How to Keep Kids Active in Winter

When the temperature drops and the skies turn grey, it’s tempting to let the kids bunker down with their screens and a never-ending snack stash. Winter brings loads of potential for outdoor adventure, movement and family bonding, especially when you’ve got a few clever tricks up your (puffy) sleeve.

Keeping kids active in winter isn’t just about burning off energy (though that’s a bonus). It supports their immune systems, boosts mental wellbeing, and helps fend off the winter blues. And with the right setup, your backyard can stay open for business all season long.

Ready to turn winter into your family’s secret superpower? Here’s how.

1. Rug Up & Play Outside Anyway (With the Right Gear)

When it’s cold and grey, staying indoors seems like the easy option, but most kids still want to play outside. They just need the right gear.

Layer them up: thermals, waterproof pants, a decent raincoat, wellie boots and gloves. Add a beanie (or a funky animal hood, whatever gets them excited), and they’re ready for action. 

Suddenly, puddles are treasure spots. Mud becomes magical. And you’ve nailed the first trick in how to keep kids active in winter.

Hot tip: keep a stack of warm towels and a thermos of hot chocolate ready for when they come back in. It makes outside time something they’ll want to do again tomorrow.

2. Set Up a Backyard Obstacle Course

Your Funky Monkey Bars are already the MVP of summer fun, but they’re just as powerful in winter.

Create a rotating obstacle course using different elements of your frame: monkey bars, climbing ladders, ninja grips, even a swing-to-slide finish. Add cones, buckets, rope or chalked paths for bonus challenges.

Funky Monkey Bars use weather-resistant Aussie steel (not spongy timber), so they’re always ready for action, rain, wind or shine. And when the setup changes every few days, the kids won’t get bored.

Challenge: Let them design their course and time each other. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with.

3. Create a 10-Minute Daily Movement Challenge

You don’t need a massive block of time or perfect weather to keep the kids moving every day.

Set a mini ‘movement challenge’ that takes just 10 minutes. It could be five laps around the yard, a monkey bar hang contest, a yoga animal pose off, or a hallway crab-walk race. The goal isn’t exhaustion, it’s rhythm. A small, fun, daily win.

Make it visible (write it up on a whiteboard or chart) and include little rewards for consistency; stickers, badges, or the choice of Friday night dinner.

This builds a healthy winter habit that feels exciting, not like a chore.

4. Weekend Backyard ‘Boot Camps’

Looking for a weekend activity that burns energy and builds confidence? Backyard boot camps are where it’s at.

Set up stations using whatever gear you’ve got: monkey bars, jump ropes, cones, boxes, hoops. Throw in some challenges like ‘how many pull-ups in 30 seconds?’ or ‘tag your teammate using only ninja steps’.

Split into teams (parents vs kids always gets laughs) and cheer each other on. You don’t need whistles or fancy equipment, just a stopwatch and a bit of sass.

Pro tip: Get the playlist pumping. Music makes everything more fun, and the neighbours won’t mind when it’s laughter coming over the fence.

5. Turn the Patio into a Play Zone

Not every yard has wide open space, but patios, carports and alfresco areas are goldmines for winter play.

Because Funky Monkey Bars are modular and freestanding, you can set them up under cover, even on concrete. Add a pair of dip bars, a trapeze or boxing bag, and you’ve got an instant indoor-outdoor energy outlet.

On cold rainy days, this setup becomes your secret weapon: kids get to move, swing and climb. You get to stay dry and smug.

Plus, it means you’re using every bit of your home for fun, even the corners you’d normally forget about.

6. Keep It Calm Indoors Without the Chaos

Some days, it’s just too wild to send them outside. But that doesn’t mean they have to sit still or trash the house.

Get creative with indoor movement games:

• Balloon volleyball (no hard balls = no broken vases)

• Yoga freeze (strike a pose when the music stops)

• Bear crawls and crab walks (great for strength and giggles)

• Masking tape maze (create a track on the floor)

The key is controlled chaos: short bursts of activity that leave furniture intact and energy levels settled.

Even inside, you’re still keeping the spirit of play alive, and that’s half the battle when winter drags on.

7. Active Playdates + a Cuppa for You

You don’t need a party to make the backyard buzz. One extra kid = double the action, fewer complaints, and more creative games.

Invite a classmate or cousin over, rug them up, and let them loose on your Funky frame. Add a challenge (like who can cross the monkey bars the most times) or a mission (rescue the teddy from the trapeze!).

You? You get to sip your coffee in peace and watch them go wild, all while ticking off that ‘get outside’ box.

Low effort. Big win.

8. Make It a Mission: Winter Ninja Badges

Turn winter play into a mission with fun, achievable goals that come with mini-rewards.

Set up a chart where your kids can tick off goals like:

• ‘Did 5 climbs this week’

• ‘Tried a new trick’

• ‘Played outside in the rain’

• ‘Balanced for 60 seconds’

Create simple badges (printable stickers, LEGO medals, even marshmallows on skewers). They’ll feel proud, and you’ll build up their resilience and self-motivation.

Plus, when they’re working towards something, you won’t hear ‘I’m bored’ half as much.

9. Add Lights for After-School Action

Winter afternoons fade fast, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to.

Add solar-powered garden lights or string up some warm fairy lights around your Funky Monkey Bars. It creates a twilight glow that’s equal parts magical and practical.

Suddenly, your frame becomes a stage for ninja night missions or backyard light chases. And your kids? They’ll be begging to stay out longer, even when the stars come out.

10. Swap Out Accessories to Keep It Fresh

Kids crave novelty. One of the easiest ways to refresh your backyard without redoing the whole thing is to change out a Funky Monkey Bars accessory or two.

Swap the swing for a flying fox. Trade the ladder for gym rings. Bring out a basketball hoop for a new energy outlet. Every new add-on creates new ways to move, challenge themselves, and explore.

It’s an easy way to spark excitement and keep the backyard their favourite place to be… all winter long.

Bring On Winter with Funky Monkey Bars

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to keep kids active in winter without resorting to screens or endless indoor chaos, the answer might be closer than you think.

With the right gear, a little creativity, and a backyard built for movement, your kids can stay strong, healthy and happy all season long. At Funky Monkey Bars, we’ve made it our mission to keep Aussie families playing outdoors year-round, because we know the benefits of active play don’t stop when the mercury drops.

So this year, skip the cabin fever and let’s get creative together. Playtime doesn’t have an off-season, and neither should the fun.