Adults and children alike flourish when they exercise and stay active. Children are robust at a young age and they are developing their physical skills and can explore different kinds of movement from their first jumps to climbing up high in a tree, using ways of movement they have never used before.
At times when the weather is windy and cold, we are tempted, and rightly so, to spend more time indoors. So why not create a movement space indoors that you can use for small active exercises or games. You can use blankets, a duvet, a duvet cover or something similar to define the space.
Collect soft items in your house to surround the area. Items you could use could be bean bags, pillows, duvets, baby doughnuts and even cardboard boxes, this will allow your child to explore climbing, rolling, and making movements they feel safe to try. You could use tunnels for them to crawl through and chairs they could climb under.
The support you need to offer your child at this time is to watch and encourage them to explore these resources and ways to move. You can also join in by showing them ways they can move and role modelling this to them. Children can be flexible and have movement you did not think they were capable of.
Children don’t need to be persuaded to exercise; they can enjoy the movement of exercise in different ways through play just using what we have around us in our homes.
Active play can help children with balance, motor skills, coordination and can help them with their natural energy which promotes better eating and sleeping.