Go stargazing.
Winter means nightfall starts earlier in the evening, so you can stargaze without sweating bedtime for the little ones. Wrap yourself in blankets and cuddle together on lawn chairs, or bundle up and take an adventuresome night walk in a more remote locale. (Don’t forget your flashlight.) Some easy-to-spot winter constellations are Orion and his dogs Sirius (the brightest star in the winter sky) and Procyon. Also, the Big Dipper shines the brightest during this time of year.
Tell tales.
In many Native North American cultures, people gather around the fire for a time of communal storytelling. Jane Drake, author of The Kids Winter Cottage Book, recommends creating your own fireside experience. Start with a traditional Native American “story stick,” which could be a chopstick, wooden spoon, or a piece of wood your kids decorate with paint or permanent markers. “Whoever holds the stick gets to speak; the others must be quiet,” Drake explains. “My family likes to tell memories around a topic, for example, stories about a special event or person with a birthday. If you’ve had a loss of a pet or a grandparent, you can each share about that loved one. It’s very cathartic.”
To give the night a comical twist, tell a story in true Mad Libs fashion. Drop into a paper bag 10 to 20 random items, such as a bird feather, toilet plunger, and toothbrush. Ask each person to pull out an object, which she will use as the basis for her part of the narrative. The sillier the story, the better.
Channel your inner Indiana Jones.
Host a winter scavenger hunt. Ask each participant to collect 5 to 10 of most interesting natural items they can find, such as dried seed pods, empty birds’ nests, feathers, and pine cones. Then return home to identify and discuss the items over a cup of hot cocoa. If your kids need an incentive, award prizes for the most creative, unusual, or beautiful specimens. And, to prevent those treasures from eventually landing in sock drawers, dedicate a space, such as a card table or end table, to display the items for a designated period. “A nature table encourages collecting and helps children connect with the outdoors,” says Drake.
Race boats in the tub.
When it’s too cold to frolic outside, a little warm-water play is just the ticket. (Bonus: Your kids might jump for bath time.) Start by creating your own fleet of motorized boats using empty cardboard milk cartons, bendable straws cut so the bendable part is in the middle, tape, and empty balloons. Cut the milk cartons in half and lay them on their sides. Next, poke a hole in the carton’s bottom and push the straw through it, with the straw bending at the hole. Place the empty balloon inside the carton and stick the straw into the balloon, securing it with tape. Now blow up the balloon through the straw. When you remove your mouth from the straw, the air from the balloon should make the straw spin like a propeller. All systems go? Fill up the tub, and it’s off to the races!
Pack a picnic.
On the next snow day, delight your kids with an indoor picnic. Spread a blanket on the floor and set the mood with some ambient sounds of the beach or woods, or your favorite summer tunes. Consider turning up the heat for an hour and dress in shorts and t-shirts for extra fun. Cook up a summer-style menu that will shake away the winter blues: fried chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, and popsicles. Or, roast “campfire” s’mores in the fireplace (or over the gas stove).
Serve up sweets.
Children love to help in the kitchen, and there’s no better time to warm up your home than a dreary, winter afternoon. Gillman suggests making something warm and sweet like a pie, since most people already stock the ingredients (butter, flour, water, and any given fruit). Keep your kids entertained with tasks such as rolling the dough, peeling the fruit, and decorating the top with cut-outs made from leftover dough. Drake’s tradition involves making sheets of gingerbread with which her family creates houses, boats, or whatever strikes their fancy. “It doesn’t have to look perfect,” says Drake. “Just have fun picking a theme and figuring out how to create it using things you can find."
