Winter is almost upon us here in the northeast and we are now forced to migrate indoors to brave the cold weather. As the mother of two toddlers, this indoor migration is no easy feat. In order to not only get through but actually enjoy the winter, I have compiled a list of my children’s favorite winter time activities.
Planned Play dates
Play dates with friends are a great way to spend winter days indoors. We have play doh play dates, movie play dates, princess dress up play dates, or train set play dates to make it interesting and change it up so play dates don’t get boring. But, getting a group of kids together is an easy way to spread illnesses. I always tell our play date friends that we will confirm the play date the day before to make sure everyone is feeling well, which gives them and us a chance to back out if someone isn’t feeling well.
Trying an Indoor Sport
This year we joined our local YMCA. They have times set aside for open family play in the gym, track, pool and the rock wall so our kids can run around unabashed. We were even able to start them in swimming lessons for separate age groups but at the same time. Now every Sunday morning is “swim class.” The best part is that it tuckers our two year old out so he has a wonderful nap every Sunday afternoon, which gives us some “big kid” time with our four year old. If you don’t have a local family friendly gym, consider other indoor sports like gymnastics (yes, it’s good for girls AND boys), ice skating, indoor soccer, or hockey.
Sibling Sleepover
We have something we call a “sibling sleepover” at our house, which we usually reserve for weekends or holidays. We have a cot that we set up in one child’s room next to the bed so the kids can have a sleepover with each other. We let them each pick a book and read them together. Sometimes, if we are feeling adventurous, we’ll even let them set up a tent in the living room and have a “camping sibling sleepover.”
Vacation in Winter
One of our most favorite traditions for breaking the winter monotony is planning a family vacation. We usually wait for January or February to go, but spend much of the fall and winter planning. We involve the kids in our decision on where to go and what type of vacation (cruise or land based), as well as what to do when we get there, what to pack, who to get souvenirs for, and anything else that fosters family discussions and keeps them engaged instead of asking for TV.