Playing in the snow only takes up so many hours of a day – then the kids are ready to come inside for some hot cocoa and hang-out time. I’m all for kids experiencing boredom sometimes, but it never hurts to put a few fun suggestions in front of them. Read on for 10 ways to bust indoor boredom, some of which kids can do on their own and some of which you’ll want to get involved in.
1. Perler beads. You may know them as those things that go crunch when you vacuum, but kids recognize them as hours of fun! Using flat, plastic shapes with spikes, kids can create all sorts of things by placing Perler beads in different patterns. You can turn creations into necklaces, magnets, cool things to put inside school binders! Once the beads are in place, you’ll need to place parchment paper over them and iron on low until the beads melt together. Flip them over and do the other side, then they are stuck together and ready to go!
2. Break out the Legos because it’s time for a little friendly competition! Kids of all ages can get in on this one. Take turns tossing out ideas for things to build. For example, you might say the thing to build right now is a refrigerator. Then everyone tries their best to build a fridge. Everyone’s creation will be different, so it’s not really a competition, but it’s fun seeing what everyone comes up with!
3. Art show. Kids love to draw and color! I have tons of artwork on my fridge, but how about really showcasing their special artwork of the day? All you need is a long piece of thin rope or yarn hung from one end of a room to another. Then hang finished pictures using clothespins, invite over some friends for the grand gala opening, serve some snacks and you have an art show!
4. Restaurant. I loooove when my kids play restaurant because I get to be the diner sitting at the table reading my book while they serve me different foods and drinks! I don’t serve them back because, let’s face it, I do that every single night! The point is they are getting to play the grown-up and be cooks, servers, hostesses and managers.
5. Write and illustrate a story. Kids are full of stories, but some aren’t old enough to write them down. That’s where you come in! Have each kid tell you a story that’s been running around in their mind and you can either write it out or type it. Then have your child illustrate it! If you’re creating the story on the computer, you can go to free photo sites like Pixabay, pixabay.com, to grab images for the story!
6. Scavenger hunt. Take out a piece of paper and write down different items in the house on it (if you have two teams doing the scavenging, write the same items down on another piece of paper). Ideas include: a winter glove, a cotton swab, a doll shoe, a pie pan, etc. Now send the teams off and whoever gets back with the most items from the list first, wins. Wins what? Oh, how about a cup of hot cocoa with one of the supplies from item No. 10!
7. Play dough. This one just takes a few minutes of your help and then the kids are off on their own, creating for hours.
Of course you can just buy the stuff, but here’s a simple recipe, as well:
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. oil
2 tsp. cream of tartar
Food coloring
Mix all ingredients except food coloring on low heat in a pan. Once the consistency is of play dough, take pan off heat, let cool, then add food coloring a few drops at a time. Knead until the color is all mixed. Grab some cookie cutters and other kitchen items and let the fun begin! Store in air-tight containers or baggies.
8. Board or other games. There are so many to choose from it’s insane! Depending on the ages of the kids and how much time you have, great games include: LIFE, Monopoly, Monopoly Jr., Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Pop the Pig and so many more!
9. Charades. This is a great classic you can play with two or a whole roomful of people. Start by having each team create their own cards by writing different words on pieces of construction paper. Think places, movies, books, people, household objects, etc. Then the teams trade cards. Teams take turns picking a piece of paper and having one member act out what is written on the paper so the other team can try to guess what is being acted out. Keep track of time… maybe a minute per turn. If Team A doesn’t guess, no point is awarded and it’s now Team A’s turn to act out something for Team B to guess.
10. Mini marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. This one can get messy but it’s good for hours of fun. Break out the mini marshmallows and spaghetti noodles (not angel hair because it will break too easily) and have the kids construct creations like houses, bridges, towers and more!
Kerrie doesn’t mind being stuck inside on snowy days with her five kids, and plans to do all the things on this list! Check up on her at www.thekerrieshow.com.
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