Physical Activity (To Tire Out) When Cold/Dark Outside - Ideas?

[Mom to M&M]

So all spring, summer and fall (weather permitting) we spent a LOT of time outdoors at nearby playgrounds and taking long walks. We live in a major city in a smaller apartment so that was crucial to DD (27.5 months) getting enoough physical activity. Now that it's winter it's getting quite cold and dark SO early (4:30 today) so it's really ahrd to do that in the afternoon. As such, what are some good ideas to still tire DD out enough after her nap? TIA!

[Shdef]

The weather was the reason why Scotty dropped his nap. He just wasn't tired out enough.

I'd go out earlier in the morning (as soon as sun comes up) and try and tire her out in the morning. Then earlier lunch, earlier nap and an hour right after the nap and then indoor activities, like reading, craft, etc...

[em_here]

This may sound silly but Jack has a little trampoline, I bring it inside and let him jump away like crazy he LOVES it!!!!!! Good idea what Steffi said though about tiring her out in the morn

[sophiems]

make an obstacle course in the living room with pillows, laundry basket, etc.  stuff they have to climb over, crawl through, etc.   

I love the trampoline idea too.  We also have a play bowling set (you can make one with sock ball and empty soda bottles) and that gives Luke exercise just rolling the ball and setting all the pins back up over and over again. 

We are dealing with the same issues here, but I do try to get outside with them in the a.m. even if it's for a 10 minute run around.  Just the bundling up itself to get outside is tiring enough, at least for me!   

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Emma-Lou has beaten me to it!

Have you room for a little trampoline? It's a complete lifesaver on days like that. I put on some music, or one of those music video channels, and he bounces away like a madman. (I've even been known to join in, boogy-ing away next to him ). Great exercise for us both, and really tires him out

[em_here]

LOL Caroline, maybe I should boogie too, its exercise at least eh 

[Mom to M&M]

Steffi - I'd like to do that but if I try an earlier nap (even with lots of physical activity first) DD just has a monstrously long crib party and falls asleep even later, if at all. So she tends to nap (on days she days) from about 12:30/12:45-2:15 or so. Then by the time she's out of her crib it's 2:30/2:40 and she usually doesn't want to go anywhere right away. Yesterday I couldn't get her to willingly leave the apartment until 3:30 and often it's more like 3:45.

As for the morning, I can try that but again by the time she's up and has breakfast and all it's usually close to 8:30. She again doesn't want to go anywhere (unless it's somewhere like her once a week gym class) until at least 9:30. So we can send a couple hours outside in the morning BUT often it's too cold for both her and me. So I'm looking for some good indoor things too to tire her out. The trampoline sounds fun but we don't have room right now for one!

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks also Sophie. I've tried the obstacle course in the past and it just made DD upset (she's quite particular about where things go) but maybe I'll try again. Bowling sounds fun too. I wish we had more space - our apartment is quite limiting! When we move in January we'll have much more space including a small backyard and a large basement/playroom.

[em_here]

How about putting on a music video and getting some instruments and dancing and singing?

[Mom to M&M]

Actually I tried that too but DD becomes like a zombie with television is on and then just wants to sit and watch it and not dance and jump and play... GRRR great ideas though - all of them. She's just a tough one with this issue...

[tylersmommy]

I live in Nebraska, and the only time I don't let the kids go out is when the temps are in the single digits or there's a horrible cold wind. I despise the cold but we get all bundled up anyway and they love it. Since it's been getting dark so early, we've been able to walk up the block and see all the Christmas lights. Even just 15 minutes outside seems to be enough fresh air to wear them out. We lived in a small townhouse in DC before we moved here...that's when I gave up on trying to find ways to entertain Tyler inside and just went outside anyway.

On days that it's too cold to go out, I take them to the store (usually Target). Even if I have nothing to buy, they can run free where there's lots of space!

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Melissa! We did go to the park for almost an hour this morning and walked around the grocery store too. It will definitely be easier when we move and have not only more room inside but also a small yard and nice street with good neighbors to even just walk and visit. It's even just good to hear that my DD isn't the only one hard to entertain inside! Well she's not always hard to entertain inside - but it requires MUCH more of my one-on-one attention and usually isn't very physical (more stuff like books, play-do, etc).

[aisling]

Here are some things we do most things have to be parent lead, so it is good exercise for you too. I have a few that can be done on their own or begin with me and then spontaneously become his own activity:

Hide and Go seek, Mums turn, Nello's turn. Then we take turns hiding his Clifford the big red dog around the house and go running around looking for him.

Jumping course- I use computer mouse pads-cheap ones from IKEA and put them down on the floor and jump form pad to pad.  Then we jump over things, like small plastic bowls or cushions.

Hopscotch-Use masking tape on the kitchen floor and put numbers in each box and practice jumping/hopping and saying the numbers.  I use a big flat rubber plug stopper from our sink and let him throw it on the numbers too.

Balloons-Keep up, kicking, chasing etc...

Beach balls and foam Frisbees-throwing and catching etc...

Bubbles-Gymboree bubbles are the best and great for indoors, not sticky or a mess and safe for furniture. Try to catch bubbles on various body parts, of course tummy and tongue are big hits.(they are non toxic and sweet to taste)  I give him plastic cups to try and catch the bubbles or a ladle or a spoon to catch them.

Building Forts-I let him pile couch cushions, pillows, towels etc...and make a fort, knock it down, go in it etc...

Animals-We pretend to be different animals and walk and make the sounds like them.

Follow the leader obstacle course (I'm the leader) Go all over the house up and down objects, crawling under tables etc...

Bed Sheet Tug of War-I let him win and I pretend to go flying forward and always fall down for a good laugh on the bed or something

Gymnastics- Wheelbarrow walks, handstands with feet on the couch and hands on the floor, somersaults etc..all with my help of course.

Stomach Wheel rides-We have a small wooden dolly (type for moving small furniture pieces) that he lays on his stomach and "swims" around the floor pumping with his arms and feet, kwim?

Towel or Blanket rides- I give him a short ride as he sits on a towel or blanket and then I leave him to do it with his stuffed animals all around the floor.

Bath-I let him go "swimming" in the bath and play. I take out his regular toys and bring in things like strainers, ladles, kitchen stuff to play with.

A friend of ours did this, Nello not really a fan, so never bothered.  She uses a small inflatable kiddy pool and fills it with those small, soft plastic balls and made a ball pit.

[tylersmommy]

Aisling, those are fabulous ideas!

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

I thought of you today when ds was bouncing like a kangaroo on my mother's bed, at the end he was so out of breath and said 'Mummy, I'm pooped' . Maybe that could be a good one

I also second the balloon idea - playing keepy-uppy and chasing each other around the house with it really gets you going