Parents are always looking for activities to engage their children during the winter months. When there is a blizzard outside, children often turn to their video games or television. In this article, parents will find unique ideas of how to expand their child’s mind. These might be activities many parents don’t have the time or effort to participate, but it’s worthwhile. Take the extra time to teach your child that necessary skill while school is slow and they may look back on it with fond memories.
First, teach your children how to plant an indoor vegetable garden. Parents can purchase flowerpots from an indoor nursery and place them inside a sunny window. This teaches the child how to plant the seed and care for a plant. When spring comes, they will able to enjoy helping the parent plant the vegetable within the family garden outdoors.
Similarly, this could be a winter science experiment for the family. The child could learn about the different areas of the plant, such as the root and flower, and how the roots form within the soil. In addition, the cost is low, ranging under $10 per plant. This activity doesn’t have a specific age because all children will enjoy getting involved. The youngest children in the family may enjoy watering the seeds after they have been planted, while the older kids assume more of the responsibility for the indoor garden.
Another unique activity for your children is to have a card game family night. Have the children gather all their games that require a deck of cards, such as Uno, Old Maid and Crazy Eights. Memory and Go Fish are also family favorites. If you’re feeling creative, purchase several decks of cards and scatter them in a box or tray. Then, start to build a house of cards and see how far you can get without anyone knocking it down. The idea of this activity is to spend quality time with your family. It’s a free activity and all age groups are welcome. Just don’t be the person who’s stuck being the old maid or has to draw four!
Finally, get the family together and scrapbook an album of your year together. Allow the kids to be creative and show their expressive side on their pages. Stores such as Michael’s sells scrapbook supplies where each child can choose their own album and decoration. While there isn’t any age limit on this activity, it might be costly. Stores such as Walmart charge around 28 cents a photograph if you’re making copies from an SD card. It may also be costly to buy albums, stickers and markers to make the albums. However, these are priceless memories you are putting together in a book. Doesn’t that justify the cost?