7 Tips on Keeping Kids Active Indoors During the Winter Chill
Written by Pakhi Rewri | October 20, 2025
Introduction
With winter, kids may become apprehensive about going outside and playing. Not only is it cold, but it also gets dark earlier than usual. Staying at home may push kids to use mobile phones and spend prolonged hours sitting. Lack of physical activity for such a long time may negatively impact a child's health and may also affect their social and emotional development.
However, one can not avoid the health risk associated with letting kids play outside during winter. So the best way to tackle this problem is to think of some interactive and fun indoor activities that may also promote physical development among kids. Such activities may make kids energetic, less irritable, and make them enjoy winter more than usual.
Tips to Promote Physical Activities Among Kids During Winters
When it becomes too cold for kids to play outside, there are some interesting ways for parents to keep their kids engaged and active. A multitude of indoor activities can be set up to help kids stay fit.
Utilize Indoor Space
One of the best tips to ensure proper physical activity among kids during winter is to design a proper indoor space meant for playing. Parents can assemble different equipment like jumping, rope, yoga mat, or simply create a small indoor stack course with the help of furniture at home. As per APJ, this way, kids can stay motivated to work out by looking at this area. Moreover, it can also act like a safe space for them to indulge in activities of their choice.
Set a Routine
Sometimes, a child may not work out or indulge in physical activity due to a lack of a structured routine. Parents can help in designing a proper schedule for their child that may help them stay active during the winter. As per NIH, setting a routine can enhance a child's productivity. Parents can set a daily exercise time for kids where they can devote 15 to 30 minutes every day. This can be set in the evening when a child is done with their school and homework. The 30 minutes may include simple stretching or walking around the house and doing different types of exercises.
Make Regular Activities Fun
Regular activities, such as household chores, can be made fun by gamifying them. For example, parents can make the child do dusting and cleaning while playing some music in the background. For completing each of their tasks, they can be given a small award in the form of a candy or any other thing that they like. Parents can also turn exercise into fun yet simple activities. Hide and seek can be played by making kids pretend to be superheroes or animal characters.
Offer a Healthy Diet
Good nutrition is instrumental in supporting a child's health. It can also impact the child's energy levels and mood. According to the children published in 2023, without proper nutrition, children may not be able to focus properly and may remain fatigued. Different types of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, and fats, can be integrated into the diet of a child. Other than this, proper hydration is also necessary to ensure that a child feels motivated.
Promote Social Interaction
During winter, spending more time indoors shouldn't mean that children have fewer opportunities for social interaction. As per NIH, it may make a child feel bored and even isolated. To promote social interaction, parents may organise specific play dates where other kids can join indoor activities. Moreover, parents may also promote group activities that involve all the family members. This may make a child feel more involved and interested.
Join Virtual Sessions
To promote physical activity, parents may also encourage children to join different types of virtual sessions. This may be virtual yoga, meditation, a workout routine, and some simple games. Generally, these classes are organized by people who connect with other individuals from around the world. Kids may get to indulge in such activities while staying at home. This is a great way for kids to learn new skills without having to go outside.
Organise Dance Parties
One of the best ways to get kids moving is by organising a dance party. A dance party can be a fun way to encourage kids to indulge in physical activity. All the family members may participate in this fun dance session. Parents can also invite other children from their neighbourhood to participate in this dance session. As per Frontiers in Psychology it may introduce the child to different types of music, dance styles, and also improve their mobility.
Conclusion
Each season comes with its own positives and negatives. While winters can be cozy and fun, they may also restrict a child's movement because of the low temperature. But with the right kind of tips and tricks, parents can promote physical activity among children and ensure that they remain fit.