The pandemic has forced people and families to stay indoors. Getting stuck at home can be great, especially if you have kids you adore. You can spend more time together with them, and your family can be whole most of the time.
However, kids are not always a fan of the stay-at-home idea. They have too much energy to release. They want to go out, play, and explore the world. This is understandable. They need to have regular physical activity to release all their energy without relying on mobile screens.
And now that winter is coming, it’s another reason to force kids to stay indoors more.
Why not release all the kids’ energy with indoor sports? It will encourage the children to be active while having fun. They will be challenged with the right amount of competitiveness. And best of all, indoor games are often mixed with good humor. Your family will have new memories to laugh at.
To keep kids safe at home, ease their boredom, release their energy, and encourage their sportsmanship, here are four indoor sports you can play as a family.
Soccer
Active Kids suggests a game of soccer. Take advantage of your large backyard. Set up a goal and play a friendly game of soccer with the kids. Team up in twos or threes and take turns scoring in the goal.
Indoor soccer is great for kids because it can teach them valuable life skills. The game can help them build better communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. It can also teach them the value of hard work.
Through healthy competition during your play, children can learn cooperation and teamwork. They can also learn good sportsmanship.
To play soccer, all you need is a soccer ball and a goal post. You can purchase inflatable goal posts from a toy store. It can also be used indoors, which is good if you don’t have a large backyard. It’ll be winter soon anyway, and this means you’ll be playing soccer indoors when it snows.
Ping-Pong
Ping pong, or table tennis, is a perfect game for kids not fans of contact sports such as soccer. It simply requires a large rectangular or square table, ping pong balls, a roll-net, and table tennis rackets. Yes, you don’t need a standard table tennis table to play this game.
Ping pong is fun when played in twos. But aside from playing a fun game, ping pong can teach your kids better hand-eye coordination and focus. Physically, it can promote agility and flexibility. It can also strengthen bones and muscles.
If you and your kids have become good at ping pong, you can team up in twos and play a game of four people. But if the kids are not up to a game, you can still play ping pong on your own. You can place a table against a wall and let the ball bounce on the wall.
Golf
Golf is often viewed as a game for adults because of its serious nature. Well, it doesn’t have to be. Even toddlers can enjoy the game. Teach them to hit a colorful foam ball with club-like stuff, and they’re good to go.
Seriously though, golf can offer a lot of benefits for the kids. They can learn self-confidence and problem-solving skills through numbers. It also helps them develop self-improvement habits. Like professional players, they will learn to analyze their actions and what needs to be done to improve those actions.
Children can also learn etiquette and values from playing golf. They will learn how to behave properly, become truthful, and strong during adversity. Aside from the skills and values, golf can strengthen the spine and core muscles and hand-eye coordination. And like Ping-Pong, it’s not a contact sport, which makes it safe for kids.
You will love golf, too! You’ll be able to enjoy a sport without shouting and grunting. To play it with your kids, you can use a golf simulator to let them see what it truly feels like to play on the golf course.
Basketball
Basketball is yet another contact sport. But like golf, it is enjoyable for all ages. All you need is a hoop and a ball, and you’re all set.
Basketball is great for you and your kids for several reasons. It provides a complete physical exercise routine. It can build muscles and improves focus. Your children can learn self-discipline, teamwork, and confidence through basketball.
Make Indoor Games Fun
If your kid is not into sports, board games and console-based games are your next best options. They will be more likely to play indoor sports if they have many options to choose from. Just make sure that they are safe. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it will help to practice safe play, especially if playmates want to come and join in the fun.
The pandemic and winter may be keeping you indoors in the coming months. But with the help of these indoor games, you can beat boredom and have a good time with your family.
