20 Great ways to keep kids active in the winter

Invest in HyperDash.  This fun and fast paced game is around $20 and gets the whole family running and laughing.  Not only that, but you can set it to do easy math problems or colors and numbers to help little ones learn those.  It's often available locally at stores like Walmart and Target, or can be purchased for slightly more through Amazon.  Go bowling.  Some communities also host homeschool bowling classes or weekly homeschool bowling times at special rates.  Younger kids can use bumpers and special equipment to help make it easier.Go ice skating. Some communities offer homeschool skating packages and weekly times at local skating rinks, or just go during open skate times.  If your community has a roller skating rink, that's another fun option.View the list »
Yes, homeschoolers can still stay active even when it's like the tundra outside!

Homeschooling newsletter

It can be hard to keep kids active in the winter. Kids can still get moving outside in pretty cold temperatures, but in many states the temperature can get dangerously low.

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Homeschool kids can still get their physical education time in through other ways, though. There are lots of fun ways to keep kids moving and active during this type of weather. Many of these are also good options when it's too hot to get outside, too, or just rainy and miserable for days on end.

Click on the list below for 20 great ways to keep up with the PE portion of homeschooling no matter what the weather is.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, too. Feel free to leave additional suggestions in the comments!

View the list
  • Go ice skating. Some communities offer homeschool skating packages and weekly times at local skating rinks, or just go during open skate times.  If your community has a roller skating rink, that's another fun option.
  • Go bowling.  Some communities also host homeschool bowling classes or weekly homeschool bowling times at special rates.  Younger kids can use bumpers and special equipment to help make it easier.
  • Invest in HyperDash.  This fun and fast paced game is around $20 and gets the whole family running and laughing.  Not only that, but you can set it to do easy math problems or colors and numbers to help little ones learn those.  It's often available locally at stores like Walmart and Target, or can be purchased for slightly more through Amazon.  
  • Play hunt the timer or hide the phone (have someone hide the cordless phone and then hit the page button to start it beeping to help the kids find it).
  • Exercise together to yoga or exercise programs on TV.  If they're on too early in the morning, tape them or Tivo them to do later in the day.
  • Sign the kids up for martial arts classes, gymnastics or dance.  These are great for kids in so many other ways besides just keeping them active, too!
  • Go sledding.  If there's not enough snow or it's too cold, give the kids bath towels to drag each other down the hall and around the kitchen floor on.
  • Let each child pick a CD each day for the family to dance to.  Make a rule that nobody can stop moving except for bathroom breaks, and the wilder the dancing the better.
  • Go skiing.  You can go cross-country skiing anywhere, or hit a local site for downhill skiing.  Some communities offer weekly or monthly homeschool ski times at discounted rates, too.
  • Challenge the kids to see how many times they can run up and down the stairs, how many arm curls they can do with milk jugs (fill them with varying levels of water to make them heavier) or how long they can hula hoop or jump rope.
  • Get a membership at a family athletic center like the YMCA.  Keep in mind that some insurance programs cover the cost of membership and organizations like the Y also offer discounts for families on a tight income.
  • Invest in a mini trampoline for the kids to jump on.  Many offer handles to increase safety and also fold up for easier storage.  Rebounding also stimulates the lymphatic system, improving children's health and immune systems.
  • Take the kids outside for a walk, a snowball fight or to play in the snow on all but the most bitterly cold days.  Don't forget that shoveling snow is good exercise too!
  • Invest in toys like hoppity balls for the kids to bounce on in the basement or playroom.  These come in multiple sizes for older kids, too.
  • Order DVD's from the library or Netflix that teach different types of dance or other movement.  We have a private collection of old videos that cover everything from African dance to Irish step dancing to hula dance to yoga for kids.  The variety keeps it interesting and it's a bit of social studies too!
  • Make a hopscotch grid with painter's tape on the floor.  To make it educational, put various numbers in the squares and call out math problems!
  • Go mall walking, especially during slow times and to malls that don't get much business.  To avoid the temptation to spend money, leave all but a dollar or two in the car.
  • Go to homeschool gym times.  Most local homeschool communities have some sort of weekly gym time.  If none is available in your area, see about starting it up yourself.
  • Use game systems like Wii Fit or other Wii games like sports, dance or exercise programs.  Just make sure they really involve some true movement, with as much range as possible.
  • Go swimming.  Some communities organize weekly or monthly homeschool swim days at local recreational centers.  You can also pay for open swimming at such locations, at the YMCA or even some hotels for a small fee.
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Suggested by the author:

, Mankato Homeschooling Examiner

Alicia Bayer and her husband homeschool their five children in Westbrook, Minnesota, using a combination of Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Montessori, Unit Studies, Unschooling and other homeschooling methods. You can reach Alicia at alicia.bayer@gmail.com and find her on Pinterest at Magic and Mayhem.

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