10 Awesome Ways to Keep Active Indoors
As November rolls in, bringing shorter days and cooler weather, it can be a challenge to keep kids active and engaged indoors. With fewer opportunities for outdoor play, it’s important to find creative ways to keep their energy levels up and their minds stimulated. Here are some fun and effective indoor activities to keep your kids moving and grooving all month long!
Create an Indoor Obstacle Course
Transform your living room into an action-packed obstacle course! Use pillows, chairs, and blankets to set up tunnels, balance beams, and hopping stations. Challenge your kids to navigate the course in the shortest time possible or compete with each other to see who can complete it the most creatively. This not only keeps them active but also encourages problem-solving and coordination.
Why not theme your obstacle course to one of their favourite superheroes? Swing webs and leap like the Spider-Hero, or march from one obstacle to the next like the American Captain!
Dance Party Extravaganza
Turn up the volume and let the dance party begin! Create a playlist of your children’s favorite songs and let them dance like nobody’s watching. For an added twist, include a mini dance-off where each child can show off their best moves. Dancing is a fantastic way to get active, burn off energy, and have fun together as a family.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Organize an indoor scavenger hunt with a list of items for your kids to find around the house. Make it more challenging by including clues or riddles that lead to the next item. You can theme the scavenger hunt around Autumn for extra seasonal fun. This activity combines physical movement with mental stimulation and keeps kids engaged for hours.
DIY Mini Bowling
Set up a mini bowling alley using empty plastic bottles and a soft ball. Arrange the bottles in a triangular formation and let your kids take turns rolling the ball to knock them down. This simple active game helps improve hand-eye coordination and is a great way to encourage friendly competition.
Indoor Gymnastics
If you have a small space, you can still introduce basic gymnastics moves. Create a safe area with soft mats or cushions and practice moves like cartwheels, somersaults, and balance beams. You can even follow along with online kids’ gymnastics videos like this one from GymnasticsHQ that guide them through different exercises and routines.
Build a Fort
Let your kids’ imaginations run wild by building a cosy indoor fort using blankets, sheets, and furniture. Once the fort is built, encourage them to climb in and out, or even turn it into a space for reading, playing games, or having a snack. Building and playing in a fort provides physical activity and creative play opportunities.
Balloon Volleyball
Inflate a balloon and set up a “net” using a piece of string or a line of tape on the floor. Divide the room into two sides and have a fun game of balloon volleyball. The lightness of the balloon makes it safe for indoor play, and the game promotes movement, coordination, and teamwork.
Fitness Challenges
Introduce short fitness challenges that kids can do individually or as a group. Create a fun circuit with exercises like jumping jacks, running in place, or squats. Use a timer and see how many repetitions they can complete in a minute. These challenges are not only fun but also help build strength and endurance.
Crafts with Movement
Do you have a little artist, like our Tower Princess? Why not incorporate physical activity into craft time by combining art projects with movement. For instance, after making a paper plate tambourine or a set of homemade maracas, have a musical parade around the house. Or create a large mural on a roll of paper and have the kids “paint” by running or hopping to different sections of the mural.
Active Story Time
Maybe you have a bookworm, like the Enchanted Rose Princess. Combine storytelling with physical activity by creating a story that includes different actions. For example, if the story mentions a character jumping, ask your kids to jump in place. If it mentions climbing a mountain, have them pretend to climb. This interactive approach keeps kids moving and engaged with the narrative.
Final Thoughts
Keeping kids active indoors during the shorter days of November doesn’t have to be a challenge. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can turn any space into an arena for fun and fitness. The key is to incorporate a variety of activities that not only keep them physically active but also spark their imagination and creativity. So, gather your family, get moving, and make this November a month full of indoor adventures!
