It has been breathtakingly cold outside this year. This year we have hit record low temperatures here in Utah, in fact, we had our first experience with freezing rain this week. These below freezing temperatures have got the kids cooped up inside all day, every day, and if they’re anything like mine, they’re starting to get a bad case of cabin fever! But don’t worry, we’re here to save the day, because we have lots of ideas to keep kids happy indoors and out!
Something Logan and I have decided to do this year is to make a list of all the fun things he wants to do. This could be going to a movie, going bowling, making a fort, having a game night, reading stories, or just about anything he can think of. Then we cut them into little strips, fold them in half, and put them in our special winter fun jar. When we start feeling a little stir crazy we pick out one of the activities from the jar to do that afternoon. It’s fun because it’s always a surprise!
Last week I took Logan to the store to pick out a few more games for our collection. We have lots of games, but a lot of them are a little too old for him right now, so we went looking for some that were a little more on his level. We put them all in a big box in the closet and when he starts getting bored we pull one out to play together.
One of my favorite memories as a child was building forts at my grandparent’s house with my aunt and uncle. We’d get all the couch cushions together and create our own little rooms where we could play games, color pictures, or even watch movies together. Logan and I haven’t built very many forts, but we have been known to pull out the tent and camp out in the living room every once in a while. We pack all our favorite stories in there and read until we both fall asleep. It’s one of those memories I know we’ll cherish throughout the years.
Don’t let yourself get discouraged by the cold weather. Instead, find some fun activities to keep your kids busy indoors. The possibilities truly are endless!