When the weather is warm and sunny, it's easy to keep kids entertained with outdoor activities. When winter arrives, however, many parents struggle to keep their children happy at home.

Kids often seem to have too much energy to contain indoors! It's no wonder—research actually shows that little ones have more energy than pro endurance athletes.

If you're worried about keeping your children amused once the temperatures drop, investing in the right tools can help. Read on for tips, tricks, and tools to help keep kids busy this winter.

Invest in safe indoor sports equipment

Growing kids need exercise! Experts recommend that children get at least one hour of physical activity every day. That might sound like a challenge when kids are cooped up inside. Plus, you don't want the kids kicking around a soccer ball or swatting at a baseball inside where there are breakables like dishes, artwork, and vases around! Luckily, there are safe indoor exercises for kids.

Boxing is one great option. This sport helps improve hand-eye coordination, boosts cardiovascular health, builds muscles, and teaches focus. Kids can practice safely using indoor punching bags. For example, these safe kid-friendly models are secured in place via ceiling mounts, wall mounts, or a heavy base. You don't have to worry about the bag coming loose and knocking over valuables in the house.

Encourage creative hobbies that teach real-world skills

Winter is the perfect time to teach little ones new creative skills. Hobbies like beading improve manual dexterity, for example, while painting teaches kids about colors. If you want to get innovative, invest in bath crayons, which your little one can use in the tub. An art lesson in the tub is also a great pre-bedtime activity, as an engaging bath can help kids calm down and get them ready for sleep.

Music is another fun way to keep kids engaged while teaching them practical skills. Singing songs can serve as a means of practicing counting or even allow your child to learn a new language. Try teaching your little one a song in Spanish using YouTube videos, for example.

Finally, if you want an activity you and your child can do together, consider baking. Kids can learn about numbers, measurements, and basic chemistry through baking. Plus, you both get to enjoy a sweet treat at the end!

Look for ways to make screen time educational

While you don't want your kids staring at a screen 24/7, modern technology can keep them entertained and serve as an educational tool. For younger kids, check out educational apps that teach letters, numbers, and colors or puzzle apps!

For school-age children, gaming has been shown to have cognitive benefits (like encouraging decision making). This activity can also be social if kids take part in multi-player games. Upgrade to a strong internet connection to ensure your home network has the needed bandwidth, and be sure to monitor the parental controls so that you know who your child is playing and chatting with!

Finally, simply watching a movie together as a family is a wonderful way to spend a winter night. There are many films out there that people of all ages can enjoy, like Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. To take your home theater experience to the next level, invest in a portable projector. You can build a pillow fort, make popcorn, and curl up together to enjoy the show.

Repurpose old items for new fun!

Kids are creative by nature, and they love making new uses from existing items. Have a box leftover from holiday shopping? Turn it into a boat and have your children play I spy and name what they see on "the shore." A colander and utensils work well to turn any kid into a clickety-clackety robot with metal "armor." Even your SlumberPod can get in on the fun! This traveling canopy can be set up anywhere, giving kids their very own "fortress" to enjoy, while parents can easily keep an eye on them.

Think outside the box for how you can use what you already have to create new opportunities for creative fun. You'll be surprised by how much entertainment you can find! 

Remember...

There's no need to worry about how you'll keep your children entertained this winter. Best of all, these tips and tools also support positive mental and physical development! Simply follow the above pointers, and you will have plenty of ways to amuse your kids, even if you're stuck indoors. 

Carrie Spencer created The Spencers Adventures to share her family’s homesteading adventures. On the site, she shares tips on living self-sufficiently, fruit and vegetable gardening, parenting, conservation, and more. Their goal to live as self-sufficiently and environmentally-consciously as possible.

Note: Guest blog posts are shared for informational and educational purposes and may not reflect the official policy or position of SlumberPod (parent company, Dovetail Essentials, LLC), our employees and/or contractors.