Ways to help kids burn off energy in the winter?

[StephMK]

This is budget related because we can't afford an expensive solution and I don't want to have to replace my furniture or pay dr bills. DS8 can't sleep because "his body feels like it has too much energy". I can tell it's cold out because he is bouncing off the walls, almost literally. He jumps off the ottoman, launches himself into the couch, vaults steps, etc. We have a wii & bball hoop game inside but it's not enough. He sprained his foot last week tripping down the stairs because he speeds everywhere he goes.

He is not playing any organized sports in the winter because he didn't want to play bball & we can't afford karate right now. He likes to swim but the HS doesn't do lessons again until late March. He wants to learn to ski but that is about an hour away & pretty pricey to go on any kind of regular basis. In the warm months, we have a trampoline & bball hoop so he wear himself out.

What do you do with your kids to help them burn energy when it's 20-35 outside everyday? Please help save my furniture!

 

[Hannathy]

Until there is snow and ice on the streets he can still ride his bike and jump on the trampoline. put his coat and hat and gloves on and shove him out the door, lol. My DS and his friend rode their bike up to the shopping center last weekend and it was 36 or 38 . do you have a dog? I have mine take the dog around the block or go out in the yard and throw it's ball. When it starts to snow shoveling is great for using up energy!

He could still shoot hoops for a while, plus the cold air tires you out more.

 

[palavra]

My daughter has an indoor mini trampoline. It is a great way to burn off energy when she can't get outside.

 

[scrapquitler]

What do you do with your kids to help them burn energy when it's 20-35 outside everyday? Please help save my furniture!

I bundle the kids up in snowpants, boots, coat, scarf, hats, gloves and send them out to play in the yard! They can go out and run around for 30-40 minutes without freezing to death and then I make them hot chocolate when they come inside.

You might also want to consider a small trampoline (the indoor size one that is like 30" wide). One year I got my niece (who was 4 or 5 and overweight) one for Christmas and she would jog on it while she watched tv. She actually lost a little bit of weight doing that, but it might be a good way to burn off some energy

Or how about getting a kids yoga DVD and having him try that?

 

[ykmom]

Winter here is long and cold often -22F. Although it doesn't help on a daily basis on thing we have done for the past few winters is rent a school gym for 2 hours on the weekend. Split between a few families the cost it minimal. This kids bring scooters, balls, rollerskates etc. -22F is also the cut off for outdoor recesses at school so bundled up send them out. We did have a mini trampoline and my daughter, who is also very active didn't like it because it had no bounce - it was once of the rebounder type ones so we are looking getting one that is bouncy. In the meantime I actually let her jump on her bed! She also LOVES shovelling snow - weird but I'm not complaining!

 

[*love*2*shop]

is there a community center where you live/ open free gym?

*make* him go outside...he'll live!

if you have a dog or the neighbors do, let him go walk the dogs...

is there an inexpensive sport he can join- you said he doesnt want to join bball, but maybe he needs too....

Ymca nearby for swimming or ice skating?

or again Put a coat on him and shoo him out the door ........

 

[ratlenhum]

The Wii can be a great tool. My son just got Just Dance Kids and he loves it. Lots of fun and burns off energy. I did it myself for about 30 minutes and felt like I just did an aerobic work out.

Is there a community pool around you? We have a town pool and it's either $3 a visit or $15 for the month and they have "open swim" every evening from 6-9pm.

Even if it's freezing out, there is nothing wrong with bundling them up and having them go out for 15 minutes and run around.

 

[disfan07]

When I was little we lived in Northern Virginia. The only time that we did not go outside was when it just got too cold to breath even with a scarf. Otherwise, we were outside everyday after school.

No snow or ice--basketball, soccer, hockey
Snow--snowball fights
ice--usually we could still play on the grass so we would play in our yards

The cold does not mean they cant be outside.

 

[mamaLori05]

bundling up and playing outside (unless there is a below zero windchill, the kids at our school play outside everyday); open gym at a local gymastics studio; children's museum; pump It Up, Money Joe's, or other bounce house places; purchase a bounce house and put it up in your basement (the smaller ones sold at Toys R us, etc...); Join the Y or get day passes to go swimming, use the gym, etc...; McDonald's playland; Chuck E Cheese; we have an indoor playground place called Big Backyard where the kids can ride bikes, swing, etc..; roller skating; options are endless, but if you are looking for something free or near free, playing outside is best.

 

[dixonismydog]

My kids play outside all winter!!

