Hey all, I’d love some advice on fun, easy ways to keep my kids active and fit, especially during cold months. Ideas? Thanks! — Jack
Oh, hi JackActiveDad! It’s so great you’re thinking about this – keeping the kiddos moving, especially when it’s chilly outside, can feel like a real puzzle sometimes, can’t it? I totally get it. My two are 9 and 13, and their energy levels are… well, let’s just say “enthusiastic”! 
During those colder months, we’ve had to get a bit creative indoors. One thing that’s always a hit in our house is a good old-fashioned dance party. We just crank up some music (everyone gets a turn to pick a song!) and let loose in the living room. Sometimes it’s silly, sometimes it’s surprisingly energetic, but it always ends in giggles. My 9-year-old especially loves this, but even the 13-year-old will join in if the mood (and music!) is right.
We also do “indoor obstacle courses” sometimes. Nothing fancy – pillows to jump over, blankets to crawl under, maybe a hopscotch grid made with masking tape on the floor. It sounds simple, but they get really into designing it and then timing each other.
And honestly, don’t underestimate the power of active video games if you have a console. Things like Just Dance or those fitness adventure games can be a surprisingly good workout, and it feels like “fun screen time” to them. For us, it’s all about finding that balance, you know? We definitely have our screen time rules, and we use an app to help manage that, which then kind of naturally encourages them to find other things to do when their time is up. Sometimes that “other thing” is bugging each other, but other times it’s actual movement! 
A few other quick ideas that have worked for us:
- Balloon volleyball: Just a balloon and your hands, try to keep it off the floor. So simple, but surprisingly engaging!
- Kid-friendly yoga or workout videos on YouTube: There are some really fun ones out there, and doing it together makes it less of a chore.
- Building a massive fort: The engineering and construction process can be quite physical!
The biggest thing I’ve found is that if I show enthusiasm and participate, they’re much more likely to get on board. It’s not always easy to muster that energy after a long day, but seeing them active and happy makes it worth it.
Hang in there, Jack! It’s a common challenge, and just asking for ideas shows you’re doing a great job. Hope some of these help spark some fun for your family!
Warmly,
A fellow parent trying to keep up! 
Hey JackActiveDad!
Awesome question! Getting kids active, especially when it’s chilly out, can be a fun challenge. For easy ideas, how about indoor obstacle courses using pillows, blankets, and furniture? Or even just a good old-fashioned family dance party – crank up some tunes and let loose! Anything that feels like play rather than a chore usually works wonders.
It’s funny, thinking about how to encourage kids to be active in a positive way actually reminds me a lot of the conversations around online safety and parental control apps, which is more my usual topic on forums like these.
From what I’ve seen and experienced (and full disclosure, I don’t have kids myself yet, but I remember being one and I observe a lot!), the approach parents take is super important. Whether it’s about getting enough exercise or navigating the internet safely, if it feels like it’s all about strict rules and constant tracking without a real conversation, kids can sometimes get defensive or resistant. I think that feeling of being trusted is huge for young people.
When it comes to fitness, or really any healthy habit, making it a collaborative thing often works best. If you’re doing active things with them, or talking openly about why being active is good for everyone and feels great, it becomes more about shared positive experiences. It’s kind of like with online stuff – instead of just relying on parental control apps to monitor everything, having open conversations about responsible online behavior, setting clear expectations together, and leading by example can build a much stronger foundation of trust.
It’s all about striking that balance, right? You want to ensure they’re safe and healthy, but also give them a sense of independence and trust them to make good choices (with guidance, of course!). When kids feel respected and part of the decision-making process, whether it’s choosing a fun physical activity or understanding online boundaries, they’re often more receptive.
So, for the fitness side, maybe involving them in planning the activities, or finding something you all enjoy doing together, could be a great way to build those healthy habits and strengthen that family connection. It’s all about fostering that environment of mutual respect and open communication.
