As the sun stays undercover longer in the mornings and disappears beyond the horizon earlier each day, parents everywhere wonder how they will keep their energetic bundles of joy or bored teens occupied throughout the colder months.

It can be harrowing during winter vacations if your kids, no matter their ages, are marooned indoors as snow and icy winds run their annual course. Sure, you can leave them to their own devices with their faces attached to screens of different shapes and sizes, but is that healthy? The short answer is no, so you must devise plans to change that status quo, even if you brave the cold.

Consider these tips when looking for ways to keep your children active during the colder months.

1. Restrict Screen Time

This tip should be one of your prime objectives, as your kids will spend the whole day online if you allow it. You know it’s unhealthy for yourself and your offspring to spend too much time on the phone or in front of the television, but do you know precisely why? Let these reasons sink in for more understanding:

• Children need to learn. Depending on your kids, they might spend time Googling interesting information and delving into the Britannica website or Wikipedia, but that’s unlikely. They’re probably performing carjackings on GTA5 or swapping candies on Candy Crush Saga. Real-life learning is about personal interaction, reading, crafting and being imaginative.
• Your children must connect socially with others — face-to-face, not in a social media chatroom. Although it’s incredible to meet others worldwide, it’s more important, especially at formative ages, to have interpersonal social relationships to develop real emotions and understand how face-to-face verbal and nonverbal communication works.
• You must encourage your kids to exercise. Spending all day on a smartphone, computer or in front of the television discourages activity and good health. Kids who are 6 to 17 years old should take part in at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.
• Too much screen time, especially social media, can cause mental health issues in teenagers. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and poor body image are common among adolescents who spend too much time online. Younger kids can experience stunted mental development and lower interpersonal skills through a lack of social interaction.

You must restrict your children’s screen time and lead by example. Limiting your own social media use to make time for your kids motivates them to leave their phones and tablets to participate in family activities.

2. Encourage Indoor Activities

Not everything indoors revolves around television or smartphone use. Depending on your children’s ages, there are several fun things you can get up to inside if the weather’s too bleak to venture outdoors.

• You can use household items to build an indoor obstacle course for younger kids. The crawling and jumping involved keep them active and laughing while they work up a sweat. Alternatively, make personalized lists for each child and hold a scavenger hunt to encourage their sensory development, with graded healthy snacks as prizes for their commitment and endeavors.
• Pull out the board games for your teenagers and engage in Monopoly, Clue or Trivial Pursuit with them. It won’t take your older children long to come around and become absorbed in the game’s competitiveness. Board games enhance cognitive skills and encourage patience and stability. Chess is another excellent game for adolescents to learn.
• By all means, you can involve screens in healthy activities. Just Dance or one of many Wii games can encourage activity and family togetherness. If you have a version of PlayStation’s SingStar series or one of the many karaoke-themed games, try those for size with your youngsters.

Besides the fun elements of being active indoors, enlist your kids to help with the family chores — washing dishes, vacuuming, cleaning their rooms, and even helping with cooking or baking. There is plenty that can keep children busy on dreary days indoors.

3. Venture Outside in Better Weather

Whether in a snowy climate or not, there’s plenty to do outside if the weather allows. Just dress warm and let the fun commence.

• Build snowmen, have snowball fights or take sled rides. These classic winter activities will appeal to kids of all ages.
• Challenge your teenagers to a game of hoops or toss a baseball around the yard. If they’re budding basketballers, run them through some relevant exercises to help them develop their skills.
• Take family walks or bike rides. A stroll through the winter woods can be an exhilarating experience.

These interactive and social activities provide physical exercise and healthy mental stimulation while improving moods.

Enjoy the Cold by Staying Active

Your children don’t need screens to deal with the cold weather. Keep them motivated and active by finding healthy activities to enjoy together and make the most of winter.