The holidays are on the horizon. For parents, this is a fantastic time of year. You get to spend quality time with the kids and share the excitement of the Christmas build-up. Holidays are great. But the threat of boredom is always lingering in the air. When you have kids, keeping them entertained is all-important. In the summer, playing in the garden and going out to the park can keep kids busy for hours. But what you do when it’s tipping down outside? Here are some fun indoor activities that will help you to beat boredom this winter.
Get creative
Creative activities are hugely beneficial for children. They’re not just fun. They also encourage children to use their imaginations and hone their fine motor skills. Creative pursuits can also enable children to express themselves. This is particularly cathartic for children who struggle with their speech. With Christmas just around the corner, you’ve got ready-made inspiration wherever you look. You can draw, paint, and colour in festive pictures. You can get the Christmas cut outs and model some dough. Or you can use up all your empty tins, boxes, and jars and craft some festive characters. All you need is some newspaper, cordless glue guns, and a dose of imagination.
As it’s so close to Christmas, why not encourage your kids to make their own cards to give out at school? You could also make some envelopes and send them to friends and family.
Den making
Being indoors doesn’t have to be boring. You can still indulge your child’s inner adventurer by making dens and creating stories around them. Perhaps you could search for fossils or imagine you’re shipwrecked on a desert island. Let your kids come up with ideas, and run with the theme. You could put up some handmade decorations or get the fancy dress box out.
Soft play
When you go out with the kids for a walk or a kick around in the park, you can let off steam and burn some energy. In the winter months, it’s harder to do this. However, it is possible to exercise at home. Soft play is a great way of getting your kids moving without having to brave the elements. All you need to do is section off an area of the playroom or lounge and lay down a few mats to prevent injuries. You could use soft play blocks and a ball pool to create an obstacle course, for example.
If the rain is bouncing down or there’s a frost on the lawn, you may start to panic. The last thing any parent wants is the kids moaning that they’re bored on day one of the holidays. There will be days when you can’t go out. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t have loads of fun at home. Get creative and try out activities like festive painting, designing cards, and model making. Use your imagination to build dens and come up with role play scenarios, and let off steam with indoor soft play.