Safe and Fun Indoor Play
by Abby Franklin2/5/2008 4:33:27 PM
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My kids are bouncing off the walls, are yours? It’s been hard to get my kids to spend more than 10 minutes outside this winter. It’s either too rainy for them or too cold. “If only it would snow!” they say. “If only you would stop bouncing off the walls!” I say.
How to keep active kids happy (and safe) when they'd rather be outside.
Eventually we put our heads together and come up with something that will get their pent up energy out. I have compiled quite a list of indoor activities for active kids over my years as a teacher, and mother, and thought I could share some ideas with you.
Indoor Swing
This is the number one best thing we have done in the house! My kids are happy for hours on that swing and to keep it exciting, we rotate what kind of swing they can play on. Right now, it is a trapeze bar; sometimes it is a skychair or rings or even just a rope with knots tied in it. Look for a relatively large open space in your home where a swing could work. Avoid windowed areas and traffic flow areas; a common space where you will be pretty close is good. Then put up 2 to 4 large eye bolts into a strong support beam in the ceiling. Use carabineers to attach the swing (or rings, etc.) to make it easier to take down. Find a futon mattress to put underneath for cushion and then sit down with your kids to establish swing rules. Consider safety of the swinger and others, turn taking and whatever else the kids come up with.
Pillow Jumping
You can use an appropriate table, the side of the couch, a few steps up in your stairs to leap from into a pile of pillows. Once you establish where you kids will jump from, grab lots of throw pillows, the couch cushions, whatever you can find that will soften the landing of the jumper. Again, remember to establish rules for safety and fair play. (Jumping on the bed is good clean fun too!)
Running Through Paper
This activity requires two people to sit and hold the paper; older siblings could come in handy for this one. The newspaper works great: it is easy to tear, inexpensive and probably just laying around the house already. Find a place in the house where the kids will have a length of space to run, at least 10 feet long. Set up two stools or low chairs for the paper holders to sit on. Each “holder” holds one end of a sheet of newspaper and the child run toward you and through the paper, dramatically tearing it in two with their body. This is such a delight for the child; they want to do it again and again. Keep a container near by for collecting paper scraps for recycling later. If this activity is a hit at your house you can get a roll of newsprint from the Bellingham Herald (they sell rolls for about $3.00 and they are perfect for this activity).
Obstacle Course
Setting up an obstacle course somewhere in the house goes over well with wiggly kids. Get creative with whatever you have laying around and invite the kids to help set it up. Try to incorporate jumping, balancing, crawling, tiptoeing, using only one foot, etc. Be sure to establish a start, an end and a direction you will be going. This will help eliminate bonked heads and the like. Older kids will enjoy being timed.
I have gotten most of my ideas for indoor movement from watching kids play, and then helping them to set up their ideas in safe ways that won’t destroy the house. So keep an eye on how your kids are choosing to move their bodies and what you can do to offer the tools needed to extend the activity. I have found that my kids are really creative and encouraged to get things going on their own, knowing that I will assist when needed. When the active play is done and it is time to sit together for a meal or other focused activity, my kids are so much happier and more likely to enjoy the sit-down time, since they have been moving.
Enjoy playing with your kids!