Wintertime Fun
Here in Connecticut, we are in the middle of our winter season and it can be hard to keep little people busy indoors when all they want to do is run around outside. Here are a few ideas to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy during those days when you are ready to lose your mind. Tried, true, and tested by a real mom (me)!
Party in the Bathroom
Fill up the tub with bubbles but add a twist… toss in a few glow sticks, turn off the lights, and turn on some fun music. Your littles will be entertained until their little fingers and toes turn into prunes! Soo much fun and giggles all around. Another variation? Pretend you are at the beach and have a beach party in the tub. Dry off with beach towels instead of bath towels for an extra dose of run. Afterward, treat the kiddos to a popsicle just like you would on a hot summer day.
Build a Fort
Build a fort or a castle using whatever you have at home! You could use boxes (I know you probably have a least a few from Amazon lying around), couch cushions, pillows, chairs with blankets draped over them, a table, or even a playpen with a blanket draped over the top. Both of my boys think this is the coolest thing ever. Let the kids nap in the fort or read stories with them. You can even take this a step further and have a campout living room style! Trust me; your kids will think you are the best mom ever!
Have a Pizza and Movie Night
We actually do this one weekly in our house – usually on Friday because Friday is chef’s (aka mom’s) night off. We let our older son spread out a blanket or sleeping bag on our living room floor (to keep the mess off the carpet) and either order or pop some frozen pizza in the oven. Then we eat picnic style in the living room while watching a family movie. My son LOVES this. Another variation is to turn your living room into a movie theater. Turn off the lights, pop some popcorn, and silence those phones because the show is about to start. This is also a great rainy day activity! You could even simplify and use this as a quiet afternoon activity. Grab a movie, a blanket, and everybody snuggle on the couch. <3
Bake a Dessert
You don’t have to be a cooking or baking wiz to have fun in the kitchen with the kids. If you like to bake grab your favorite recipe and get cooking. If not, there are lots of easy options such as break and bake cookies or heat and serve pie. Let the kids wear aprons and teach them a little about science and cooking while you make something yummy to share. Everyone loves baking day in our house – especially my husband who gets to “sample” the goodies. Added bonus – running the oven will warm up your house on a frosty day.
Have a Tea Party
Some say that tea parties are for girls but I say that tea parties are for everyone at every age. Break out the fine china that you got for your wedding and have a little fun. Dress up and invite all of your child’s stuffies for dessert. Don’t like tea? Substitute for hot chocolate, juice, water, or if you want to get really fancy – sparkling cider! You could even serve the dessert you baked in my suggestion above.
Plan a Family Game Night
This is another weekly favorite in our house. We take turns choosing the game. Some games my preschooler needs to partner with my husband or I for but others he can do on his own. We alternate between cooperative video games (like Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch) and board/card games. My husband and I also enjoy playing adult strategy and deck building games together after the kids go to bed. Family game night is literally that – fun for the whole family.
Whatever option you choose, don’t let the winter blues ruin your fun. No need to freeze your butt off to keep your kids from destroying the house (or each other). I hope that these suggestions inspire you to have some fun with your kids and actually enjoy the fact that it’s chilly out. Enjoy that frost and snow falling outside your window from the comfort of your cozy home. Have other ideas? I’d love you to share them in the comments!
Image Courtesy of Parade.com