Indoor fun during long winters!

Ani creating with homemade play-dough

It’s easy to dismay when its gray and cold outside here in North Western MT. By November, I begin to day-dream about walking bare-foot in the garden and enjoying homemade goat milk ice-cream on the hammock with Ani. But a mother just can’t wallow in day-dreams, she has to take action and be creative while living in the NOW. So, here are a few things we’ve done as a family to stay active indoors and have fun while the snowflakes and temperatures fall outside our windows.

• Create a playful stage area and put on a show. We used a clothes drying rack, drapped a blanket over it and placed stuffed animals and toy horse behind for the puppeteer to use. First I put on a random show for Ani and Yosi, then I encouraged Ani to put on a show for me. I got out the camera and relished her every song. If you have trouble thinking of a story, adapt a popular one like: The Three Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. Even Yosi, my 4 month old has enjoyed hearing Mama’s voice behind the blanket.
• Find a few random objects around the house and use them to create a story to tell. Sometimes I’ll find an object or subject, begin a story and then allow Ani to finish it after I say something like “The little girl opened the door and found….”
• Turn up the music, put on a skirt and dance with your kids. They will love to see your energy if you get up twirl them around and get your blood flowing. It’s great exercise and lifts everyone’s spirits. Be creative with music, try finding your favorite oldies  or favorite movie soundtracks on youtube and turn up the volume until you’re neighbors think you’re crazy. J/K  The other night while Jason was working late, I turned up beach boys and the kids and I were dancing like Richard Simmons, until I hear the door bell ring and found our very curious neighbors standing on our porch
• Make your own Play-dough. Find things around the house that you can use to create textures in the play dough. Make a pizza out of play-dough and have your kids put on their favorite “toppings.”
• Make geometric snow flakes out of tissue paper or wax paper and hang them up in your windows.
• Teach your child some type of “handi-work.” I was surprised Ani was able to cross-stitch this summer at age 3 and even enjoy it! After getting her started by threading her (not-so-sharp) needle and preparing her hoop, she loves to weave her colorful thread in and out, in and out. I admit it takes time to teach these intricate things to your child, and also, I must say you should not force them to learn something like this unless they show interest. It has taken much patience and diligence to show Ani how to crochet. She still needs my help but she enjoys it immensely and is learning hand-eye coordination very fast. She also loves to sit on my lap as I sew with the machine. And she has also learned how to sew buttons on. I tell you these things not to brag on my daughter but to share with you that you might not expect your toddler to be able to learn such “motherly” things…it is possible and even pleasurable for them to learn at a very young age.
• Build with Popsicle sticks (they are very cheap at craft stores and Wal-Mart) and then paint your creations. Ideas: picture frames, log cabins, stick people.
• Allow your child to paint on different surfaces,  for instance, brown paper bags, wax paper, Popsicle sticks, scrap wood, egg cartons, smooth rocks etc.
• Try reading a very short passage in Scripture or another special chapter book and just see what questions come out of your child’s mouth. I’ve gotten many that I can’t even answer, but Ani’s questions amaze me and sometimes I’m surprised she was even listening.
• Warm up your house by turning on your oven and baking something. Make gingerbread men for your neighbors, or help your child bake your hubby’s favorite treat  to give him when he gets home from work.
• If you have a camera, make short movies with your kids. I have fond memories of video-taping my little sisters and brother while they ad-libbed musical’s. Or play improve, encouraging them to act out a scene without any planning. It’s not only hilarious but also great for keeping the brain sharp.
  

  Playing dress-up with my friend when I was 5 (I'm the brunette on the left)

Please share any ideas you have in the comment section! I’d love to hear what you’ve done this winter!