February is Heart Health month, a great time to challenge your family to get out and get active. I'm partnering with United Healthcare to give you some heart-healthy challenges this month!
Believe me, I'm the first person who thinks putting outdoor, winter, activities, with kids, all in the same sentence... is a complete oxymoron. But I'm also telling you it can be done! Because I just did it all this past week!
That time our family froze our faces off going ice skating?
Yes, let me tell you about that. This winter, I determined not to let the cold keep me from exercising. I absolutely do not like being cold, but I am challenging myself to spend more time outside with the kids, even in winter, so I stocked up on wool socks, snow pants, snow coats, boots, and a bajillion pairs of gloves.
This weekend I decided ice skating would be a great family activity (and it generally is). Only Saturday it was 12 degrees... with a wind chill of can't-feel-my-face. Still, it was the last day for free skating at Hartford's Bushnell Park, so off we went, the kids bundled up so all you could see were their eyes and noses!
I'll admit it - we only made it fifteen minutes before the kids were done-done-done with this activity. The most exercise we got was struggling to stay upright on skates while holding two small children. But I'm still happy we went. Why? Because getting outside, spending time together, and staying active despite the cold is important for good health and well-being! And next time, I'll pick a milder day... or go to an indoor skating rink!
Since ice skating didn't work out - we opted for the much more tame activity of sledding down our hill and making snow angels in the front yard! Sledding is, in fact, a great outdoor exercise. Walking up and down hills (or pulling kids around through foot-high snow) is a cardio workout in itself!
Here's a list of outdoor winter activities with kids:
- Ice skating (pick a nice day!)
- Sledding
- Snowshoeing
- Skiing
- Walking (especially when there's no snow, walking is a great cold weather activity)
- Build a snowman (do I need to sing the song?!)
- Have a snowball fight
- Build an igloo or snow fort
- Make snow angels
All of these get you out, get you moving, and get you having fun!
Taking care of your heart through healthy exercise is a win for the entire family, because it gets you up and moving around and allows you to spend time together.
I challenge you to pick an activity each week and get outside as a family.
15-30 minutes of brisk outdoor activity can be a great way to bond and get healthy this year! (and depending on what Puxatawny Phil sees today, winter may be coming to a close soon!).
I've also made a family exercise tracking chart you can print and use! I've included spaces for twelve exercise times per month. Track what you do, the duration, as well as who participated. Use this chart as incentive for your whole family, and reward yourselves if you fill it in by the end of the month!
What are your favorite outdoor winter activities for kids?
This is a partnered post with United Healthcare, and I was compensated for sharing this message. All opinions are my own.
We didn't do any of those fun activities this past winter. I don't like winter so it doesn't occur to me to try to get my kids to experience any of these. I really should make it a priority.
My dad and I built an awesome sled run at his house that the kids love. We even have a tow rope to pull you up the steepest part of the hill. It's awesome - the winter is a great time to get outside.
My kids have been asking me to take them ice skating. There are a few places around here to go.
What a great list! I think with all the snow we have, we will try some of these!
My daughter's fave things to do are making snow angels, catch snowflakes on her tongue and have her Dad pull her on the sled.
What fun you and the kids had. I wish we had some of that snow.
Great ideas! It's snowing outside right now as I type.
Thankfully, Texas winters do not include foot high snow! But it is fun to take the kids out for a snow ball fight and to build a snow man whenever we actually do get snow!
We love snowshoeing! I can't wait to take my kids this winter!
We love snowshoeing! I can't wait to take my kids this winter!
My daughter keeps talking about wanting to go ice skating! Hopefully, we can go soon!
These are all great ideas! I try to keep the kids in classes all year, so no matter what we're getting out!
We usually go skating or sledding if the weather is mild. Sometimes it's just too cold here to go outside. We've been blessed with great weather this last month though!
I wish we had some snow. I'd love to be out in it.
My son asks to go play outside, no matter the weather. This is a great reminder to say "YES" the next time he asks and it seems too cold. That's what coats and gloves are for!
Living in AZ, wintertime is the perfect time to get outdoors! I try and take my son on a daily walk!
Now that my son is in his teens, I don't feel one bit guilty that there won't be anymore snow for winter activities. Because we're in Florida, baby! Yeah!
I have one outdoor activity that I do with my kids. Get out and get back in! My kids are of the four legged variety. =D
What a great challenge! We love sledding and making snowmen!
What a great challenge! We love sledding and making snowmen!
I love this idea of spending more time outside with my son. It is a great idea to do this and have quality time together!
I love this idea of spending more time outside with my son. It is a great idea to do this and have quality time together!
My kids have a killer snow fort going in the back yard right now from the 3 feet we have in our yard.
oh, you were so super brave. we played board games inside all weekend. brrrr.
i do love the family exercise tracking- what a great idea!
oh, you were so super brave. we played board games inside all weekend. brrrr.
i do love the family exercise tracking- what a great idea!
Great list! Thankfully we live in FL so don't really have a winter, but I'll have to share this with my northern friends 🙂
Great list! Thankfully we live in FL so don't really have a winter, but I'll have to share this with my northern friends 🙂
Yes, I love this! We just had a major blizzard here so I can't wait to go out and play.
I like your family exercise tracking chart! Will definitely be using that to log our activities. It is a nice way to get motivated in the winter.
I always do so much better when I log my exercise...