You get the winter blues if you have young children and you live in a part of the country that suffers from cold winter days with very little snow. A few inches of snow on the ground and your family could engage in epic snowball battles, sledding and snowman building. No snow and all you get is weather too cold to go out and play in, and the blues.
In an effort to beat the winter blues, I have put together a list of five activities you can do with children of all ages.
Board games - There are many fun games available designed to teach valuable skills to developing young minds. If your children are a little older you could challenge them to a game of checkers or involve the whole family for a night of monopoly.
Colorful ice balloons - A cold winter day is definitely not the time for a water balloon fight. However, you and your children can still have some fun with water balloons by taking advantage of the freezing temperatures.
First, add a drop of food coloring into your balloon and then blow up and fill with water the same way that you would if you were making a typical water balloon. Put the balloon outside and leave it out all night to freeze solid. Cut the latex balloon off the frozen orb with a pair of scissors and you have an instant ice sculpture.
Scrapbooking - Looking over family and summer vacation pictures is a good way to spend quality time together. The most creative way to share these memories is to teach your child to scrapbook. Give them a few of their favorite photos and let them create a page of their own.
Cook together - My children love to bake snacks with me. Occasionally I can get their help with dinner if the plan is to make something they love, but dessert is the specialty. Getting them involved measuring out ingredients and mixing it all up will give them a sense of pride in the outcome.
Redecorate the rooms - I remember when I was a kid, getting excited when my parents would rearrange the furniture in a room. That room would feel so different and new but still have the comfort of home. Redecorating the kids' bedroom is a great project and allowing them to get involved in some of the decorating decisions will make it so much more special. Just remember, even if your young and imaginative child wants to paint the walls a rainbow of fluorescent colors, you can always paint over it next winter.
