Relief for Cabin Fever: Fun Indoor Kid Activities

As a kid growing up in Minnesota, I spent more than a few chilly afternoons bundled up in layers and sent outdoors to go sledding, skiing or skating when the temp stayed in the single digits. My mom was very inventive and she knew how to dress us properly for practically any winter condition--including lining our not-so-waterproof snow boots with plastic bread bags. Even though it must have been a pain to get us ready to venture out, now I know why my mom didn't want us to stay in the house. She knew we would have more fun outside. Of course, there were also many winter days when even my mom thought it was too cold to play outside. That's when the kids in the neighborhood gathered at the houses of friends and played indoors. My favorite house to visit had a play room stocked with a million Legos. The play area stayed super toasty right next to the furnace room. We even took our socks off. On those wintry days walking barefoot in our cozy Lego land, my friends and I almost forgot it was winter.

Some of my favorite indoor activities involved paint, crayons, and permission to be a bit messy. We used to take big brown sheets of butcher block paper and create theater sets and stage a play. I'm sure the mess and the noise drove most of the moms crazy until the weather improved. How did we ever survive back then without an Xbox or a Wii?  

Are your kids driving you crazy when it's too cold to go outside and play? The clever folks at Cookiemag.com have a series of fun indoor games and activities your kids will love--arts and crafts, activity books you can print at home, kid-friendly cooking activities, science experiments, and much more. One of my favorite activities they included is a printable coloring sheet you can download. It features adorable pooches and your kids complete the drawings of the pet owners. So sweet. Check all of the activities out here.