10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Everyone gets excited when the first snow falls. Not too soon after, though, the winter blues tend to set in and you find yourself longing for sunshine.

Has your family started to go a little stir-crazy? Do you need help combating the winter blues and finding new ways to enjoy the chilly weather?

It doesn’t matter if you want to hunker down inside or venture out into the cold. Listed below are 10 fun winter ideas for kids and caregivers alike.

Staying In

Sometimes, it’s just too cold to leave the house. If you need something fun to keep the kids entertained while staying in, try one of these options:

1. Try a New Recipe

It may be a bit messy, but it’s also fun to let kids get into the kitchen and experiment with new recipes.

One of the best ways to stay warm and have fun during the winter months is to cook up something new. Perhaps you can try making a new soup recipe, bake some cookies, or try out some different hot chocolate flavours.

There are also lots of ways to make the cooking process more engaging and educational, too.

For example, you can ask kids to take turns reading lines from the recipe so they know what to add next (and how much). You can also use cooking as a fun way to teach and practise fractions, or you can talk about the history and cultural significance of a particular food or beverage.

2. Clean or Reorganize the House

When the weather outside is frightful and you’re stuck inside all day, it doesn’t take long for the house to look like a tornado ripped through it.

Setting aside some time to clean and organise the house will not only keep the kids busy, but it will also help the house to feel more inviting and less stifling.

Clutter and chaos can easily affect your mindset and cause you to feel stressed or anxious. It may affect your kids, too, even if they’re not able to vocalise what they’re experiencing.

When you make it a habit to regularly clean and organise, you can combat these issues and teach kids the importance of maintaining a neat space.

At first, your kids might not be particularly thrilled at the idea of cleaning or organising the house. However, you can make this process more fun by playing their favourite songs or taking regular dance breaks.

You can also turn the clean-up into a contest. For example, the person who picks up the most toys in a certain amount of time gets to pick the next song or choose the next activity. 

3. Get Crafty

Crafts are a great option if you need to keep little hands and minds occupied on a cold day. Not only do they give your kids something fun to do, but they also create opportunities for them to learn new skills and think outside of the box.

For young kids, simple crafts like making tracing handprints, painting rocks, or making snowmen out of toilet paper rolls work great. You can’t go wrong with activities like colouring with crayons or painting with watercolours, either.

For older kids, you can experiment with more complex crafts like cutting paper snowflakes or making garlands. You could even teach them how to crochet or knit. Don’t know how? Sit down and learn together from a YouTube video!

4. Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

If your kids have a lot of pent-up energy, give them an indoor outlet to burn some of it off. An indoor obstacle course is a perfect solution.

Take the cushions off the couch and challenge them to hop from place to place without touching the floor. You can also make a simple game with a laundry basket and some socks, or create hopscotch lines on the floor with masking tape.

The options are practically endless — just make sure you pick obstacles that are safe and age-appropriate so you don’t have to take an impromptu trip to the hospital! 

5. Host a Movie Marathon

Want to have a cozy day inside? Pop some popcorn, build a blanket and pillow fort, and have a movie marathon. Let each kid pick a movie so everyone feels included, then lie back, relax, and enjoy the show.

If your kids get restless, try breaking up each movie with a different activity, like making a snack, rearranging the pillow fort, or having a little dance party. That way, the kids aren’t being expected to sit still for hours at a time. 

Going Out

When you’ve exhausted all your indoor options and want to have some winter fun outside of the house, consider one of these ideas:

1. Walk in a Winter Wonderland

It may be winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get out and get some exercise.

When you’re ready to break everyone out of the house for a little while, bundle yourself and the kids up in coats, gloves, boots, and scarves. Then, venture out on a winter walk.

This is a simple and free way for everyone to enjoy some fresh air, soak in some vitamin D, and experience the mood-boosting benefits of endorphins. If you need to make the walk a little more fun, try playing a game like “I Spy” or doing a scavenger hunt for rocks, different coloured leaves, and other objects while you’re out and about.

2. Visit a Museum

If you have access to a car, take a trip to a local children’s museum or another educational option like an aquarium or planetarium.

There are tons of places you can go — many of which are free or low-cost — to shake up your kids’ routine, keep them entertained, and chase away the winter blues. With a little research, you’ll easily be able to create a list of go-to options for cold days when everyone needs to get out of the house for a few hours.

While you’re looking for museums and other activities in your area, be sure to take note of discounted days. Many places have a day or two during the week when they charge a lower rate or let kids below a certain age in for free.

3. Check Out the Library

Don’t underestimate the power of the public library. When you need a free activity to keep your kids occupied during the winter, the library is an excellent place to go.

Not only can you go to the library and find new books for yourself and your kids to read, but you can also check out movies and seasons of TV shows to spice up your movie marathon days.

Many public libraries offer toys and computer games for kids who aren’t into books as well, so everyone can find something to keep themselves busy. The library may also host activities like story time or craft time that your kids can participate in for free.

4. Take a Trip to the Bowling Alley

On days you want to get out of the house and do something a bit more active, consider loading everyone into the car and taking a trip to the bowling alley.

Like museums, many bowling alleys have a day during the week when it’s cheaper for kids to play. Take note of this day so you can plan accordingly and save money while also having fun with your kids during the winter.

Not into bowling? Many bowling alleys offer other fun activities, from indoor mini golf to laser tag. You’ll surely be able to find something that all of your kids enjoy.

5. Find a Local Festival or Event

No matter where you live, chances are there are some local winter festivals or events taking place this winter.

Look into the upcoming activities in your area to find ones that might be interesting to you and your kids. From art festivals to concerts, there are tons of options to consider, many of which are free or low-cost.

This is a fun way to shake up the routine and introduce your kids to new experiences, new foods, new people, and more. You’ll help them create fun, exciting memories — and you’ll get to create some of your own as well.

Try These Winter Ideas for Kids Today

From experimenting with a new recipe to attending a local festival, there are lots of ways to beat the winter blues and keep kids entertained during the coldest months of the year.

Keep this list of ideas in mind so you never run out of things to do with your loved ones this winter. Pass it along to your nanny, too, so they can get some inspiration.

As a busy parent, you know how busy the winter season can be, and you need all the help you can get to stay organised.

This is where Pay the Nanny comes in. We assist with all your nanny payroll needs and free you up to enjoy the winter with your loved ones.

Contact us today to learn more