Category: Exercise

If you have a toddler, you know how active they can be. Sometimes, they seem to have an excess of energy, and figuring out how to burn it off during the colder months can be a challenge.

Luckily, there are a ton of winter activities that aren’t just entertaining, but also physical, letting your toddler put their energy to good use. Here are some of the best winter activities for toddlers that engage the body and the mind.

Go Sledding (and Climb the Hills)

Racing down a snow-covered hill is always an exhilarating experience. The brisk air and the sensation of flying across fresh powder are sure to bring a smile to any child’s face.

Plus, when you don’t just sled down the hills, but climb up them as well, it’s a great workout for everyone. Just make sure to stay by your toddler’s side as they conquer the climb, so you can be ready to steady them if they slip.

Catch Snowflakes

Trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue is a quintessential childhood experience. Since it usually involves running around, it’s a great energy burner too.

You can also take this magical experience to the next level by teaching your kids to gently toss the snow in the air. Just take a few minutes to remove any obstacles or potentially dangerous objects, like rocks and sticks, before you start in on the fun.

Build a Snow Fort

Building anything out of snow can be a fun family-friendly activity, but a fort can also encourage fun after the construction process is complete. Start by teaching your toddler how to make “bricks” out of snow by compacting it into the proper shape. Next, guide them through the stacking process, ensuring each new brick provides support. Then, just keep an eye on them as though go, giving them help should the need arise.

Once the fort is ready, you can play new games that make use of the building. If your weather is staying cold and you don’t get any rain, your family may even be able to take advantage of the fort for days after it is built.

Create Snow Angels

Snow angels are another classic winter activity that every child should experience. After all, you are encouraging them to collapse into the snow, which is fun in its own right. Plus, the arm and leg motions get your toddler moving and teaching them to get up slowly to keep their design intact promotes awareness. Just make sure your toddler doesn’t try to make a snow angel by laying face down in the snow as that could be dangerous.

Make Art

Snow can be an incredible medium for art. If it is fairly packed, your toddler can use their finger or hands to draw pictures. They can build up the snow in certain areas to make their design 3-D, or add items like sticks, rocks, or colored ice cubes to create their masterpiece.

Plus, you can easily add color to any part of their drawing with some watered-down food coloring. Just keep in mind that food coloring is safe but can stain, so make sure to dress them properly for the art-filled occasion.

Try Follow the Leader

Even if you don’t have any snow, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun outside with your toddler. A simple game of follow the leader can be a great option as it allows you to retain a certain level of control, something that may be essential in icy conditions.

Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt can be ideal for improving your toddler’s observational skills. You can use pictures or words to guide them through the hunt, letting them know what they need to find and bring back to you. If your area isn’t filled with a lot of items to find, you can also add sounds to listen for or smells to notice. Nearly anything goes, giving you the ability to make this an immersive experience for your children.

Snowman Snacks

If you need to stay indoors, getting your toddler involved in snack preparation can be an excellent activity for everyone. You could let them help you combine ingredients, decorate cookies or cupcakes together, or turn a group of different snack foods into a snowman’s face on a plate. Overall, it promotes creativity, so nearly any option can be fun.

Make Birdfeeders

Food can be a little scarce for birds in the winter. Luckily, you and your toddler can help your neighborhood feathered friends by creating some simply pinecone birdfeeders.

Once you have the pinecones, tie some cotton string onto the end. Next, coat them in peanut butter and roll them in birdseed. Last, pick a spot in a tree to hang them, ideally in a spot where your toddler can see them from a window.

It’s an easy little project that also teaches them about the world around them, making it a great option for curious toddlers.

My two toddlers are a handful and keep me on my toes. If it is quiet in my house, then either they are napping or there is trouble brewing! However, even though your kids may be ‘active’, they need a variety of physical activities to help them develop.

Kids running around, playing and doing ‘stuff’ is a great start. Some children are self-motivated to play and explore. Other children, like my youngest, crave direction and tasks to help them bring out their playful side.

To keep my twosome active and busy, I have a variety of physical activities I use throughout a week. Here are five of my favorites.

1. Visit a local park
The first way you can give your toddler a great workout is by simply going to a local park. Walk with them, start a simple game of hide and seek, stomp in puddles, have a picnic, climb rocks, enjoy the playground (if there is one), and so much more. Recently, we went to the park and made paper airplanes. We folded and painted, then we climbed to the top of a hill and let them fly. My two had lots of fun simply up and down the hill fetching the planes so I could throw them again.

2. Indoor obstacle course
Another fun way to exercise your toddler is great for a rainy day: create an indoor obstacle course. Use cushions, chairs, and other objects that challenge your kids to problem solve. Set it up so there are options to go under, over, or around different parts of the course (mine eventually started going through the obstacles, so I had to get creative using boards with a bit of foam on them. You can also use old boxes and connect them by cutting holes on the sides. Whatever you can do that will get them to move their little bodies in different directions safely.

3. Ball games
Another popular activity in our house is ball games. Start with rolling a ball across the floor and watch how they respond. Usually kids will try to emulate what you do and will try to roll it back. Make it fun and surprising. As they get comfortable with a moving ball, try bouncing it or kicking it (obviously, do this outside or in a playroom… remember to create boundaries). Next, get a nerf basketball net or a small hockey net and show them how to aim or put the ball in the net. Eventually, work up to a game of catch (or, as happens in my house, chase the ball while giggling hysterically).

4. Dancing
Put on some toddler-friendly music that has an easy-to-follow beat, and dance with them. Some kids are born with a need to dance and others need to be shown, but I’ve yet to meet a toddler who won’t dance to the right music. Although perhaps not kid-friendly, my oldest has latched on to ‘Uptown Funk’ and dances around singing it without the music!

5. Swimming
Not only is swimming fantastic exercise, it is a vital life skill and a great way to bond with your toddlers. Early swim lessons help build a foundation towards a lifetime appreciation of the water, as well as other sports and physical activities. If you, as an adult or supervisor, need a little help teaching your child to swim, you might want to pick up a DVD or book such as Waterproof Kids. It helps parents update their water safety awareness and provides techniques on introducing kids to water progressively. If you are using your own pool, be sure you keep it clean with proper chemicals and a pool vacuum to keep your little ones from getting sick.

Bonus: Visit a farm or a zoo
This is somewhat akin to visiting a park, but it engages your toddler’s brain, especially if the farm or zoo allows children to touch the animals. My two love visiting our local petting zoo so they can visit all their favorite animals (my oldest has named the youngest goat, “Goaty”). Here they can explore, touch, and get dirty without a lot of stress. It’s a fun morning or afternoon escape for everyone.

Finding activities to help your toddler grow and develop isn’t hard, but it does take a bit of creativity. What I love about all of the ideas above is that it is shared time between parent and child. Not only are we building up our kids but we are developing a stronger bond with them.

What activities do you recommend for your toddler? I’d love to hear about them.