Fun Activity for Kids: Create an Indoor Snowstorm!

As a Minnesotan, and a parent, I know what it's like to have bored kids. After experiencing over a week of below zero temperatures, my kids were bored, cranky and on each other's last nerve. I desperately needed to find a new way to entertain the kids. I came up with this fun indoor activity which is sure to get even the crankiest child to laugh. It's fun, easy and hysterical to watch. I call it "Indoor Snowstorm."

To create an Indoor Snowstorm, you must have the following items: a ceiling fan that you can reach the top of the blades (you may need a stool), a bag of cotton balls and swimming goggles.

The ceiling fan should have no furniture directly beneath it. Low ceilings work best since you will need to have quick and easy access to the fan blades. It's also more convenient if the ceiling fan has an on/off switch located nearby, or has a pull string.

Start out by making sure the ceiling fan is turned off. Then place cotton balls on each of the ceiling fan blades. Gather the kids together and hand them each a pair of swimming goggles. This adds to the crazy factor, but also protects their eyes from dust and cotton particles that may come off the ceiling fan blades.

Have the children lie down beneath the fan looking up at the blades. In unison, have them say, "On your mark, get set, SNOWSTORM!" At that moment turn the ceiling fan on, and join them on the floor. As the fan gets up to full speed, the cotton balls will fly all over the room creating a hysterical blizzard of cotton balls.

Once all of the cotton balls have flown off the ceiling fan blades, it's time to do a treasure hunt to try and find where all of the cotton balls are hiding. You'll find them high and low, and in all types of strange places.

To make this activity more educational, have the children count the cotton balls before you put them on the ceiling fan blades. After the cotton balls have fallen, have a race to see who can find the most cotton balls. Ask each child to count the number of cotton balls they have found. Then have the children add their totals together to see if they have located all of the cotton balls. They will be having so much fun they won't even know they are working on their counting and addition skills.

A few words of caution, if you have the sort of child who will try to put toy cars, Barbie dolls or rocks on the ceiling fan blades, you best avoid this activity all together. Make sure to stress that children are not allowed to put anything on the ceiling fan blades, and an adult must supervise at all times.

Whether you do this activity in the middle of winter, or during the hot days of summer, say good-bye to cabin fever as your kids have the time of their life creating a magical "Indoor Snowstorm."