Walking in the woods; kicking up the leaves; enjoying the changing season – fall is my favorite time of year. But what do you do when the thermometer drops to below freezing temperatures or the snow starts to fly? Weather permitting, you can build snow families, igloos and forts, have snowball fights, ski, sled, or take winter walks. Put on the snow boots and take a crisp moonlit walk – outside is amazingly different after dark with a blanket of snow to muffle the sound.
Right about now, you are saying to yourself, “I’m not going outside in the cold and snow. So what can we do instead?” The kids are restless and there is time to fill. Good news – the weather that keeps you from going outside presents an opportunity for new experiences inside.
Learn how to play a new game. Maybe you have never played some of the more popular strategic games that are on the market today, because you need time to learn and play the game. Settlers of Catan is a tried and true option with several expansion packs to keep the game going and intrigue different members of the family. is another good afternoon or evening option and is now available in different themes. Chess was a favorite with all my family, but I never learned – I could never keep the moves for the different pieces straight in my head. Winter evenings would be a good time to learn the ins and outs and strategies of chess; and Usborne’s Starting Chess is for the younger crowd, and the Chess Book (also by Usborne), will help elementary and middle school ages. Maybe you want a new game that is fresh on the market, or a cooperative game that can include all ages of your family. A new game for including little ones Willy’s Wiggly Web by Peaceable Kingdom, provides cutting practice while everyone works together to free the little bugs from Willy’s Web. Have an ongoing game of Scrabble®, and adapt it for younger children, or play My First Banagrams or Appletters which is intended for younger spellers.
Cooking and baking are some of my favorite pastimes. On a rainy, snowy, gloomy day, I like to haul out the cookbooks and peruse online for tasty new recipes. This is a great way to fill an afternoon and an evening. Spend the morning finding your recipes; the challenge is in using what is available to you without running to the store. Use the afternoon to cook and bake, and end the day by hosting a family dinner party, a themed dinner, or something that would be fun for your family. Make a meal to match the time period you are studying in history or a specific country about which you might be learning. If you really want to go big, start planning your event a few days ahead of time. This gives you time to go to the store for special ingredients, and deliver invitations to friends and neighbors. Enjoy sharing the fruits of your labor with others. When I cook, I often make too much, just so I can take meals to some of my elderly neighbors. Winter is a difficult time for many to get out; taking meals to them gives joy (to you, too!) and helps them tremendously.
Don’t forget to be physically active! You might be able to visit your local gym, indoor pool, or community center since you can’t get outside to run around (in many states). You don’t want to become sedentary during the indoor months. Take an exercise class or some other class that will keep you moving – dance, gymnastics, fencing – the list is endless, depending on your area. Maybe getting outside of your home isn’t an option. You can use exercise videos, books with activity suggestions, and new games that promote physical activity. Games like the Fitivities, Movez, or Movez Pick n Roll actually include good physical activities that can be used with all ages.
My preference is always to get out and about whenever possible, but the colder months do provide opportunity to slow down. Spend time reading a good book (or several), talking together, telling stories, or making up games. We raised our children in the country and bad weather would often take-out our electricity. This meant evenings of quiet – something we didn’t actually hear that often. We would light the candles and just spend time together. My husband made up a game where he would ask our children random questions, and for each correct answer they earned a dime. The first person to a dollar would win – they were a “Dollar-aire.” My children are now adults and still tell about those times we had, repeat some of the stories told, and still ask to play, “Who Wants to Be a Dollaraire.”
Find something that interests you and fill your hours and days. Enjoy winter and make fresh, new discoveries for you and your children.
