View Full Version : Snow day housebound activities
npace19147
02-05-2009, 09:56 AM
Both of my girls (4.5 and almost 2) were off from preschool/playschool yesterday due to snow. We watched waaaay too much TV. Started working on Valentine's Day cards but otherwise I was pretty uninspired for how to keep them entertained.
DD1 didn't want to go out in the snow, which removed the obvious solution. Anyone have any ideas for how to keep the kids occupied when you're stuck in a fairly small house for the entire day? TIA!
SnuggleBuggles
02-05-2009, 10:04 AM
Baking and then decorating that baked good eats up a good amount of time. :)
Beth
WatchingThemGrow
02-05-2009, 10:06 AM
Can you structure the day sort of like the preschool/K day might be? Make a schedule where you have some group activities, solo activities, music time, a drawing time, a stretching/exercise time, a story time, a dress-up time, a cooking time, a free-play time, etc?
It will take a little prep on your part, but if you make the schedule and know that you have to be "on" for 15-20 min, then you can come back to the BBB for a while before gearing up for the next activity. I bet the DC would enjoy it!
caleymama
02-05-2009, 10:13 AM
Some odds and ends of ideas:
My girls love to draw pictures/write letters for friends and relatives far and near. Especially when they get to help me address the envelopes by putting the stamps and return address labels on.
Put on some funky music and dance! They're always up for a "dance party."
Get a few dining room chairs, put them back to back, and put a big blanket or two over them to make a hideout.
Fun ideas here: http://www.belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/
Podcasts: They like the Pinky Dinky Doo stories (for listening), the Sesame Street podcasts (these are for watching, but they are short) and they love the variety of music on the Kids Music: Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child podcast (recommended here).
Look at funny stuff on YouTube.
My girls were laughing hysterically at this last night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dugipeVZtE
Make some edible jewelry - string cheerios or some other "o" cereal on dental floss for a better version of a candy necklace or bracelet. Both the stringing and the eating ought to keep them busy for a little while!
BTW, I have no issue with too much TV on a snow day. My 6yo has been home sick from first grade all week and we definitely fall into the too much TV camp this week.
kedss
02-05-2009, 11:05 AM
playdough :)
jewelry making, I know the kids in ds' class love making necklaces and bracelets, maybe when the weather is good you can get some heart shaped beads? or use playdough to make them?
I find a bit of boredom is the perfect spark for imagination. Lots of space, reasonable amount of toys and freedom = tons of creative play. Every now and then I'll call them in to help for meals and setup, then we might get silly in the afternoon (yesterday Ian's question on bells had us searching the net for pictures, wav files and ended with us filling every glass we own with water and playing a raucous sound).
KrisM
02-05-2009, 12:00 PM
Our most recent "fun" thing is to help me cut coupons. DS1 is really quite good and he gets real ones to cut. DD gets the ones I'm not going to save. It practices scissors and they have fun. Both have a coupon box from an old wipes box, so that helps.
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