Looking for fun indoor winter activities for your kids? This fun skating activity will allow your little ones to glide across any floor – it will really get their hearts pumping!
Ice skating is one of the best winter activities for kids when it comes to building strength, coordination, and balance. It takes a lot of balance to maintain an upright position on those tiny strips of metal!
But who needs an ice rink when you have paper plates? These simple and creative indoor winter activities let kids “ice skate” indoors, building gross motor skills like balance, coordination, and strength.
Sliding across the floor on paper plates mimics the movements of skating, providing a fun way to stay active while developing core stability and body awareness. Plus, it’s an engaging way to burn off energy on a chilly day!
Whether for therapy, playtime at home, or a PE activity, this paper plate ice skating idea is a must-try indoor winter activity for kids.
What You’ll Need:
-Paper plates
-Music
-Printable (scroll down to fill out the form)
What to Do:
Give each child a few paper plates. Turn on some music and let them try skating! Have kids try the variations below for an added challenge!
1 || Skate to the Rhythm
Have kids try to skate with the rhythm of the music — fast, slow, smooth, choppy.
2 || Speed Skating
Can they move their arms side to side like a speed skater would? Show them how a speed skater might move on YouTube! Here is an example:
Speed Skating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhRwA9ryxZU
3 || Figure Skating
Can they move like a figure skater? Show them how a figure skater moves on YouTube! Here is an example:
Figure Skating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0blXZ_vH0c
4 || Regular Ice Skating
First, just try some regular ice skating around the room to get warmed up! Place a paper plate under each foot and slide each foot to move forward.
5 || Scissor Skate
Place a paper plate under each foot. Simultaneously slide one foot forward as you slide the other foot backward. Alternate back and forth, sliding the feet forward and backward.
6 || Jumping Jacks Slides
Place a paper plate under each foot. Start with the feet together, then slide them apart into a wide stance, opening the arms overhead like a jumping jack. Slide the feet back together and put the arms down by the sides. Repeat!
7 || Pivot Skate
Place a paper plate under each foot. Plant one foot on the floor and pivot in a circle, sliding the other foot around the planted foot. Try pivoting forward and backward and then switch feet.
8 || Hands and Feet Skate
Position the body in downward dog, placing a paper plate under each foot and under eachhand. Slide the feet and hands forward across the floor!
9 || Frog Jump Skate
Position the body in a plank, placing a paper plate under each foot and under each hand. Slide the feet quickly in to meet the hands, coming into a low squat position. Slide the handsquickly back out into plank. Repeat to move forward across the floor.
10 || Inchworm Skate
Position the body in downward dog, placing a paper plate under each foot and under eachhand. Slowly inch the hands forward, sliding them on the plates, until you reach a plankposition. Slowly inch the feet forward, sliding them on the plates, until you’re in a forward fold. Repeat, inching across the floor.
11 || Plank Jack Slides
Position the body in a plank, placing a paper plate under each foot. Slide the feet apart on theplates and then back together. Repeat!
How to Change it Up:
-If the plates won’t stay under your kids’ feet, use a piece of duct tape to create a strap to secure them to their feet.
-Put on a skating show! Who has the best form? Who would be the best figure skater? Who is the fastest?
Skill Areas Addressed:
Balance, coordination, motor control, gross motor skills, proprioception
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