Updated on December 22nd, 2014
Winter is sneaking right up on us, isn’t it? The chilly days filled with snow are fast approaching. For some of us that means outdoor sports like skiing and snowboarding, for many it means days cooped up inside the house. As a stay at home mom of toddlers, I know how long those days can get, trying to keep kids learning and having fun in the same place day after day. But beating the winter blues is possible with some of these fun indoor activities and treats of course!
I received samples and compensation for this post, however all opinions are my own.
Here are some of my sure fire ways to beat the winter blues with yours kids:
Make Something
Kids love to be creative. Wether it is clay beads, homemade play dough, or chocolate chip cookies, make something with your kids! Let them get messy and be in charge as much as possible. It will keep them entertained for hours! Plus, you will be building valuable skills with them at the same time!
Read, Read, Read!
Host a reading pajama party,let them get their own library card, come up with your own reading program with small rewards, write your own ABC book. Whatever you do make reading with your child a priority. Not only will you get to spend time snuggled up warm with your kids going on grand adventures, but you will encourage a lifelong skill! If they are older teach them to explore their interests and hobbies through books when winter weather may prevent them from otherwise participating. Does your child love skateboarding but the 2 feet of snow outside prevent him from going, get a book about a great skateboarder or one on how to learn new tricks!
Imaginative Play.
Throw a party, be the king of your castle, host a race car event. Anything is possible when you are using your imagination. Imaginative play is so healthy for kids and in a generation overtaken by electronics it needs to be encouraged! Not sure how to encourage imaginative play, find some great ideas here.
One of our favorite ways to encourage imagination is to host a teddy bear picnic. Grab your favorite stuffed friends and gather around your favorite treats for a fabulous afternoon of fun. Sometimes we will serve a full lunch and others just dessert, but on really special days we have our favorite treats,聽Kimberley’s Bakeshoppe Cupcakes.
Kimberley’s Bakeshoppe Cupcakes can be found at your聽local Kroger Stores and Wal-Marts and come in amazing gourmet and everyday flavors like vanilla and chocolate. My kids are in love with their Gourmet Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes, the cream cheese frosting is their favorite! I have a soft spot for their everyday Vanilla Cupcakes, at only $4.99 for 4 cupcakes we usually splurge and get two kinds!
These cupcakes bring the bakery right to your front door and make the perfect special treats for days when you really need to beat the winter blues! Not sure what your favorite kind of cupcake is? Take this Cupcake Personality Quiz to find out just which flavor suits you and win some prizes while you are at it!
Tammy S says
These are great ideas. You can never go wrong with cupcakes! 馃檪
We do read a lot more in the winter. I am lucky because my kids love to read.
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
This is a delicious way to beat the winter blues. My daughter’s would love this.
Amy Desrosiers says
My kids love cupcakes and tea parties too! What a great combination to keep them busy.
Karen Glatt says
The Wintertime Blues is starting to hit me! I love these awesome cupcakes. They look delicious. Right now it is sunny outside, so I will go outside to get some sunshine and take a walk. I try to get exercise with my dog in the Winter, but still it is so dark early and I sometimes can not get motivated to do anything.
Tiffany Cruz says
This is a great idea. It’s starting to get cold here, and I know it will get colder. We will soon be bringing in our outdoor toys to play with inside.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
So cute! What a great idea. We really do not have seasons here in Florida wish we did!
Carrie - Huppie Mama says
My kids are huge cupcake fans! We hosted a joint birthday party for them (my daughter turned 5 and my son turned 3 just 15 days apart) and the theme was Cupcakes!
Tammilee Tips says
Those cupcakes look amazing!! What great memories for the kids to remember too! It is always cloudy here in WA so the winter blues hit hard for me often
Pauline C. says
Winter’s a good time to bake. Love cuddling with cupcakes and hot cocoa.
Shauna says
Oh my goodness… those cupcakes look amazing. My kids are going a bit stir crazy, as well! Thanks for sharing.
Amber Edwards says
Oh my heart your princess is adorable!
Winter time blues. Oh I don’t look forward to them. I always curl up with a book. But I’m thinking a cupcake party would be in order soon!
Melissa Pezza says
I’ve found that the best way to beat the winter time blues is to snuggle with my kids as often as possible. It’s really the perfect thing to do on cold days.
ann b says
I love playing dress up and drinking tea with my kids. Best way to spend a cold winter day.
Nolie says
Oh yum. Those cupcakes look amazing. I am going to look for them the next time I am at Walmart.
Dawn says
I beat the winter time blues with my trusty slow cooker. I love the smell of a complete meal cooking away in my slow cooker on a cold day.
Meagan says
What a fun little tea party! Those cupcakes look DIVINE!
Stacey - Craft Blogger says
I rarely get winter time blues. I know it’s cold and dreary and dark, but there’s also a certain stark beauty to it.
Jennifer says
I do most of my reading in the winter. I love to read, and there’s no point in going outside anyway.
Lisa Bristol says
When the kids were little we would try to do as much as we could outside in the snow. When we were inside we did lots of crafts to pass the time. Tea parties were my daughters favorite.
Dee Mauser says
We find DIY projects around the house to keep busy so boredom doesn’t set it.
Jenna Wood says
Who doesn’t love a teddy bear picnic? We throw something called an un birthday party, which is essentially a dollar store party for no real reason- its a blast. The kids love even blowing up balloons with air, then rolling around in a balloon pit….we have a crazy house…
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
We don’t really get the blues because we keep busy all winter long. I love all your ideas and will add them to my list.