The temperatures are dropping but your child’s energy level sure isn’t! That might mean your kids are bouncing off the walls and you need to reign in the chaos. When it’s too cold to play outside, try these indoor activities.
Get Creative with Paints, Pencils, and Paper
When a coloring book and a box of crayons just won’t do, up your game by creating drawing prompts for your kids. Draw one half of something and ask them to finish it, or draw random lines on paper and ask them to use their imagination to create something using those lines. Do a paint-by-number or let them go wild with finger paint and giant sheets of paper or poster board. Sketch portraits of each other, the pets, or the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter.
My suggestion: Challenge your kids to draw their favorite book character.
Get Crafty
Those frigid days are a great time to do crafts with your child, from simple paper plate crafts to creating a quilt together. Take this time to learn to crochet together, learn woodworking, or make hand-made Christmas ornaments. Make tie dyed t-shirts or holiday coasters. You can find instructions online for anything your child wants to make.
My suggestion: Create a costume. Look through mom or dad’s closet to find scarfs, ties, jewelry, and hats. Get all dressed up and then have a fun photo shoot!
Get Down and Boogie
What better time to learn to play an instrument than when you’re stuck inside with cabin fever? Start with a recorder or harmonica for something relatively simple, or go for the electric guitar and the drums if that’s your style. No instruments? No problem! Get creative and make music with wind chimes or pounding on upside down bowls. Select your favorite playlist on your phone and crank it up for a dance party. Show your kids how to do the Macarena or the Twist!
My suggestion: Make a “pots and pans band” and play your first gig complete with flashing lights and an audience (even if the audience is the cat).
Get Competitive
How about a little friendly competition? Board games were created for times such as these. Tired of Sorry and Monopoly? Try a different game like King of Tokyo, 7 Wonders, Settlers of Catan, or Ticket to Ride. Teach your kids a new card game, or just play an old favorite. Play video games together like Super Smash Bros. or have a building competition on Minecraft.
My suggestion: Have a Minute-to-Win-It style tournament. There are plenty of ideas online.
Get Sneaky
Hide and seek is a classic that never gets old. Either do scavenger hunts or treasure hunts. Hide a “treasure” and draw your kids a treasure map. This will keep them entertained for a while!
My suggestion: Fill 10 plastic baggies with random LEGO bricks and hide them around the house. When a bag is found, you have 3 minutes to create something using the bricks in that bag. Once you complete the challenge, move on to find the next hidden bag.