let's move! GRAND ways to get the wiggles out!

5 hours ago
8 min read

Monday, February 23., 2026

The little ones in our lives are made to move

and when those wiggles start building up,

they need a safe and simple way to let that energy out!

We know spring is beginning to emerge in other areas of our country. But here in Minnesota, we’re still very much in the heart of winter — with chilly temperatures, icy sidewalks, and plenty of days when outdoor play just isn’t practical yet. When the cold keeps us inside, movement doesn’t stop being important… it simply moves indoors.

In today’s post, we’re sharing a few of our favorite ways to get moving

with the Littles in one’s life…

Whether that’s your own children, those you teach or care for

OR, if you’re like us, and a GRAND who spends time with them!

Check out our easy indoor movement ideas in today’s post!

When the cold keeps us inside,

movement doesn’t stop being important…

it simply moves indoors!

Creating fun opportunities for Littles to jump, stretch, dance, and play inside helps them release energy, stay active, and brighten even the longest winter days!

As retired early childhood (kindergarten) teachers, we’ve always known the importance of building movement activities into Littles’ lives! In fact, we’d provide multiple times each day where movement experiences were incorporated into our days! Now, as grandparents, we encourage these moments whenever we can!

Research is very clear: Movement is not just play for young children — it is essential for healthy development in every area of life! Scientists and child development experts consistently link physical activity in early childhood to growth in the brain, body, emotions, and learning skills.

For children, movement isn’t extra — it’s essential!

Check out these fun, simple indoor ways Littles of all ages

can get the wiggles out while building coordination, balance, and confidence!

🔷 An Indoor Obstacle Course!

Laurie made an indoor obstacle course one day with the help of her Littles! They were having so much fun that she forgot to take photos but she’s got all the details for us below!

Here’s a sample of the simple signs I made with them.

You can see that each sign contained a word and a drawing that I sketched quickly to describe the word. Once the signs were posted, we were ready to get moving!

Whew!!!I don’t know about the Littles but I was sure pooped

once I made it through our obstacle course!

🔷 Drumming with Pool Noodles!

These drumming sticks have been a big hit with our Littles! They were easy to make and once made, we’ve been using them, over and over again, as needed!

You can make 2-3 drumming sets from two pool noodles! To make these drums simply cut each pool noodle in half or into thirds, depending on the age of your Littles.. Then wrap one end of each drum with duct tape. That’s it!

We use our drumming sticks in a variety of ways… we create rhythm patterns with them and we play “Simon Says” with them, too. But, one of our favorite ways to use these drums is to project a Youtube video onto the TV screen and then let our Littles follow along. Danny Go is one of our favorites and he has several videos that use drumming skills!

This Color Beat Drum Along song is great fun!

NO POOL NOODLES? NO WORRIES!

While the pool noodles make things extra fun they are not needed…

Littles can use their hands, too!

And DON’T WORRY if your Littles have trouble following the video prompts,

especially the young ones!

Just have fun… and KEEP MOVING!

🔷 Flashlight Stomp!

Laura played a very simple version of this game with her Littles! While this game is best played at night, you can have fun with it in a room that's been darkened, too! All you need for this activity is a flashlight and a group of players who can move their feet rather quickly!

I was the “leader” and used a flashlight to project light on different areas of the carpet. Our Littles tried to be the first one to stomp on the light before I moved it to another spot! Sometimes I moved the spotlight slowly and other times quickly! Older Littles can take their turn as the leader, too!

🔷 Beach Ball Fun!

We always keep at least one inflatable beach ball handy - it’s a great resource for wiggle time! While it’s fun to use outside on a sunny day, here’s a few of our favorite ways to use one indoors! We GRANDS love these classic games - do you remember any of them?

Catch! Our Littles ask to play this one regularly! Whether you are throwing, rolling or kicking the beachball, your Littles will have fun!

