Winter can be hard work for families. Children get bored stuck inside, unable to let off steam. They will likely take out their frustrations on each other and the parents. After a few days, let alone weeks, of the Christmas holidays, nerves and tempers can become very strained. It is also hard to find activities for you and your children to exercise, and stay fit and healthy.

If you know where to look though, there are loads of great solutions out there to alleviate the boredom, get some fantastic exercise, and have lots of fun at the same time.

It’s brilliant if the parents and children can do these activities together; bonding as a family unit is important of course, but statistics have shown that parents participating in exercise and sport make it much more likely that the children will continue in this vein in later life.

To get things going, get outside as soon as there is some decent snowfall and go tobogganing together. It’s incredibly good exercise and a real laugh too. More than likely, you’ll combine it with a snowball fight, building igloos and snowmen too. And don’t forget making a snow angel; lie on the snow on your back and wave your arms up and down to make the wings.

For the more adventurous, there are lots of online resources to explain how to make an ice-rink in your backyard for ice hockey and skating.

In the snow, or on a wet day, find a muddy park or field, and find as many animal tracks as you can and try to identify them. You can also track each other in a game of hide-and-seek. Even simpler, get your young ones out after rain and just splash around in puddles. As soon as your child has learned to walk, they’ll love it.

There is also a large range of actual fitness equipment suitable for children so you can exercise whatever the weather, perhaps alongside you in your home gym. Everything from kid’s electric treadmills to junior cross trainers to mini exercise bike options.

On a more traditional note, a trampoline for indoors if you have space will keep your children occupied for hours. For something a little different, pick up a dance pad or mat; this is linked to a video game, you stand on the mat and follow the game directions, jumping from panel to panel on the mat in time with the music.

Games you classically associate with the summer are just as fun in the winter, and keep you warm too. Football, soccer, catch ball, Frisbee and kite flying all work brilliantly.

If the weather is just too awful to venture out, why not set up a play-zone indoors. Get rid of breakables, put lots of cushions and blankets and duvets down, and let the children, and parents, go for it. Climbing, jumping, wrestling, pillow fights, making dens and destroying them, whatever takes your fancy.

From classic outdoor fun to the latest exercise based video games, there is plenty to keep you going right through the winter months.

Click here for some fabulous Valentine craft ideas!

Wow!! This is so cool – they did such a great job on it! It has an ice slide, built-in stairs and an upstairs level. They said it lasted two months!

Don’t let the winter go by without building a snow fort! Don’t forget to build two so you can battle.

Grab some medium-large sized containers and pack them with snow. Use the larger ones for the foundation, getting smaller as you go up. Turn then upside down side by side to start your first row. You can use loose snow to fill in the gaps.  When you’re done with the bottom, first row, start another one on top of it and keep building up until you can safely crouch down behind it and not be seen by the “other side”. Have fun!

Making a snow angel is a classic winter activity. Here’s some tips:

Choose a area where the snow has not been walked on.
Carefully lie down on your back with your arms and legs outstretched.
Make an imprint with all parts of your body, especially your head.
Move your arms and legs back and forth across the snow, keeping them straight.
Carefully get up…maybe someone can help you so you don’t mess it up.

Make a family of snow angels and don’t forget to take a picture of it!

More winter fun – Check out some cute poems about winter for children!