With the impending winter weather, West Virginia University Extension Service’s Obesity Prevention Specialist, Emily Murphy, is advising families to ensure children accumulate a daily minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity – even on snow days.

“Kids need 60 minutes of physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week for many reasons such as a decreasing their risk of obesity and type two diabetes,” Murphy said. “The best part about physical activity is you don’t need any special equipment, a child can find fun activities in simple things. With a little bit of innovation, you can change your inside space into a physical activity haven.”

Murphy suggests that simple and fun activities can take place in many areas of the home. With a little free space and household items, imagination is the only limitation.

Use masking tape to lay-out an indoor hopscotch board on hardwood, tile or a linoleum floor where children can move around freely. Find enough space to host an impromptu dance party where everyone takes turns playing songs while moving to the beat.

Murphy also suggests hallways are an excellent place for activities. Yarn taped wall-to-wall makes a “laser grid” for children to negotiate by jumping, bending and crouching through the hall, being careful not to touch any of the string.

The hallway can also be used as a venue for a snow day Olympics that can help children build motor skills. Events like volleyball can be played with a balloon to improve timing, a bean bag toss refines accuracy and soccer with a soft object teaches coordination.

“Combining learning and exercise into one cohesive activity allows children to develop cognition skills and motor skills simultaneously,” Murphy said. “Sneaking in lessons on sentence structure and simple math with tie-ins to physical activity are proven devices utilized in today’s classroom and are easily adaptable to the home.”

Murphy said reading books is also a great snow day activity for kids of all ages. While reading books, she encourages parents to have children act the story out or have them act out each verb they encounter in a sentence to teach them how words function.

Alternatively, answers to simple math problems can be acted out in pushups, jumping jacks or running in place for the number of seconds that correlates to the answer.

“When you have exhausted your indoor activity list, don’t forget that playing outside in the snow with adult supervision is a timeless classic that burns off excess energy and creates memories,” Murphy said. “Not only are favorites like sled riding, building a snow-fort and ice skating fun, they are also great physical activities that bring the entire family closer.”

Murphy also suggests that taking a walk around the neighborhood with your child to check on neighbors can be good way to get fresh air, get physical activity and cultivate relationships. Older children can assist neighbors by offering to shovel walkways and driveways.
New snowfall is also an opportunity to learn about animals in the neighborhood. Suit up children to take an impromptu nature hike to observe animal tracks and have them speculate what sort of animal they think each track belongs to.

Preparation is key to keeping kids positively engaged. Murphy suggested a snow-day activity bin that includes such things as board games, building block sets, Chinese jump ropes and a myriad of craft supplies.

For more suggestions on how to keep your child active in all seasons, contact a local office of the WVU Extension Service.

-WVU-

zl/03/04/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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