{"id":7716,"date":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/make-warm-family-memories-when-its-cold-outside\/"},"modified":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","slug":"make-warm-family-memories-when-its-cold-outside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/es\/make-warm-family-memories-when-its-cold-outside\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Warm Family Memories When It\u2019s Cold Outside"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The thermometer reading may be rather low this winter, but that is no excuse for low physical activity levels.\u00a0 Children need to be physically active, even in the winter months. Fewer sunlight hours and for the more northern folk, snow and cold, can make it hard to find a time and place for kids to be physically active. But children, by nature, want to move and moving keeps you warm.<\/p>\n

Here are a few fun colder weather activities to raise the heart rate and maintain physically activity:<\/p>\n

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  1. Sled ride\u2014take advantage of even a little snow and a small hill get be hours of fun for kids.\u00a0 Most kids won\u2019t even realize they are getting \u2018exercise\u2019 when pulling their sled, disk or toboggan up the hill.\u00a0 They are so focused on the ride down.<\/li>\n
  2. Snow Art\u2014make the traditional snow man with a carrot nose or take it avant garde and make a snow castle or patio snow mural that kids can see from the second floor.<\/li>\n
  3. Family Flag Football Game\u2014get a few handkerchiefs or rags and put them in your pocket and have a pick-up game in the backyard or at the local park.\u00a0 Give your teams funny names and create a cheering section\u2014something a kid will never forget.\u00a0 Soccer works too!<\/li>\n
  4. Ice Skating\u2014more and more localities have small ice rinks and rent skates at a reasonable cost.\u00a0 You are already wearing your warm sweater and cool scarf!<\/li>\n
  5. Family Hike\u2014pack on the parka and snow pants and check a trail or park.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be amazed how tall trees will protect you on a blustery day and how the scenery changes in the winter season.<\/li>\n
  6. Snow Angels\u2014just lie down and do a little kicking and flapping, voila!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Finish outdoor fun with a perennial kid and family pleaser\u2014hot chocolate.\u00a0 Hot chocolate (or hot cocoa) is a great treat and a tradition that has brought families together for centuries.\u00a0 Try the traditional recipe or easily modify to be sugar-free, lactose-free vegetarian or a Spicy Mayan version to fit your family\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

    Traditional American Hot Chocolate<\/strong><\/p>\n