Ramping it Up: 10 NEW Ways to Beat Cabin-Fever

I’ve lived in Kentucky for over 11 years and this is the snowiest winter I’ve seen here yet!

It feels like the winters I remember from my childhood in a wonderful sort of way.

My kids, however, are not used to this kind of cold. And it’s February. Three months of being mostly indoors when they’re the camping, bike riding, bird-watching (or bird-hunting) kind of children. Particularly my four year old.

So if you see me out somewhere and I have a wild, panicked look in my eyes, don’t worry. There’s nothing really wrong. Just my four-year-old trying to turn herself black with the sharpie again. (No hiding place is good enough – that girl always finds the sharpie, and bless her heart, she just wants to match her favorite doll!)

Anyways. We needed to come up with some new indoor activities.

Because even a list of a dozen great indoor-activity ideas can only be done so many times before someone tires of my brilliant plans and goes on a sharpie hunt while I’m in the shower.

 So here we go…

Ramping it up – Ten NEW ways to beat cabin-fever:

1) Give your kids a few cardboard boxes.
Bonus if you add in scissors, crayons, and tape! See above photo if you’re not convinced – that doll house took my kids hours to make and by the time it was finished there were rugs, a stove, chairs, and a sink.

2) Play a sit-down basketball game.
A gumball or small rubber ball becomes the basketball and a plastic cup or bowl is the hoop.

3) Roller-skate.
Inside. Basement, carpet, cement, laminate. Wherever. Just let them do it.

4) Watch some Olympics.
Sure, every event may start to look the same after awhile, but the kids wanting you to sit still on the couch and watch while they try to mimic the sweet moves they’ve seen on TV is a pretty fantastic deal.

5) Pretend it’s summer.
It’s too cold to go outside anyways, so let your kids wear shorts, wash down their Popsicle with some lemonade, and then…

6) Use masking tape in lieu of sidewalk chalk.
I wish I could take credit for this one because it’s genius, but unfortunately it wasn’t my idea. Go here to see all six masking-tape game suggestions. Hopscotch, anyone?

7) Turn a closet floor into a “secret” hideout.
For them or you 😉

8 ) Go somewhere.
Anywhere really. The mall, the library, your friend’s house, Chick-Fil-A’s play area, the grocery store…

9) Have an un-sick day.
Stay in PJ’s, drink Sierra Mist, watch movies, color, and read great books. It’s like a sick day minus the puking.

10) Remember that this too will pass.
Before we know it, we’ll be sweating in the heat, mowing the grass, and actually having to make sure everyone takes a bath each day. So savor today as much as possible, and when the weather turns warmer, even if it’s only for a day, drop your plans and Carpe Diem! (Or at least Carpe an hour.)

Just in case you’re wondering about the sharpie situation, here’s an update:
My unsuspecting husband helped Grace into black tights one Sunday morning before church. She stared down at her legs and squealed, “I look just like Cecile!” After spending several minutes admiring her new dark “skin,” she informed us with a shrug that, “Darker skins is really pretty but I’m fine just having light skin how God made me.” Good to know, sweetie. We’re fine with that too.

What ideas do you have for beating cabin fever?