How to keep the whole family active from the comfort of your own home

Brought to you by Little Bellies

Keeping the whole family healthy includes making exercise part of your daily routine. But how much exercise is enough for kids, and what kinds of activities count?

How much physical activity do children need

The Raising Children Network says “children aged under one should have lots of floor play. For babies who aren’t up and about, 30 minutes of tummy time each day is good.”

For toddlers aged between one and three, it’s recommended they are active for at least three hours a day. 

This might sound like a lot, but there are lots of ways you can include physical activity into your routine, such as helping with chores and arts and crafts. 

The key to any physical activity with children is to make sure it’s fun. From family-friendly YouTube videos to activities you can do in the yard or on a walk around the neighbourhood, here are some ideas for keeping your gang moving. 

Online activities

• Yoga: the Cosmic Kids app makes it fun for kids to starting practicing yoga at home. 
• Free YouTube exercises: get those little bodies moving with a range of exercise videos to do with your kids.
• Music classes: this Teeny Bopper’s Music Group on YouTube has free videos your kids will love singing and dancing along to.
• Cooking: Jamie Oliver’s son, Buddy, offers some very simple cooking videos.

Outdoor activities

• Ball play: start with a small ball or a beanbag, and you can gradually build your way up to larger balls. 
• Chase bubbles together: as soon as the bubbles start blowing, your little one will want to get moving after them!
• Walk along straight lines: using chalk or tape make a line and have your kids practice their balancing.
• Gather sticks or flowers: see how many you can collect on a short walk around the neighbourhood. While you’re out, practice jumping over puddles or cracks in the pavement.
• Free play: gather some items – chalk, small containers filled with pasta, cardboard boxes – and place them outside. Let your children choose what they want to do – then just leave them to it.

Indoor activities

• Fine motor activities: activities such as painting, drawing or modelling with playdough all count as physical activity.
• Dance: encourage a sense of rhythm with music. Spotify has a great toddler-friendly playlist here.
• Games: hide and seek, musical chairs, freeze have all stood the test of time.
• Paper planes: fold paper planes and see how far they will fly.

In case you missed it: 9 simple craft ideas using things you have at home

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Read more:

• Quick and easy activities your baby and toddler can do together
• 6 Montessori-inspired activities to save your sanity
• How to create a routine on those non-routine days