Indoor winter boredom busters

Winter is a wonderful time for children to get outside and play, but there are days when the weather makes it necessary to spend time indoors. When active kids are trapped inside, it is helpful for parents and caregivers to have a variety of activities available to keep them entertained and happy.

Sometimes reading can provide the perfect inspiration for a new adventure. Start by heading to the library and letting the kids pick out a variety of books. Then, challenge the children to think of crafts and activities that relate to the books. For example, you could read, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, and then bake a batch of cookies.

Turning off electronic devices is the key to getting the kids to use their imaginations and explore other interests. Younger kids love simple activities like playdough and pretend play, and older kids love Lego, mini-sticks, puzzles and board games.

In our house, we created a portable puzzle surface by attaching dollar store felt protectors/sliding castors to the back of a corkboard (with hot glue). We can move the puzzle anywhere we want, and we can slide it under our couch when we aren’t working on it.

Old-fashioned fun, like building indoor forts, is another fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Cushions, sheets, blankets, chairs and binder clips are wonderful building materials. After the structure is completed, the kids can use the fort to read and relax, or they can do a little ‘indoor camping.’

For some added fun, make some s’mores using graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate. With some careful adult supervision, you can roast the marshmallow over a non-toxic candle. It might get a little messy, but the kids will love it.

When all else fails, a quiet afternoon with a fantastic family movie is always hit. Ramp up the fun by having the kids create movie tickets, movie posters and simple movie snacks. Then, grab some blanket and pillows, and cuddle up together on the couch.

There are endless possibilities for indoor winter boredom busters, and they don’t have to be difficult or complicated. The goals should be to keep things simple, have some fun, and enjoy the time spent together.

Gina Bell is a mother of three and can be found online at www.eastcoastmommy.com.