10 Unique fun and safe activities to do with kids.
Wintertime is tough, especially with kids. Here is a list of 10 unique and fun-filled activities that will cure cabin fever!
1.) Outdoor movie night in the living room- Get creative and crafty making and decorating their own cars out of cardboard boxes. Some supplies you can use include decorative duck tape, construction paper, aluminum foil, streamers, and paper plates to name a few. Pick a new movie, a family favorite, or have the kids write a movie script for you to perform. String lights up, glow stars to stick on the ceiling, and glow sticks to set the movie outdoors look. Don’t forget the concessions stand. Label each treat with a price and using play money, have the kids buy their own snacks.
2.) Turn your house into a ninja warrior obstacle course- Here are a few basic rules of indoor obstacle course making to get you started, plus some ideas to make your course as fun as possible, no matter the size of your space. When you are finished, make medals for each other to award.
3.) Opening night of the family restaurant- Kids love to pretend. Have them decorate the kitchen to be a fancy restaurant, make menus with easy sandwiches to choose from like PBJ and lunch meat, to Koolaid-type drink mixes or milkshakes, and a desert such as Rice Krispie Treats or pre-made cupcakes and cookies that kids can decorate. Make sure they give everything a price on the menu. Get dressed up, have the kids seat you and take your order, and serve you. Don’t forget to tip them at the end of your dining experience!
4.) Indoor glow putt- Time to turn your space into an indoor family attraction. Using glow sticks and other creative materials such as plastic cups, legos, paper towel rolls, shoe boxes, and more turn your home into a putt-putt course. Be sure to make use of every room with a different hole and most importantly, have fun. Here are some plastic golf sets you can purchase on Amazon.
5.) A mad-lib puppet show- Construct a puppet show stage out of a cardboard box and have the kids make a series of puppets out of construction paper, googly eyes, and popsicle sticks. Then choose a few mad-libs, have them come up with the words, and perform the show. Don’t forget the snacks!
6.) Outdoor hike- Get outside and find some rocks, clean them, and paint them. Once they are dry take a sharpie and write different positive messages on each. Go on a hike in the neighborhood or at a metro park and have the kids place the rocks throughout for someone else to find. You can even make a map with clues to find your rock messages and drop it off at the porch of a friend's house for their family to go search and find.
7.) Write and publish a book- Help them become published authors. Pull out their favorite toys, stuffed animals, or have them create a list of their favorite people, animals, etc. to write a story about. Assist your future author in brainstorming a character web and identify the problem and solution they will write about. Set them up with a little author nook that they can write peacefully. Check out these websites where kids can create books.
8.) Use Google Earth to go exploring- Pull up your neighborhood, a destination, or park you want to visit. Mark things you see that you want to explore and find when you get there. Then pack up your binoculars, camera, notepad, and anything else an explorer would need. Be sure to journal your exploration and discoveries either on paper or have your child create an online blog. Geocaching is another fun activity to do with kids and get them out of the house for a bit safely.
9.) Get some milkshakes and go for a drive- Surprise the kids with a drive to get a tasty treat. Maybe make it a special occasion, stay up and go on a night drive on a school night. Decorate the family car with streamers and signs. Play the “I Spy” game or beforehand, print off a scavenger hunt they can do in the car. You can check out some outdoor drive-through events in or near Columbus as well like Drive-thru Ice World happening February 26th-28th.
10.) Throw a family party- What kind of party or event do your little ones want to have? Maybe it’s a dance party that consists of YouTubing your favorite songs or emotes and learning the choreography. It can be a WWE themed event, where you can get creative using stuffed animals or action figures in a DIY wrestling ring. Put on a Voice singing competition. Whatever the occasion you can make your own creation to share with your family. Let them pick what they want to do and you put your party planning hat on to make it a special event they will never forget. Celebrate them and this unique time together!
