Don’t let the cold and snow freeze out your winter fitness goals!
If you live in an area where snow and ice dominate in the winter months, you may be tempted to put your outdoor workouts and winter fitness activities on hold. But instead of resorting to endless days of screen time, take the initiative to get your family outside! When you role-model an active lifestyle year round, you give your kids the tools to develop good habits.
Fresh air and activity is good for your body and soul. Plus, exercises that take place on uneven ground, such as snow and ice, can even improve your balance skills, by working muscles that are key to keeping your body stabilized. So, bundle up, and brave the snow and cold for a little seasonal adventure!
Sledding
If you have a sledding hill, you can get some great cardio in by racing each other back up the hill! No hill? No problem! Find a flat spot and opt for some sled pulls, or even some sled pull racing! Want to make it even more fun? See how many kids it takes to pull dear old dad in the sled.
Winter Hikes and Snowshoeing
Blaze a trail right through that fresh snow, and you can burn up to 600 calories an hour! Want to make it interesting? Add a snowshoe race through the forest. And don’t rule out the dark. Look around for local candlelight night hikes for a great alternative to movie night.
Boot hockey or Ice Skating
Find your favorite frozen pond or lake and take your kids skating! It’s a great way to use upper and lower body muscles for grown-ups and kids alike. No skates? Grab your boots and play a little stick right in your driveway.
Snowball Baseball and Snowball Target Practice
There doesn’t have to be many rules for snow play, but both of these games are great for visual motor coordination and upper body movement! Grab your favorite plastic baseball bat and see how many “pitches” you can hit in a row. For target practice, stand a sled upright, step back and see who can get the most throws inside the “target” Of course, expect a few snowballs to come your way in the process!
