Keeping our Kids Out of the Winter Time Blues

Days are short and dark.  Our little kids feel as if their afternoon nap robs them from daylight playtime.  Preschool through sixth graders sometimes have indoor recess on sunny days.  The temperature needs to be high enough to eliminate the risk of frostbite.

I do not have all of the answers, but I am trying to make this January-February time full of wonder and fun. Exercise and food can make a big difference.  Our children lose focus in school when these two areas are lacking. 

Exercise:

• bike: make the garage a fun place to peddle.  
• keep taking walks in the snow. Getting outside in the winter is important.
• go to a local gym and just run.
• go to a kid exercise class.

Healthy Food Time: Many kids do not want to eat carrots, nuts, and other healthy food during lunch time.  I am trying to identify some creative times during the day to introduce foods with essential vitamins.

Snack time:  put out little bowls of food to snack on. Sometimes in different locations.

• carrots
• nuts
• fruit

Nap time: Kids are bored during this quiet time.  Hopefully they will snack on the following items to wind down.

• supply a little bowl.
• nuts
• soy nuts
• peanuts
• carrots
• broccoli
• red bell peppers
• onions
• corn
• eggplant
• Fruit
• prunes
• raisins
• blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, rasberries, and cranberries
• plums
• oranges
• red grapes
• cherries
• kiwi
• cup of milk or soy milk
• vitamin D-
• site 1