After a few weeks in quarantine without school or other outings, your kids might be driving you crazy. Without the physical activity they normally get at school, they likely have pent up energy they need to get out. Plus, it’s important they get daily activity to ensure they remain healthy.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your kids active while at home.
When convincing kids to get exercise, it’s better if they think it’s a fun time. This is where fun activities come into play! For example, the backyard trampoline or jumping rope is great exercise that is viewed by kids as an exciting activity. Even though it’s important to stay at home, this doesn’t mean you can’t engage in outdoor fun.
You can even go to a nearby park if you don’t have a large yard or just need a change of scenery – just keep your distance from others.
More Fun Activity Ideas
If your kids love games that involve dice, try making (or buying) activity dice! You can include fun activities like “jump rope” or “bunny hops” on one, then have another that tells them how long to do the activity for. These could include regular activities or animal-inspired activities to make it more game-like. Try searching for more ideas on Pinterest to find the perfect activity game for your kids.
If your kids enjoy watching videos, try finding them one that has them do various activities. Even small things (i.e. fly like a bird) can help them stay active and get out their energy while they enjoy screen time.
Depending on the age of your kid, you might not be able to trick them into exercising. This is where rewards come in handy. Instead of letting them play video games or sit on their phone all day, make sure they get their daily activity in first. Or, offer a unique reward that they don’t normally get to indulge in.
If you have a daily workout routine that isn’t too intense (like a yoga video), try having your kids join in – they might just like it! This even applies to some harder workouts – for example, if you have a HIIT jump rope routine, you can have them jump rope alongside you. In addition, try incentivizing the activity with a reward they love to motivate them through the exercise.
If you don’t have a large backyard and don’t want to risk riding bikes or walking around the neighborhood, the garage is a great place to let your kids play around. You can move your cars into the driveway and let the kids go crazy! They could play soccer, tag, ride bikes or scooters, skateboard, or nearly any other activity depending on the size of your garage. Garage playtime can also help eliminate these activities inside the home to avoid distractions if you’re working from home.
If you live in a smaller apartment and don’t have a backyard or garage, it can be much harder to keep kids active. Although some of the previous ideas (such as activity dice) can help, it’s almost necessary to visit nearby parks while keeping your distance from others. The kids (and adults) are bound to get cabin fever. As long as you stay away from others and make sure to stay sanitary, you’re not endangering yourself or anybody else.
Laurice Wardini
Author