It's dark by half past four, the playground is a mud pit, and your child still has energy for three. We know the feeling. The good news: great movement doesn't need a sports club or a gym. A few square metres of living room are enough.
Especially for toddlers, home is actually the best place for first movement experiences. No unfamiliar group, no time pressure, at whatever pace your child chooses. Here are our five favourite exercises for the cold season.
1. Bear crawl and crab walk
What you need: nothing but a bit of space.
For the bear crawl, your child walks on hands and feet with their bottom up in the air. The crab walk is the other way round: tummy up, moving backwards on hands and feet. Most fun as a race across the room, ideally with you as the second bear.
What it does: arms, shoulders and core get working, and your child learns to coordinate arms and legs.
2. The sloth: just hang in there
What you need: a trapeze or gymnastic rings, hung low, with a soft mat underneath.
Your child grabs the bar or the rings and hangs like a sloth. Count the seconds together. To start with, feet can stay on the floor. Over time, 3 seconds turn into a small eternity, and every new record gets celebrated.
What it does: hanging builds grip strength, shoulders and core. And it's a huge confidence boost when the feet leave the ground for the very first time.
3. The balance trail
What you need: masking tape, cushions, a rope or a towel.
Stick a line of masking tape across the room, with curves and zigzags. Your child balances along it, first forwards, then backwards, then on tiptoe. If you like, add cushions as "stepping stones in the river" to jump across.
What it does: balance and body tension are trained through play, and concentration comes along for the ride.
4. The tuck on the trapeze
What you need: trapeze or gymnastic rings, mat underneath.
Is hanging going well already? Then it's time for the next level: your child hangs and pulls their knees towards their chest to become a little "parcel". Hold briefly, then slowly stretch out again. Three tucks in a row are a real achievement.
What it does: tummy and core really get involved, and your child gets a feel for how to steer their body in the air.
5. Winding down in the sensory swing
What you need: a sensory swing.
After all that action, it's okay to slow down. Your child snuggles into the swing and rocks gently back and forth. Some children love being spun slowly, others just want to be wrapped up and read.
What it does: gentle swinging engages the sense of balance and helps many children calm down again after a wild play session.
A quick word on safety
- Stay close during all exercises on equipment. Our products are for ages 3+ and for use under adult supervision only.
- For beginners, hang the trapeze and rings low and always put a soft mat underneath.
- Give the suspension and ropes a quick check before play.
- Your child sets the pace. Nothing is a must, everything is allowed.
Our tip for everyday life
You don't need to turn this into a training programme. Pick two exercises and build them into the afternoon, for example before dinner. Ten minutes of movement often changes the whole evening.
And if your child invents a new favourite exercise: show us on Instagram. We love it.
Play. Move. Grow.
Paulina & Kinga