Hope that perspective helps a bit, even if it branched out slightly from just fitness ideas! Keep up the great work thinking about their well-being!
Cheers,
John Fly
Hi JackActiveDad,
That’s a fantastic question, and it’s so important to keep kids moving, especially when it’s chilly outside! As a school counselor, I often chat with families about finding a healthy balance in children’s lives, and physical activity is a huge part of that.
Interestingly, technology can be both a help and a hindrance here. Many families find great, fun fitness ideas online – dance-alongs, kids’ yoga, interactive exercise games, or even apps that track activity in a playful way. If you’re exploring these digital avenues for fitness, it’s a perfect opportunity to reinforce some key digital safety habits and ensure technology is supporting, not sidelining, an active lifestyle.
Here’s how this ties into what I often discuss with parents:
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Open Communication is Key: If your kids are using an app or watching online videos for exercise, talk with them about it! Ask what they enjoy, what they’re learning. This not only shows your interest but also helps you ensure the content is appropriate and safe. Building this trust means they’re more likely to come to you if they encounter anything online that makes them uncomfortable, whether it’s related to a fitness app or anything else. From my experience working with children and families, this open dialogue is the cornerstone of online safety.
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Choosing Wisely & Safely Online: When looking for online fitness resources, guide your children to choose reputable sources. This is a great chance to teach them about online safety – things like not clicking on unknown links that might pop up, understanding what information is safe to share (usually none on a fitness app!), and recognizing if an app is trying to gather too much personal data.
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Balancing Screen Time for Active Time: This is where tools like parental control apps can be supportive. I always emphasize that these aren’t about “spying” but about partnership and helping to create healthy routines. When considering such apps, you might look for features that allow you to set time limits for general device use or specific apps, ensuring there’s dedicated time for physical play – whether that’s an online dance video or building a living room obstacle course. The goal is to use technology purposefully, not let it passively consume time that could be spent being active. Addressing concerns about over-monitoring, it’s about finding a balance that respects your child’s growing independence while providing a safety net.
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Setting Healthy Boundaries Together: Involve your kids in discussions about why physical activity is important and how too much passive screen time can get in the way. When they understand the ‘why’ – that it helps them be strong, energetic, and healthy – they’re often more cooperative with boundaries around technology. This collaborative approach helps build responsibility.
Fostering this open dialogue around technology use, and using tools thoughtfully, can really empower kids to make healthy choices, both online and offline. It helps create a family environment where digital tools support well-being, including physical fitness, rather than detracting from it.
While you’re gathering those specific fitness ideas, I hope this perspective on integrating them safely and mindfully with your family’s digital life is helpful!
Best,
Deborah McGrane
School Counselor
Hi Jack,
That’s such a wonderful question, and one that’s been on my mind a lot lately! It’s something I worry about constantly with my own grandchildren. It feels like a constant battle to get them up and moving instead of staring at a screen, especially when the weather keeps everyone cooped up inside. My biggest desire is to keep them safe and healthy, but I also want them to feel independent. It’s such a tricky balance.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not very tech-savvy, but I’m determined to learn. One thing I’ve been doing a lot of research on lately is parental control apps. I haven’t settled on one yet, but my hope is to find something that can help me set simple time limits for their games and videos. I imagine a feature that could pause their devices and say “Time for an active break!” would be a lifesaver. It would help me enforce those boundaries without having to be the “bad guy” every single time. Have you looked into any of those? I’d love to hear if you or anyone else has recommendations for an app that’s easy for a grandparent to use!
As for some non-tech ideas, my go-to has always been a classic living room “dance party.” We just put on some of their favorite songs (and some of my oldies, too!) and dance around like nobody’s watching. We also love building massive pillow and blanket forts—all that lifting, crawling, and creating is surprisingly good exercise!
Thanks for bringing this topic up, Jack. It’s so helpful to know other families are navigating the same things.
All the best,
Danielle R. Newman