|Photo courtesy of Carol Capozzi|
This is proving to be a snowy Winter, therefore, I have been incarcerated, errr in, with the kids quite a bit. Prying their eyes from video is always an Olympic challenge so I've been reaching into my Mom's Bag Of Tricks to find indoor activities that will keep them busy. The Teen is usually happy playing his clarinet or reading a book, but keeping the very active Diva (8 years old) has been difficult. Here are some activities that have worked for me and will, hopefully, work for you:
- Bring the snowy fun inside. Just because it's cold outside,
doesn't mean the snow has to stay there! I grab a big ol' lasagna
dish and fill it with snow. The fun begins with building snowy
creatures, then we move into painting the snow using food coloring
and watercolors. After that, we use the snow to build “snow
castles” and finish by pouring the melted snow into the plants.
This kept Diva busy for about 2 hours yesterday!
Fill a pan.
Diva's snowpuppies & snowlady.
Diluted food coloring & even watercolors work well for paints. She achieved a pseudo Monet technique.
- Marshmallow Toss and Marshmallow Building. Note: the Toss
is better in a room with washable floors or put a plastic coating,
like an old shower curtain, down on the floor because this can get a
bit sticky. Throw marshmallows to see who can get them the
furthest. For Marshmallow Building, use them to build towers. You
can use spaghetti, skewers, or toothpicks to help connect them. Who
can build the tallest before it falls down?
- Have a scavenger hunt (here's the link to a previous post I
wrote in which I outlined how: http://isithotinheremmm.blogspot.com/2013/12/10-activity-ideas-for-xmas-eve-or.html ).
- Discover what's magnetic. Give your kid a magnet and let him/her
discover what in the house is magnetic. Furniture handles,
doorknobs, hooks, some jewelry are all candidates. If you're really
ambitious, you can then discuss the principles of magnets, etc.
- Reinvent their bedrooms. Who doesn't like to re-do their
rooms? This project is all about making them happier, plus, it
might get them to clean their room. Invite your kids to think outside
the box and help them redecorate their rooms using objects in the
house. How can they gain more storage? Can they section their room
into a “reading nook” or “fashion table”? What can they do
to make their room better fit their needs?
- Build a tent. My daughter LOVES to do this! Grab some old
blankets and sheets and let the kids build a “Kids Only” zone.
With any luck, they'll stay in it for a bit.
- Pay the older kids to babysit the younger ones. It'll give
you an hour or two of peace and keep everyone occupied.
- String popcorn. Let the kids string some popcorn for the
outdoor critters and hang the “garland” over a bush or in a
- Play I Spy. Someone picks a color, shape, or item and then
says "I spy something..." The other players have to guess
what the lead player spies in the room.
- Have a Crazy Outfit Fashion Show. Grab a box of winter garb
and other pieces of clothing. See who can come up with the craziest
Got any more suggestion? Add them in the Comments section!
Today's writing prompt is “I've been here all night” and maybe twice monthly the “here” is Diva's room. She's a big nighttime cuddler and if I'm wiped, her warm blankets and soft pillows are too much to resist; I sail right off into dreamland. She encourages this by setting her noise machine to “ocean,” a sound she knows I love. Often I'll feel a gentle “thump” on the bed, meaning the feline has joined us; this is also a signal of caution since Cosy likes to nip or play with any toe that finds its way out from under the covers. My husband rarely objects to my overnighters with our daughter because I am far from a sound sleeper. Hot flashes regularly wake me at about 2AM and I've been known to flip like a salmon spawning. Diva sleeps soundly and doesn't mind my restlessness. When I wake in the early morning hours, I listen to her rhythmic breathing and whisper a heartfelt “thank you” to the Universe for giving me this special child.
Check back in with me in a day or so. The Christmas tree is down and we've decorated for the Winter. I'll show you a simple, but really neat craft I made a few years ago using a leftover dish detergent bottle.