+44 07513 522 896
info@ptcsports.co.uk
+44 07513 522 896
info@ptcsports.co.uk
Don’t you love holiday traditions? Christmas is a great holiday to spend time with your family doing different activities. However, this year is becoming increasingly difficult to visit different places and make outdoor activities. Nevertheless, children -and adults- shouldn’t spend a lot of time sitting down in front of their screens.
There are a lot of healthy activities -even indoors- that can help kids have a great Christmas holiday while keeping healthy and active.
Here are 12 healthy Christmas activities you can make with your kids.
DAY 1: DECORATE THE HOUSE
This might sound obvious but decorating the house with the kids is a great opportunity to spend time with them while keeping them active! Keep them moving around the house helping with the Christmas decorations.
Children can also have fun making some crafts and unique decorations.
DAY 2: INDOOR ACTIVITIES: CHRISTMAS YOGA
If we want to do some exercise but the weather is not great, you can try to move it indoors! How about some Christmas indoors Yoga or Pilates?
Do you need some ideas? Don’t worry, here is an example!
DAY 3: HOW ABOUT A FAMILY CHRISTMAS DANCE?
Each family has its own traditions, but this is certainly an original one!
Try making a Christmas choreography with your family like this one here. You can also dress up for the occasion to make it even more fun.
DAY 4: A CHRISTMAS HUNT
Indoors or outdoors… a hunt is a great way to keep the kids mentally and physically active. Hide the hunts around the house, the garden, or a small path in the woods. It’s up to you!
You can use this idea to make your children find their presents on Christmas Day.
Here is an idea for a Christmas hunt! However, you can choose to make your own one with personalized clues and ideas.
DAY 5: CRAFT YOUR OWN ACTIVITIES
Weather during December can be a little bit tricky, especially if it’s raining. So, it’s always a good idea to have a few activities to do indoors with the children in case the bad weather lasts for a few days.
Fun activities that get kids moving are a great alternative to videogames or movies.
Have a look at this Snowman Bowling game!
Kids will have fun making it and then playing the game that they made.
DAY 6: PLAY CHRISTMAS CHARADES
Charades are a great activity for the family, as they can be adapted and are fun for all ages.
Here are some examples of Christmas movies and Christmas songs charades that you can print!
DAY 7: GO ON A FAMILY HIKE IN NATURE
Walking is a great exercise for kids, as it’s relaxing and improves mood. On top of that, it is an easy way to encourage children to do some physical activity.
With walks, kids can discover nature, their environment, or play some of the games above while enjoying the outdoors and spending family time together.
DAY 8: MAKE HEALTHY TREATS FOR KIDS AT CHRISTMAS
Why not leave all those sugary treats aside and try to make healthy ones at home?
It is very important for kids to learn how to eat healthy food from an early age. With these ideas, you can show them that fruit is even more interesting than candy!
DAY 9: MAKE UP A WORKOUT GAME
Pick a Christmas song, a movie, an audiobook… and assign exercises to certain words. For example, 5 squats when you hear Christmas, 10 push-ups when Santa’s name gets mentioned, or 10 jumping jacks every time someone says present.
You can choose your own words as an exercise!
DAY 10: GO ON A CHRISTMAS LIGHT ADVENTURE
Take a night out to have a look at the Christmas lights around the neighbourhood. It’s a great outdoor activity and it will help get the kids tired before going to sleep.
DAY 11: OBSTACLE GAME
How about an obstacle game to keep the kids moving and entertained?
Have a look at this great example of a Christmas Sensory Play!
DAY 12: DANCE PARTY WITH THE KIDS
Turn on the Christmas music and dance with your kids. You don’t need to follow any rules but one. Have fun!
We know this year Christmas is going to look different for many of us. Hopefully, this helps to get you into the festive spirit whilst keeping the kids entertained.
Merry Christmas!
The health of new generations is compromised by a culture of sedentary activity. That’s why parents are now looking at exercise programs for their children. However, a demanding exercise routine might not be the most beneficial for young kids, as they are still developing their bodies.
A safe and low impact workout like Pilates can have amazing benefits for children’s fitness. It can also positively impact their development in school, as it can help them be more focused on the class.
WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT PILATES?
First of all, it’s fun and easy to learn, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So, parents and teachers can also benefit from the Pilates workout!
Normally, kids would be encouraged to practice mat-based exercises with stability balls, which are easy for them to use. The sessions will include a wide range of stretches inspiring children to gain body awareness and improve their movements and postures.
This is even more important in children as their bodies are still developing!
BENEFITS OF PILATES
Improves flexibility
These exercises help to maintain and increase flexibility in children’s muscles and tendons. This is not only important for practicing sports but also to support healthy growth and their overall fitness.
Helps strengthen muscles
Pilates helps improve blood circulation and strengthen the body’s core muscles. A strong core is really important as it allows a kid to maintain higher energy levels throughout the day. Therefore, this has a positive impact on concentration and schoolwork.
Concentration
Pilates helps children to find their mind and body connection, teaching them how to manage their bodies and muscles in a controlled way.
Having a strong core can open up other benefits for children such as improved learning. When the incorrect posture and stability of the trunk or torso is absent, sitting down for long periods of time can result very difficult.
Breath
These types of exercises require a great breathing technique, which helps children improve their composure and concentration. It is really important for kids to know when to calm down and focus after physical exercise, and Pilates is a great combination of both.
Focused breathing techniques are also great for managing stress and improve sleep.
Posture
A lot of back problems adults have during their lives are due to incorrect back posture. Learning from an early age how to correctly position the body for the different everyday tasks – how to walk, sit down, bend over …– is key to avoid injuries or chronic aches in the future. Especially in the modern age, when kids spend a lot of hours sitting down behind a screen.
Children who practice Pilates regularly have a better posture and spinal alignment. Therefore, it will create a balanced musculature that can alleviate aches and reduce the potential for injuries as they continue to grow into their adult life.
To enroll kids and teenagers in a regular Pilates class is to invest in their future, as this could prevent issues in the future.
As Joseph Pilates said, “First educate the child”, in the belief that healthy habits started in childhood can form a foundation for healthy living throughout adulthood.
