Winter is a great time of year to seek out fun indoor activities like library story times and museums, but here in Southwest Missouri, we all know that eventually the snow and ice will keep us stuck inside without a safe way to explore for at least a day or two. Here are some ideas to keep the kiddos busy and avoid the winter blues!
Pinterest is a great resource for ideas, but it can also be overwhelming. Picking a theme for the day can help focus your planning session. A great time to pick up supplies for selected activities is when you’re doing your “bread and milk” grocery run before the weather sets in.
Creative Activities:
- Art Prompts: There are tons of creative art ideas online for kids of all ages (and parents can have fun with them too). This list is a great place to start: 75 Creative Drawing Ideas for Kids.
- Obstacle Course: Use items from around the house to create an obstacle course that is age appropriate for you kiddo. Older children can build their own, or do some rearranging to make this activity last longer.
- Blanket Forts: There is something magical about blanket forts. Doing a regular activity like eating, reading books, or playing with toys takes on new life in a fort.
- Phone a Friend: Snow days are a great time to call or skype with friends and relatives both near and far. It breaks up feelings of isolation on both ends of the line!
Fun Food!
Cold or not, we still have to eat, and food can be another venue to introduce something new and entertaining. It can be as simple as picking out a new fruit (pomegranates are fun!) or type of cheese to try. Last year we made snow cream for the first time. It’s a simple recipe:
- 4 cups snow
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
When my kids were younger, we often used finger foods to make “Healthy Happy Meals” – using the food to make a smiley face on the plate.
Whatever you do, we hope your snow days are full of smiles and memory making!