Indoor Winter Fun For Your Children
School’s out soon! What to do. Here are some hearthside activities to keep those bright little minds occupied on snow days and winter breaks. Your only dilemma will be…shall I log in some writing time, or join the kiddos for some fun? You decide.
Sculpt the Afternoon Away
Polymer clay is downright addictive. And it’s not terribly messy. That equates to a brilliant combo in this homeschool mom’s best recipes for hours of creativity–both for the kiddos and for that mom or dad who needs to meet deadline! Zip over to your local craft store and stock up on several colors of clay; toothpicks for reinforcing arms, legs, and heads; and possibly a how-to book featuring step-by-step instructions on building certain animals, snowmen, ornaments, etc. The sky’s the limit with this clay. Just be sure you get the right kind–there are several types. You want the kind that requires baking for a nice rock-hard finished product. Not the kind that melts into a puddle in your oven. That kind of wailing disappointment is not the grand finale you’re aiming for. Trust me. That’s why I recommend Sculpey brand clay. This activity is best for ages six to adult. If you have littles, haul out the play-dough, and don’t sweat the mess. These times are the stuff of memories!
Make Paper Plate Snowmen
These are so cute, and loads of fun for your preschoolers, first and second graders. What you’ll need:
- cheap, miniature paper plates–not Styrofoam
- orange construction paper (for the nose)
- black construction paper (for the top hat)
- pipe cleaners (chenille stems) in various colors for the smile, and arms
- scrap of fabric or more construction paper for fashioning a scarf
- buttons for…..buttons!
- craft glue, staples, tape, black marker
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, and easy to google for fun tips. For instance, use a piece from an old plaid shirt for that scarf. Let your child use the black marker for a dotted smile. Give your snowman ear muffs instead of a top hat. Simply glue a brightly colored pipe cleaner along the curve of the top plate, and have it end at the “ears” with big pom-pom muffs. Cute!
Decorate Your Windows with Homemade Snowflakes
Making paper snowflakes–what’s not to love about this timeless activity. I remember sitting at my grandma’s kitchen table, snipping away at my attempts to match the flaky stuff falling from the sky outside her picture window. All you need is a stack of square sheets of paper, scissors and time. Tape the best ones up for display on your windowpanes, or glue them to colored construction paper. If you need inspiration, there are some amazing snowflake sites on the internet, with free patterns available.
Listen to Audio Books
Many libraries have a great selection of quality children’s literature on CD. My children love to get out their craft supplies and craft away while they listen to Lamplighter Theater, etc. Provide hot cocoa or apple cider and listen to your home folks purr with contentment.
I hope these ideas will spark some of your own favorite memories from a simpler childhood. Playing in the white stuff sometimes only lasts as long as it takes to bundle them up, but these activities will remain in their hearts forever.