The more snow we have the more they like it!! Bundle him up and send him out. My guys LOVE making snow forts in the backyard! And find a local hill and go tobogganing! Now there is some GOOD exercise!

 

[indimom]

This is budget related because we can't afford an expensive solution and I don't want to have to replace my furniture or pay dr bills. DS8 can't sleep because "his body feels like it has too much energy". I can tell it's cold out because he is bouncing off the walls, almost literally. He jumps off the ottoman, launches himself into the couch, vaults steps, etc. We have a wii & bball hoop game inside but it's not enough. He sprained his foot last week tripping down the stairs because he speeds everywhere he goes.

He is not playing any organized sports in the winter because he didn't want to play bball & we can't afford karate right now. He likes to swim but the HS doesn't do lessons again until late March. He wants to learn to ski but that is about an hour away & pretty pricey to go on any kind of regular basis. In the warm months, we have a trampoline & bball hoop so he wear himself out.

What do you do with your kids to help them burn energy when it's 20-35 outside everyday? Please help save my furniture!

I'm with the others. Send him out. I run a day care from home and know exactly what you are facing. It can get CRAZY when they cannot get out to burn off that energy. After years of struggling with parents who did not provide warm enough outerwear and boots (more for mud than snow around here), I finally started gathering up used boots/gloves/hats/snowpants. Now I can fill in the gaps in their outisde clothes. We go out every day AM and PM for 20 minutes or so. Even the babies. I put them in a full snowsuit (even with no snow) and swing them while the older kids run like made.

 

[cjnix29]

you're in Omaha, right? Have you tried that bounce place over by Oakwood mall? We used to live there, and my DS loved it. It was like $6 a visit or something, but you could be there the whole day if you wanted.

 

[onyx8]

Send him outside with a coat on. My 18 month old goes outside everyday to play at day care.

 

[ajk912]

I agree, jumping off the furniture at age 8? That kid has wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much energy, bundle him up appropriately and send him outside! Or take him to the playground if it's not icey. They'll be other kids out, or if there isn't, he'll enjoy having the place to himself.

 

[hsmamato2]

another vote for winter clothes and OUTSIDE!
my kids don't like the time when it's cold but no snow yet, so I'll send them out to run the dog,shoot hoops,go for a brisk walk with me, ride bikes....anything! when the snow comes, they live outside practically

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I agree with the others : hat, mittens, boots, warm jacket and snow pants. No reason he can't go out and play. My kids are out in the cold when it is less than 20-35 degrees. They dress appropriately go out and come in to warm up go back out. When it starts to snow have him shovel the walk ways or scrap off your car. Those are busy and helpful activities. Try to find ways to funnel his energy into more positive and constructive behaviors. I think once he has something to do and he can be active doing it he will be fine.

 

[aprilgail2]

Neither of us are fans of the cold so we don't stay outside at all when it gets cold- and it is already to cold for me and my daughter! She had asked for a treadmill so we have that she uses all winter to burn off some energy and get exercise in! She also uses one of those tony little things I had down the basement- I think it was called the gazelle or somthing.

 

[jme829]

This is budget related because we can't afford an expensive solution and I don't want to have to replace my furniture or pay dr bills. DS8 can't sleep because "his body feels like it has too much energy". I can tell it's cold out because he is bouncing off the walls, almost literally. He jumps off the ottoman, launches himself into the couch, vaults steps, etc. We have a wii & bball hoop game inside but it's not enough. He sprained his foot last week tripping down the stairs because he speeds everywhere he goes.

He is not playing any organized sports in the winter because he didn't want to play bball & we can't afford karate right now. He likes to swim but the HS doesn't do lessons again until late March. He wants to learn to ski but that is about an hour away & pretty pricey to go on any kind of regular basis. In the warm months, we have a trampoline & bball hoop so he wear himself out.

What do you do with your kids to help them burn energy when it's 20-35 outside everyday? Please help save my furniture!

I agree with the others...bundle him up and send him outside. We woke up to six inches of snow here yesterday with temps in the teens/low 20's, but my 2 younger ones were outside most of the day, coming in occasionally for a warm up cup of cocoa and a mitten/hat change.

My ds9 has 2 recesses a day at school. They go out as long as the wind chill is above -10 or so.

 

[crl]

A friend of mine makes a round circuit center. She puts up posters with each activity around the room and then she and her 3 boys do it whenever they need to get the wiggles out. She has things like push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, running in place, toe touches, crunches, lunges and such.

 

[MelAnderson]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I recommend - snow shoveling! DS8loves to shovel snow so I bought him a small one at Menards. He also likes to clean off the car, which leads to snow ball fights.