When the fun of the snow and the relief from the heat is over, and the kids are catching that cabin fever we all dread worse than the flu, pull out these ideas to bring a little life to your day!
Photo Credit: Pierre Contant
Supplies: Blue sheet or cardboard painted blue Dowel sticks String Clothes pins
Hang sheet or cardboard from ceiling. Construct fishing pole by tying one end of the string to the dowel and tying the other end of the string around the clothespin. You may want to glue gun them in place so they don't slide off.
How To Play: A parent stands behind the sheet/cardboard with a basket full of little goodies/gifts to attach to the clothespins. Kids cast their fishing lines over the "ice" and know that they've caught something when they feel a tug on their line.
Photo Credit: Chris & Ariella
Supplies: Tootsie Rolls (1 for each child) Shoe box for each team Bell for each team 2 mittens for each team 2 bowls for each team
Place tootsie rolls, in a bowl, at the opposite end of the room. Hang a bell, from the ceiling, over the tootsie roll bowl.
How To Play: Divide the children into two or more relay teams. Explain that when you say, "GO" the first person on each team will put on the mittens, step into the shoe boxes and race to the other end of the room where they will ring the bell with their nose. They are then to pick up a tootsie roll out of the bowl and race back to their team still wearing their mittens and shoeboxes. Pass the mittens and shoe box to the next person in line, sit down, eat your tootsie roll. The first team to finish eating their tootsie rolls wins!
Photo Credit: House Of Sims
Supplies: A line drawn or taped on the floor, tissue paper rolled up into loose, soft balls
How To Play: Set a time for 2-3 minutes. Yell, "GO"! Each team throws their tissue paper snowballs back and forth across the lines. When the timer goes off, the team with the least amount of snowballs on their side wins.
Photo Credit: seeveeaar
Grab a piece of poster paper at the store and help your kids make plans of what they are going to do in the spring. Let them draw pictures and add embellishments. You can also do posters of that they want to be when they grow up, or anything else you think of.
Photo Credit: golly g
This are a really cute idea for your older kids to try! The snowflake pictures were made using this method of borax and pipe cleaners. You can find all the details and instructions at this website: multiples.about.com
Photo Credit: eringoodman
For older kids, you might actually use dirt like what is pictured above. For smaller children, you can get one of those long, flat uner-the-bed type totes and fill it halfway with beans or rice. This will keep them occupied for hours!
Photo Credit: Andrew Burrows
Purchase some inexpensive items when you're at the store to serve as "treasures" While your children are asleep, hide them items around the house, and later announce the hunt. To make the hunt more interesting and educational, make a map of the treasures. (This will also help a forgetful mommy!)
The wintertime blues no longer have to be something that you dread. Just be ready with lots of fun ideas up your sleeve to pull out when the kids get restless! Do you have any cabin fever tips to share?
Top Photo Credit: KamikazeKatze