Have a Dance Party
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Challenge your kids to a lighthearted dance-off. Turn on some fun music, start moving and get out that trapped energy while dancing around the kitchen. Bonus points if your tunes are along the lines of "Singin' In The Rain," "Let It Snow" or "Hot N Cold," depending on how the kids are feeling about the weather.
Build with Legos
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Exercise your child's mind by setting up a Lego challenge. Ask them to build a never-before-seen building, your home or any other structure they can imagine. If your Lego pieces don't match, that's OK. Encourage your kids to use their imagination and create something new.
Construct a Blanket Fort
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Break out the blankets and set up camp in the living room. Gather up pillows to create a comfy atmosphere inside your tent and bring books inside to read together with a flashlight. You could also prop up a corner to let in some light and start a coloring contest in the fort.
Exercise with an Active Video Game
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Feeling antsy to get outside and throw the frisbee? Play a frisbee game on the Wii. Dancing, bowling, tennis and baseball are also fun options. The Wii Sports pack comes with five built-in games, and there are plenty of fun stand-alone games, too.
Play Flashlight Hide and Seek
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This modified version of hide and seek switches things up with a lights out twist. First, send everyone to hide while the seeker counts to 100. Next, turn off all the lights in the house and equip the seeker with a flashlight. If the flashlight beam hits the hider, they're caught. Note: If you have multiple stories, restrict the game to one floor to prevent tumbles in the dark.
Create an Obstacle Course
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What parent doesn't remember escaping from "lava" in the living room when they were kids? Recreate the fun with your own children and keep them on their toes with new challenges in each room (i.e., jump over lava in the living room, hopscotch across the tiles in the kitchen, climb under the table in the dining room). When the kids complete the course, challenge them to do it backwards.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
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Hide clues throughout the house for your kids to follow. Depending on your child's age, you could make each clue a riddle. Here's a cute example from Wildflower Bouquets: "Are you getting tired? Don't despair! Take a seat while looking for the next clue. It is on a wooden _____." Clues could include an active component, such as "Do 10 jumping jacks before seeking your next clue in the pantry". The final prize can be a weather-appropriate treat, like hot chocolate if it's snowy outside or a popsicle to beat the summer heat.
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