Winter at Christmastime might be magical, but once the magic has worn off, we’re left with grey skies, slush, and the feeling of being trapped indoors. For a family, this means bored, cranky kids and cooped-up adults. Families who value togetherness can push past the winter blues to spend time together, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Play Outside
It might be cold and wet, but outside play is still good for children (and fun for grown-ups too). It encourages development of creativity, social skills, problem solving skills, and offers opportunities for learning. Play games, build snowmen (or snow animals, snow castles, snow sculptures), or have a snowball fight. Use a spray bottle filled with water tinted by food color to paint on your snowy lawn. Go on a hike and talk about how everything in nature changes during winter. Whatever activity you choose, do it together.
Update Your Home
If you’re unable to go outside, make inside more inviting or cozy. Build a fort, or push furniture together to make a pit and fill it with pillows. Create artwork of your family’s favorite things and put it up on the walls. Dress up a room to fit a theme. The more fun the inside of your home is, the less your kids will miss being outside. Once you’ve dressed up the room, throw a mini-event to celebrate. If you’ve decorated the room in the style of a favorite movie or TV show, have a watch party. Decorate like it’s summertime and watch summer movies.
Have a Party
Between holidays? Make up your own, or have a party for no reason at all. Throw a kid’s spa day, complete with spa-themed drinks and painted toenails. Have your kids help you whip up some great snacks, get dressed up, and get silly. Grab a camera or your phone and set up a photobooth, complete with costumes and crazy poses. Have an un-birthday party.
Travel
Pack up the car or RV and hop on the road. Go to your favorite spot or someplace new. Whether you’re going somewhere warmer or somewhere colder, make sure you prepare thoroughly. Failure to plan is a common mistake; between frequent (and expensive) pit stops and the amount of time spent rectifying mistakes on the road, a lack of planning often severely impairs a family’s ability to enjoy their adventure together. Put together a packing list for your winter trip to ensure nothing gets left behind.
Tips
- Take lots of photographs! From the serious to the silly, photographing your family gives you the chance to relive those memories.
- Listen to your kids when deciding what to do. Take their interests and suggestions to heart.
- Be excited! They’ll follow your lead.
