Indoor Fun to Beat the Winter Blahs!
I love that we have seasons in Kansas City, but I have to admit, I am not a fan of winter. Besides the cold and sloppy snow, I don’t enjoy being stuck inside ... but I also don’t love going out in it either! What I do love is figuring out ways to keep everyone sane in our house when we are all together day in and day out. Read on for what I hope are new ways to beat the winter blahs and help you keep your sanity too!
Sensory Play
Sensory play is an important part of child development, as it encourages free exploration and open-ended creativity, piques curiosity and engages fine and gross motor skills. Some ideas may include:
- Play-Doh – Use cookie cutters, blunt scissors, rolling pins and other small tools for play.
- Finger painting – You can use more than paint for this activity! If you have a little one in a high chair, put out pudding or applesauce to let him “paint” in. Don’t forget to take off clothing first, though!
- Bowl of soapy water – I used to spread towels out on the floor with bowls of various sizes, and our children would be entertained for ages! Give them some straws for blowing and measuring spoons or cups for scooping and you’re good to go!
- Moon sand - My children used to call this “fluffy stuff.” Mix 5 cups of flour with 1 cup of baby oil. We put ours into a Tupperware container with a tight fitting lid so we could use it multiple times.
- Baking soda/vinegar – One of our favorites is using eye droppers to drip colorful vinegar (just use food coloring) onto a thick layer of baking soda in a pan. Watch it bubble up over and over again. Make little paths or tiny volcanoes with your fingers. Endless entertainment here!
- Water beads – Very inexpensive sensory item, but make sure to soak them in water for a while ahead of time. (Soak time depends on how big you want the beads.)
- Muffin tin – Fill with rice, sugar, salt, sand, oats, quinoa ... the possibilities are endless!
- Snow – Bring a bowl of snow in for indoor play ... and maybe try making snow ice cream! Just make sure you scoop from a pile of nice, clean snow!
Arts/Crafts
Start stocking up supplies now! Gather items from the dollar store or recycling or grab some goodies on sale at Michael’s, Joann’s or Hobby Lobby.
- Boxes – Don’t just throw these out for recycling! Let your kids decorate with crayons or markers or design a car, spaceship or other amazing item out of them.
- Paint – Use watercolors, tempera paint, paint sticks or bingo dobbers for painting but switch up painting utensils. Maybe try cotton balls, Q-tips, sponges or even forks!
- Beads – Do a bead swap with a friend to expand your selection, buy some small corded elastic and make jewelry or keychains.
- Cards – Make cards for retirement homes, police or fire stations or to mail to grandparents.
- Recycling – Save a tub of random recycling items for the week and let your children invent or create whatever they want.
- Building - Building can take many different forms. Whether your child is using small blocks, MagnaTiles, food or furniture, constructing things fosters creativity, hand/eye coordination and motor skills.
- Toothpicks and marshmallows – Sneak in a little learning by asking your children to build a few specific shapes or letters, then let their imaginations lead the way.
- Obstacle course – Use simple household items and furniture to turn your living room or basement into an obstacle course of crawling, climbing, jumping and more. Put on some fun music and burn off that energy!
- MagnaTiles – These are a great investment item for play and building. Use them on the floor, the table, your front door (if it’s steel) or on the fridge!
- Forts – Turn the couch cushions into a fort or use some chairs and a blanket. If you are feeling like a really cool mom, have a picnic or bowl of popcorn while you’re in there!
Field Trips
Why, you ask? Because there are only so many things you can do in your house before everyone needs a little change of scenery! Bundle up and pick somewhere each week or two to visit!
- Scheels – It’s free to look at the fish and toys, but bring some dollar bills for bowling and, if you’re feeling brave, riding the Ferris wheel.
- Library – We have so many wonderfully updated libraries throughout the metro you can visit for new books and movies to help beat the winter blahs!
- Target/US Toy – Looking at toys is always free and fun for your kids—as long as you can resist the whines and pleas to buy something!
- Car wash – Bonus that you don’t even have to get out of the car for this one!
- Jumperoo at Urban Air – Fridays from 9:00 to noon and Saturdays from 8:00 to 10:00.
- Crown Center – Hit up the free children’s exhibit, then lunch at Fritz’s.
- Indoor pool – Many of the community centers have open swim times, so check their websites for hours, fees and age requirements.
- Rainbow Play Systems – Located in Olathe, this business offers open play that runs Monday through Friday for $7.50 per child.
- Art = Check out any of the numerous nature centers and art museums KC has too!
Other ideas
Sarah Allee, a Kansas City mom of five, shares some of her go-to ideas for beating the winter blahs. “An extra bath time during the day with a bowl of ice cubes or bubbles, an indoor Easter egg hunt, glow stick dance party, dressing up to act out a favorite story or movie are all things we like to try to keep us busy during the winter. For older kids, hide 10 buttons in a room for them to find. Keeps them entertained for a while!” Other ideas might include an impromptu movie in the middle of the morning, baking muffins or mixing up Rice Krispie treats or cookies and having an indoor lunch picnic. Let yourself think outside the box, but if you are just tapped out, ask your kids what ideas they have. Who knows? They could surprise you with an amazing brainstorm you might just go for!
Julie Collett writes from Overland Park where she will be beating the winter blahs right along with you! Her favorites are baking soda and vinegar and letting the kids make obstacle courses out of the furniture!