How To Help Keep Your Child Active At Home During Winter Months

As the weather in Cincinnati moves towards the kind that can limit outside play for our preschoolers, many parents start to look for creative ways to keep their kids active indoors.

We love (LOVE!) when our parents share that their child plays "Tumble Bees" at home. Whether your child gathers up their siblings or stuffed toys and directs them to "jump on my train!" or they engage the adults in a Tumble Bees inspired circuit before dinner using sofa cushions and a handful of throw pillows as obstacles, we are always tickled that our little Bees love class so much they recreate the experience at home through imaginary play.

And, in a bid to keep them imagining and playing at home (and to save your cushions and pillows!) we have some great gift ideas for your little Bee to keep them entertained and active during the long winter months.

Baby Bees

Does your Baby Bee get excited when the shaker eggs get passed around? These Skip Hop Explore & More shakers are a fun alternative for at home or on the go!

Did you know that we end our Baby Bee classes with bubbles because tracking objects with the eyes can help our youngest bees to build eye strength? Encouraging your little one to actively move their eyes to track objects exercises the muscles to control eye movement which can help strengthen them and improve their visual tracking ability. This bubble blower is like what we use at the end of our classes and makes a TON of bubbles. Not keen on the soapy mess on the floor? Use the bubbles in the bathroom during bubble time for easier clean up!

The sensory tiles in our baby space are always a huge hit for our little friends and would be a fun addition to your child's play space and could also be fun hung on a wall for a different way to use them.

Little Bees

Stepping stones are often included in our Tumble Bees circuits and are a great way for our Bees to work on balance and stability.

Nylon tunnels are not only great for promoting a child's spatial awareness but are always fun for hide and seek and pretend play. We love this rainbow option, this giant bee and this version that includes a tent attachment.

Do you have a bee who loves to climb? This pikler triangle is a fun option esepcially because it comes with different pieces for versatility and it folds up to store if space is an issue.

Big Bees

Have a bee who likes to hang like a monkey? This foldable bar and mat can help them practice their hangs and front supports at home!

Does your bee seek out opportunities to balance by walking on curbs or the edge of retaining walls? This foldable balance beam is a great option for them to practice all of their cool balance tricks at home.

Did you know that jumping on a trampoline can help a child to self-regulate? Whether they're trying to bounce their wiggles out or work through big feelings, we love tiny trampolines like this one for use indoors.

Modular play couches like this have recently grown in popularity for those with small children. We really like that this one has different shapes and offers more opportunity for children to build and imagine in comparison to the other options out there that are not as versatile for the price.