’t practicing or spending time outdoors. Try out these exercises to keep their strength up and avoid injuries:
- Bodyweight exercises. You do not need equipment to get moving at home. Make up a circuit of bodyweight exercises to get a full body workout. A few examples include:
- Push-ups
- Squats
- Lunges
- Bridges
- Step-ups
- Burpees
- Isometric exercises. These exercises simply require you to hold a position with tense muscles for a brief period of time. As you tense up and then release these muscles, it works them out. Pick exercises to work different parts of the body:
- Plank hold
- Wall sit
- Wall press
- Squat hold
- Bridge
- Lunge hold
- Prayer pose/chest squeeze
- Static stretching. Stretching is a great way to keep muscles loose. Make sure to take your time and go slow to avoid injury.
Once the bad weather breaks and it gets a little warmer, don’t be afraid to let kids run around and spend time outside – as long as they are still properly bundled up and protected from the cold!
Visit henryford.com or call 1-800-HENRYFORD (436-7936) to schedule an appointment with a doctor or one of our athletic trainers.
You can read more parenting and fitness advice in our ParentWell and MoveWell sections.