Keep Away! It’s fun to throw the ball back and forth between two people, while trying to keep it away from a third person who is in the middle. You can also roll the beach ball between multiple people in a circle while someone else is in the middle, trying to capture the ball! In fact, half the fun was getting "hit" by the beach ball.... oh, the giggles!

Hot Potato! Again, this game is for multiple players who sit in a circle. As music plays, people pass the beach ball around the circle. When the music stops, the player holding the ball is out. NOTE: When we play this game with young Littles, they are only “out” for one round and then re-enter the game OR they switch places with another player in the circle! Win, win!

One other fun game we like to play is our version of Basketball. Turn an empty laundry basket into your “basket” as you take turns making basket after basket!

🔷 Balloon Volleyball or Badminton!

This game is super easy to set up and can be played with two or more people or even individually! You can set up a divider (a string or streamer across the room, a length of tape across the floor or even a couch between teams will work). With younger Littles, it may be best to play in an open space.

Use your hands to play volleyball, hitting the balloon back and forth. To play badminton, make paddles out of paper plates and a toilet paper tube (attach the tube to the back of the plate with tape as shown in the photo below).

As an alternate to either group game, your Little can challenge themselves to keep the balloon in the air!

Timing your Littles as they play is super fun, too!

Older Littles will love the challenge of keeping the balloon in the air as long as possible!

🔷 Hot Lava!

More often than not, Littles of all ages have played Hot Lava or some version of this active game.. Littles pretend the floor is molten lava and must navigate a room without touching the areas designated as lava! Using cushions, rugs, or furniture as "safe" islands, children jump, balance, and climb to escape the lava, boosting physical coordination and problem-solving.

You can add music to the fun, too! When the music is playing, the floor is “safe” and when the music stops, everyone has to jump off the floor (the lava) and to safety!

Here’s one of our favorite movement videos, courtesy of Youtube!

You and your Littles will love it!

🔷 Color Hops!

Begin by taping colored paper squares on the floor. You can place them in a line or randomly around the space. Littles can move from square to square in different ways (i.e. by marching, tiptoeing or jumping).

More versions of the activity are (1) to roll one die (or call out a number) and the Little(s) then move that many spaces and (2) to play “Simon Says” by calling out a color. That your Little then needs to find and stand on!

🔷 Toss 'Em In!

For this activity, your Little will need his/her stuffed animals and a laundry basket or a big box! Your Little lies on the floor with the pile of stuffies nearby and the basket. placed near your Little’s head. When you say “Go!” your Little will pick up one stuffed animal at a time with his/her feet and place it in the basket as shown in the photo below! Repeat these steps until all the stuffies have been moved from the pile into the basket!

Older Littles will especially enjoy this challenge... again. - time them for added incentive! Plus, they'll get a great core workout at the same time!

🔷 A Family Dance Party!

When all else fails, turn up some fun, lively music and DANCE!

Gather in a circle and break out your best moves! Laurie’s crew had fun celebrating the Super Bowl one year with a bit of Touchdown Freestyle! Stand in a circle. When someone hands you the football you go in the middle and do your dance! When you are done, pass the football to someone else and let them have a turn!

Of course, you can adapt the game in so many ways

by using a stuffed animal, a doll or another type of ball!

Check out this Instagram post to see her family in action!

No matter what the weather is doing outside,

giving Littles regular chances to wiggle

helps them reset, recharge and feel their very best!

And, in our book, that is simply GRAND!

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We hope to see you back here later this week

when we’ll return with another new post for you,

It's Snack Time!

At the end of the day, getting the wiggles out is about so much more than burning energy — it’s about helping our Littles feel good in their bodies, calm in their minds, and joyful in their days! Every hop, spin, stretch, and giggle is part of how they grow, learn, and discover the world around them and when we make space for movement — even in simple, playful ways — we’re giving children something truly meaningful: the freedom to be active, curious, and fully themselves!

So whether it’s a quick dance break or a living room obstacle course,

those little movement moments add up in beautiful ways.