Being stuck inside when it is cold out can leave you at a loss for how to entertain your young children and cut out whining and boredom. For my family, an āafternoon basketā has been a great, screen-free solution for what to do with the time between school or nap and dinner.Ā
I read several ideas online for a āmorning basket,ā but adapted the idea for the afternoons, which tend to be a hotbed for sibling arguments in our home. After rest time, we grab a snack and sit down for 20-30 minutes of family time and directed activity. Inside the basket (or shoebox or whatever you have available), I include a variety of activities, books or crafts. Some of the items are recycled through the week, while others are one-time projects. Depending on your childās interest or needs, you can include any of the following or come up with your own ideas:
- Go Fish or other playing cards
- A Find It or Hidden Pictures Book
- Activity book for reviewing letters, numbers, shapes or colors (Dollar Tree or Ollieās has some good ones)
- Flashcards
- A library book
- A laminated mat and dry erase marker
- Playdoh
- A simple craft like cutting snowflakes from coffee filters
- Beads to string on pipe cleaners
I usually choose the activity rather than letting the kids choose. When an activityĀ losesĀ its lusterāor just plain is not workingāI pull out the next idea and keep moving. You know your child better than anyone, and youāll have the best ideas for what works for your family.Ā
There is a kind of magic with little ones when you set aside everyday items and pull them out for an extra special time. More than anything, your kids will love having your focused attention, and you may even start looking forward to ābasket timeā too!
