It’s the end of March and it’s still snowing in many parts of North America. An easy way to keep the kids quiet would be to turn on the television. However, there are means beyond yet another re-run of ‘Thomas the Train’ to keep them occupied.
Here are eight imaginative and TV-free activities for the kids in late winter…
1. Fort Building
There’s no better way to hibernate the tail end of winter away than in a sturdy fort. And the kids can easily erect one with the right materials—gather unused sheets, blankets, and pillows and a sturdy piece of furniture (i.e., a dining room table, bunk bed, or couch)…and don’t forget the flash lights!
2. Scavenger Hunting
The pyramids have nothing on your house. Send your little Indiana Jones’ on a quest to uncover buried treasures in the form of chocolate coins, tiny toys, and more, strategically placed and hiding all throughout your house (I mean, treasure trove). Tuck goodies under rugs and pillows, in cupboards, between couch cushions, and have them mark where they found their loot on a map.
3. Finger Painting
Give you little Picasso’s the excuse to get their creative juices flowing by putting paint to paper—with fingers! And if the idea of letting the little artists finger paint unattended gives you hebejebes to the likes of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream,’ than opt for little fingers in washable finger paints and lay down plenty of plastic under the canvasses.
4. Create a Book Nook
This one is sneaky as it distracts the kids, gets them reading, and slyly gets them to organize their reading materials to boot! Enlist the kids to create a book nook by transporting a shelf of kids’ books into an area that can be organized and made comfy with pillows and blankets, where you can read the afternoon away in peace.
5. Masquerade Party
Just because it’s a boring old Monday, doesn’t mean the kids can’t host a masquerade at your manner. Invite the entire shelf of toys; put tedding in a tie and dolly in a tutu. You can even lend them some of your costume jewelry and the old baby clothes as styling duds.
6. Color a Custom Cup
Coloring hard boiled eggs is so last year! Now it’s all about creating a cup that can be drawn upon and baked in the oven for lasting effect. Get all the kids a white bake-ware cup. Let them draw their own personalized design, then pop it in the oven at 350-degrees for a half an hour, remove and let cool for one-of-a-kind drink-ware.
7. Collage Montage
Ask the kids to map out their dreams by letting them tear and cut into your old magazines. Or let them choose a theme and set them to work with Bristol board, glue, markers, and scissors. An afternoon of collage will keep them busy well until dinner time.
8. Karaoke Idol
Let the kids transform your finished basement entertainment room into a stage a la ‘American Idol’. Let them select their hit from the karaoke machine and sing their little hearts out for the coveted title of ‘Karaoke Idol’!
