Keeping Kids Active All Year: How to Shift from Outdoor to Indoor Play
As the weather cools and the daylight hours get shorter, outdoor playtime naturally decreases. It can be a challenge for many families to know how to help their children stay active and get all that pent-up energy spent in a productive way. But no fear! If you make a plan, there are some easy ways to move the active play indoors for the season without losing the spirit of adventure.
Why does active play matter for our kids? This type of play helps kids with emotional regulation, physical health, and mental health. Higher levels of activity during the day are linked to better sleep and better focus. Much of the time, this is the type of play kids get when they spend time outside. But there are lots of ways to recreate that in your home.
Here are a few things you can try to transition active play indoors for the season:
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Bring the outdoors indoors. Create sensory bins or crafts with pinecones, leaves, etc. to stimulate the senses. Keep windows open when it's light to enjoy the view. Encourage pretend play that mimics outdoor experiences like animal behaviors, camping, or hiking.
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Create a movement corner in your home that can be a permanent place for active toys such as StairSlide, indoor swings, bouncing balls, balance beams, etc. This might be a basement, a playroom, or even a small corner of a bedroom. Even a small space makes a difference!
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Set limits on screen time. If kids have to wait until after a certain time of day to use screens, or can only use screens for a short time, then they will have more opportunities to choose active play.
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Find toys that transition from outdoors to indoors. This way, kids can play outside when it’s sunny, and don’t have to stop when the sun goes down, they can just move indoors.
Try a few of our all-season products that transition well from outdoor to indoor play, depending on your mood or the weather.
Indoor swings are becoming more and more popular and we are so excited about it! Setting up the hardware is simple and safe, and then you are ready for any type of swing. They are fun to swap out without taking up any extra space. This is our number one tip for active, sensory play this Fall and Winter!
So as the days get shorter and kids get restless, no stress! The adventure and fun can continue in the comfort of your own home.
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