When the temperature drops and parks are covered in snow, it's still just as important to make sure that kids are getting at least 60 minutes of exercise each day, with higher intensity exercise at least three days of the week.
Here are some helpful tips for keeping them active, healthy, and safe.
Indoor Sports
When it's cold outside, a lot of sports move indoors. Even if your kid's dream is to be a huge baseball or tennis star, there are some significant benefits for youth to transition between seasons doing different things like volleyball, basketball, or hockey. According to Nick Monson, MD, "We want kids to transition to new sports each season. It's better for all-around strength and endurance and can reduce the risk of injury."
Outdoor Sports
When it comes to outdoor sports like skiing, snowboarding, or sledding, the risk of injury can be higher than with other sports. But the risk doesn't outweigh the benefits. The benefits of participating in these activities aren't just physical ones—it's also great for them socially and even mentally.
Play Hard. Dress Right.
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean kids can't play outside. It's just important to make sure they're dressed properly. In the winter, it's all about wearing lots of layers so that kids can peel off or put on layers as internal and external temperatures shift. Fortunately, layering doesn't mean that kids have to wear so many clothes that they look like the Michelin Man. These days we have much thinner layers that are efficient at keeping us warm and wicking away moisture.
Safety Tips
Just because it's winter doesn't mean that the sun can't burn. In fact, the bright snow can intensify that glare. So if it's a nice sunny day, make sure that your kids have good sunscreen on. The same thing goes with the windchill factor. Even if it looks warm, there's a possibility that the air will be a lot colder. Making sure that you have good equipment in the wintertime is super important in every situation.
The Best Sport for Kids in the Winter
As Monson puts it, "The ideal sport for your kid is anything that they love doing. The whole idea is to find something that they're passionate about and that they'll actually participate in. Living in Utah, we have exceptional opportunities to be outside throughout the year, learning and experiencing different activities. We want children to learn a lot of different things, because it'll increase their success in athletics and physical health in the future."