Stir-crazy is the name of the game in my household in the winter. When the panic at the thought of being trapped inside with a restless kiddo sets in, I take a deep breath, then instead get excited for the unlimited possibilities that the day has in store! I loved snow days when I was growing up, mainly because my parents would always have something fun up their sleeves and they’d encourage me to explore and use my imagination for the whole day.
Here are a few ideas that you can use in your own home to spur on the imagination on a cold, cold day indoors:
More Rainy and Snow Day Activities:
10 Awesome Rainy Day Activities That Expand Your Kiddo's Imagination
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Scavenger hunt in the house
Create a scavenger hunt for the house with open-ended items, such as "something that's fuzzy" or "something that is wet," and see what your kids can find! Once you complete the hunt, you can take turns having each family member write down the items that need to be found and keep the game going for hours!
Image: Getty
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Master a simple recipe, then improvise
Do your kids know how to make scrambled eggs or pancakes? Pick a simple recipe that's a staple in your household and help them master it with practice and precision. Then let them have fun by incorporating their creativity and adding variations to the standard recipe. You just may end up with one of the yummiest meals you've had in a long time!
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Choreograph a dance
Let each family member choose a song, or choose one together, and choreograph a dance routine. Practice it throughout the day and schedule a time and space for a performance either that day or later for friends and family!
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Write & illustrate a book
It only takes a few pieces of paper and a great story to write your own book! Help your child write her own book by transcribing their story, and then have them illustrate the pages.
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Kitchen painting
Round up some paint or a stamp pad and take them to the kitchen. Have your kids raid the kitchen for objects they can use to paint, and encourage them to be creative! You might end up with whisk paintings or lemon prints or pasta art!
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Turn a favorite book into a play
Have your child act out a play instead of popping a movie on the TV. Encourage him to use toys, stuffed animals, or pets to help retell a familiar story and then put on a performance for you.
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Make puzzles
Take out the crayons and markers and allow your kids to go wild with drawing. Then hand them some scissors and allow them to cut up those drawings and make a puzzle. Don't be surprised if you end up with a really challenging afternoon ahead of you! Exchange the puzzles among family members so everyone gets to do them all!
DIY tutorial: craft stick puzzle
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Make family portraits
Gather some photographs from around the house for inspiration and create family or self-portraits! It's not only a challenging art project for everyone in the family, but the resulting artwork will be a treasured keepsake as well!
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Complete LEGO quests
Create a list of challenges (like those listed here) and complete them using your LEGO blocks. Create a maze or a theme park, or simply create a giant bridge! This is a great list to keep on hand and check off the challenges as you complete them over the day or on snow days in the future!
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Photograph the alphabet
Under your supervision with a digital camera, help your child photograph the alphabet throughout your house. Have them pick out objects that begin with each letter and proceed from A to Z. You can download the photos and make a quick collage and print it out for them at the end, and then you can start over and do it all again until the snow ceases!
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