(BPT) – As the holidays wind down, so do the temperatures. As a parent, you know your kids can get restless in the winter months while they’re cooped up inside. It’s tempting to let the tablets and video games provide hours of entertainment, but it’s important that kids stay active to keep their minds and bodies healthy. With a little creativity, you can keep your kids moving and prevent the winter blues. Here are some ideas:
Take out some throwback games
After hours of being indoors, kids will quickly get bored of their own games and toys. Take this opportunity to teach them games from your childhood. Create an indoor hopscotch court with some tape or break out that old board game from the attic. Make up new rules to refresh the games and make them original to your family. Record the game ideas in a notebook or binder so your kids can easily pick out a fun activity on the next snow day.
Cooking is a great activity because the whole family can get involved. Assign everyone a job, like peeling, mixing or measuring. Kids can even practice their reading skills by reading the recipe aloud from a cookbook. Cooking with children also encourages them to try new foods because they’ve had a hand in making the finished product.
Tackle that big project
You may have spring cleaning plans, but get a head start on that big cleanout project this winter. Get the whole family involved in reorganizing the garage or painting the guest room. Go through old boxes or pictures with your kids and share family memories along the way. Give your kids different tasks and let them be “in charge” of different parts of the project. Once the project is complete, you will all feel satisfied that you worked together and checked a big to-do off the list.
Go on an indoor adventure
Sometimes the cabin fever is too much to bear and you have to get out of the house. As long as the weather allows for safe travel, bundle up the kids and hop in the car in search of an indoor adventure. Find an indoor pool at a local recreation center. Take a trip to an indoor ice skating or roller skating rink. You can also start a bowling tournament with other families from school or the neighborhood. After the chilly trip outside to the car, you’ll all be longing for your warm house in no time. Once you get home, relax together with a nutritious snack and pair it with a fun beverage, like Mott’s new Juice Drinks. These naturally sweetened juice drinks contain 40 percent less sugar than full-strength juice and are available in three flavors, Fruit Punch Rush, Wild Grape Surge and Strawberry Boom, to suit any palate.