How to Keep Kids Active and Off Devices as the Weather Gets Colder

You’re not the only parent wondering how to keep kids active as the weather grows colder. Shorter days and chilly afternoons have a way of pulling children toward the couch and the closest screen.

Once the backyard turns frosty, the tablet starts to look like the best babysitter in the house. However, winter offers plenty of ways to get kids moving, laughing and creating.

These screen-free winter activities will help you keep your kids active and entertained all season long, no matter their age.

1.   Aim for an Hour of Movement Every Day

Kids need more movement than most grown-ups realize. According to the CDC, children ages 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes of activity every day, while kids ages 3 to 5 should stay active throughout the day.

That hour can feel like a lot when it’s dark by 5 p.m., so break it into smaller pieces. Try 10 minutes of jumping jacks before homework, hallway tag after dinner or a dance break while the pasta boils. It all adds up, and kids barely notice they’re exercising.

2.   Turn Your Living Room Into an Obstacle Course

An icy afternoon is the perfect excuse to rearrange the furniture. Line up couch cushions as stepping stones, use painter’s tape as balance beams and set up empty water bottles for hallway bowling. Pillows become crash pads, and a blanket over two chairs becomes a tunnel.

One easy tradition to try is a ‘Floor Is Lava’ Saturday. The kids build a new course each weekend, then time each other across the room. Letting them design it adds problem-solving to the fun, and cleanup becomes part of the game.

3.   Bundle Up and Head Outside

Cold weather doesn’t have to stop you from getting fresh air. Dress kids in layers, add a warm hat and waterproof gloves, and keep outdoor sessions short enough that everyone comes back rosy-cheeked and happy. A 20-30 minute session works well on a cold day.

A winter scavenger hunt suits almost any age. Give kids a list to check off, like a pinecone, an animal track, a red berry, or the crunchiest leaf in the yard. Younger kids can collect treasures while older kids can sketch their finds over cocoa. Many state parks also host guided First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day, turning a family walk into a yearly tradition.

4.   Pack Screen-Free Fun for Holiday Road Trips

Winter break often means long drives to see family, which is usually when the tablet comes out. A small bag of screen-free fun can keep kids active for hours. Pack activity books, crayons, cards and audiobooks the whole car can enjoy. Classic games like I Spy and the license plate game still hold up, too.

Hand kids a paper map to study so they can trace the route and spot upcoming towns. It gives them a job and a real sense of where the trip is headed. A travel journal works, too, letting kids draw or write about favorite stops long after the holidays wrap up.

5.   Swap Screen Time for Hands-on Hobbies

Screens and movement often compete for the same hours, so give kids something better to reach for. A good hobby or engaging activity fills the gap left by the tablet.

Try a “hobby bin” for the first hour after school, stocked with LEGO bricks, beads, modeling clay or a beginner ukulele. Baking together counts, too, especially when kids measure, stir and decorate on their own. Swap out the bin’s contents every couple of weeks to keep things fresh and exciting.

6.   Make Movement a Family Game

Kids copy what they see, so joining in might be the most powerful move you have. A 2023 research review found that parents who exercise alongside their children help increase how often those kids engage in physical activity. Throw a kitchen dance party while dinner cooks, play Simon Says or freeze dance in the living room, or turn chores into a timer race.

If you let your children pick the game each night, they’ll feel more invested in keeping it going. A family that moves together tends to keep moving all winter.

Chill Out This Winter

Cold weather changes the routine, but your kids’ world doesn’t have to stay within a screen. A cushion obstacle course or a frosty scavenger hunt can fill darker afternoons with fun. Start with one or two ideas, keep that daily hour of movement in mind and let the kids help plan. Before long, keeping kids active becomes part of your family’s winter rhythm.

Author bio:  Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.
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