Lois Glass, Long Island Gymboree Play & Music director, tells us how to keep busy inside with kids during these frigid winter months.
Baby it’s cold outside!!! It’s so easy to cuddle up on the sofa and watch TV during these dreary, cold winter months. But we all know how important it is to resist the “couch potato” syndrome. Children need exercise, too. There are lots of fun things to do with children to keep them active and fit while indoors. It just takes some imagination.
Here are some ideas for children newborn to 5 years that will bring fun and fitness to your day:
Newborn to 6 months: Start Cycling Lessons. Moving your baby’s legs in a cycling motion helps her develop awareness of her tiny body. It also strengthens her abdominal muscles and introduces her to the idea of alternating motion (one leg; then the other) that she’ll need to master in order to crawl. You’ll enjoy the face-to-face time that this activity allows, too.
6-10 months: Play tug-of-war. Give your infant one end of a cloth diaper or blanket to hold; then, pull gently on the other end. As he pulls, increase your resistance a tiny bit. This gentle tugging game helps him develop upper-body strength and a sense of success. (Just don’t pull so hard that he’ll tumble backward if he lets go!).
10-15 months: Pull out a laundry basket. Chances are you already own one of the world’s most versatile baby toys: the laundry basket. It makes a perfect fort, playpen, or doll crib. Your baby can also throw toys in it and push it around, or climb in and have you pull him across the floor. Someday you may even get to put laundry in the basket again!
16-22 months: Me and my shadow: Dim the lights and turn on your favorite music. Shine a flashlight beam on the wall and have your child dance with her shadow.
2 – 3 years: Head, shoulders, knees and toes: This classic movement song is a daily way to build flexibility and strength.
4 years: Softy soccer: With pillows as goal posts, explore rolling, tossing and kicking a soft beach ball across a carpeted floor. Make sure you remove all precious breakables!
Playing and stretching are essential to a healthy body and mind for you and your growing child. Active play supports a loving bond between parent and child. Don’t forget, most importantly – HAVE FUN!!
Gymboree Play & Music offers interactive parent/child classes that focus on age-appropriate activites through each developmental milestone, all while having fun! With classes for infants through 5 year olds, the Gymboree Learning Program helps children develop the skills they need to become confident, happy and successful adults. Gymboree offers a wide variety of classes, programs and birthday parties. With 7 Long Island locations, there’s definitely a center near you. For more information, call the main office at 631.266.1114 or visit www.gymboreeclasses.com.
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