Fireside Fun: Indoor Family Activities for Cold Winter Days

Those cold and snowy days make getting the family outside and active in the fresh air a very difficult task. While the inclement weather may force families to spend many more hours inside, it doesn't necessarily have to lead to a case of cabin fever. Here are some ideas on how you and the entire family can happily spend the days of winter enjoying the time and enjoying each other.

Make a Scrapbook. There is no better time to get the entire family together to create a family scrapbook than when the winter winds are blowing. Compile a nice selection of photographs and a simple supply of scrap booking materials such as glue sticks, markers, and stickers. Encourage the kids in sharing memories sparked by the photographs while arranging them in the memory book. The hours will just drift away while you and the family get lost in the pleasant memories of times gone by. My girls love to assist me in putting together the family scrapbook as it reminds them of happy family memories and allows them to use their creativity and artistic skills. Don't forget to provide some cozy snacks such as hot chocolate, brownies and cookies to enjoy while enjoying this group effort.

Have a Scavenger Hunt. If the morning brings a winter storm, prepare yourself for a long day indoors. Write out some clues on little scraps of paper that ultimately lead to a fun surprise. Make sure that each written clue leads to another so that the hunt keeps it's momentum and the kids don't get stuck at one place. The ending of the activity can be a little pile of treasure that can be shared such as a stocking full of candy canes or a dish of loose change.

Make a Family Masterpiece Using Poster Board. Involve the entire family in creating a piece of art by laying out a piece or two of poster board. Invite everyone to share their imagination and creativity by adding a little bit to the piece. Select one theme such as a desired vacation or Christmas and then let everyone add their little bit to the drawing. My family once spent the afternoon of Christmas Eve drawing on a piece of poster board. We each added a little bit of holiday cheer to the picture. It initially was an activity designed to distract our girls from the many hours left before the festivities began. By the time our picture was complete, we realized what a wonderful time we all had and what a great family memory we had created on the fly.

Bake Holiday Cookies. Even if Christmas is over, you can still spend an afternoon baking up some holiday sweetness. Gather all the ingredients and the family in the kitchen, and spend a few hours baking a few trays of traditional holiday cookies. Freeze those treats that you can't use and make a special trip when the weather clears to drop off the goodies at the neighbor's house. You will not only get to enjoy the fruits of your labor at a later date, you will also get the joy of spreading the season's joy to others.

Have a Meal by the Fireplace. Take advantage of your fireplace or wood burning stove to enjoy a meal completely cooked by the flames. Roast hot dogs for the main course and follow that up with marshmallows heated to perfection for dessert. It may not be the most nutritious meal you have ever served, but it will surely be one of the most enjoyable.

Revisit Some Old Classics. What better time to introduce your family to the joy of classic film stars such as Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney or even the Three Stooges than on a day where the snow is piling up outside? Gather the blankets and pillows in the family room and snuggle in for a day of enjoying classic movies that are appealing to kids of all ages. My older daughter loves to cuddle up with me and watch any black and white movies that I love. She considers this our special time and definitely gains an appreciation for the classic films of days gone by.

Have an Indoor Relay Race. One of my girls' favorite activities to do when they were stuck inside on a snow day was to compete to see how fast they could bundle up in winter gear and then take it off at the other end of the room. Line up your kids in teams and have them race to a bag of winter clothes such as scarves, hats, coats and gloves. The team of kids that can successfully put on, remove and put back the clothing in the original bag in the fastest time gets proclaimed the winner. Have a special treat on hand for all the participants such as chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven.

Turn the Lights Down Low for a Dance Party Dim the lights to give the room a nightclub feel and turn the stereo up to hold your very own dance party. Invite the kids to request special songs and let them impress you with their signature dance moves. The exercise will certainly do the family good, and the older children will love the opportunity to show off their dancing expertise to the younger ones. Finish off the dance party with refreshing apple cider and a healthy snack such as fruit slices or chopped vegetables.

Let the Kids Cook the Family Dinner. Relinquish your kitchen for the evening on a snowy day and leave the evening meal to the hands of the kids. Let them know that they can make anything they like for supper according to what they find within the kitchen. Instruct the older children to take over the more dangerous preparations such as chopping and turning on the oven or stove. Let them collaborate on the meal and work together to create a fun and tasty dinner for the family. Relax on the sofa while the kids surprise and delight you with what they come up with for the meal. Be available for questions and tips while they find their way around the kitchen. You may wind up with cereal and toast for dinner and waffles and ice cream for dessert, but it will surely be a meal to remember.

Tell Ghost Stores While the Winter Winds Blow. Halloween may be just a memory, but old fashioned ghost stories never go out of style. Grab a few flashlights, turn the lights off and sit together to share your favorite spooky stories. Go around the room and encourage everyone to share their favorite scary story with the family. Keep the frights age appropriate to all the kids in the room or you may find yourself with a few visitors in the middle of the night. Finish off the evening with a snack of warm milk and cupcakes to send everyone off to bed with full stomachs and happy hearts.

Don't let the winter weather get you down. Take advantage of the time indoors to engage the entire family in activities that bring everyone closer and adds to the fun and playful atmosphere of the home.