It’s usually during the month of February when you start to feel those mid-winter blues; the kids start to go a little stir-crazy and you feel a case of cabin fever coming on fast. Well, I’m here to help you avoid the mid-winter blues and to embrace the remainder of winter – with your whole family.

Take a Vacation: Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about an expensive last-minute trip to Mexico (unless you want to go)! A simple road trip to a slightly warmer location and a stay in a hotel with a pool is all you likely need to feel rejuvenated enough to make it through the last month of winter. I suggest taking a weekend – or a long weekend if possible – and making a break for blue skies and sunshine. Your kids will enjoy frolicking in the pool and drinking smoothies while you relax under the sun.

Head to an Indoor Aquatic Center:  My kids and I have a blast at the local indoor aquatic center! It’s always warm inside the center, and swimming always reminds us of the upcoming spring and summer. Find an aquatic center that is child-friendly and includes features like: a shallow pool, a lazy river, water slides and more. Your kids will appreciate that the outing is kid-friendly and you’re guaranteed to smile and have fun splashing around by their sides as well.

Take Advantage of Winter Activities: Remind yourself that winter is nearing an end and take advantage of winter activities offered within your area. In most places, you can only sled, ski and ice skate for a few months of every year, so take advantage of the winter you’re having and get out there and play. There are lots of kid-friendly winter activities that adults enjoy, too.

Indoor Activities Are Fun: Yes, you’ve been indoors for far too long now (or so it would seem), but you’re likely stuck in a routine and have been enjoying lots of the same activities. Now is the time to branch out and try a new activity like: building an indoor fort, getting a craft kit and making something special, trying a science experiment at home, etc. Get creative and do something new indoors!

Beat those mid-winter blues with these mid-winter tips, ideas and activities.  

Have fun and happy parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the Daddy & Co. blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Avoid the Mid-Winter Blues appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

By Jennifer Chung – Kinsights.com

The good news for all of us is winter doesn’t last forever (yes, you can come in off the ledge now unless you’re planning to cannon ball into the snow).  Even though your kids have you driven mad, it’s not too late to turn that angst into something that’s fun and productive for the whole family.  We’re talking about family bonding activities and here are some fun ideas for making the best of the remaining snowy days. 

1.  Got a Wii or X-Box?  Get the family together for “Family Olympics”.  Whether it’s Just Dance for Kids, boxing or bowling, this activity is for the whole family and burns off the winter doldrums.


2.  Get out the board games and have some fun.  Some of family favorites are Sorry, Beat the Parents and Head Bandz.


3.  If you can’t beat the weather, join it!  Pull on your snow pants and boots and have a good old-fashioned snow ball fight or build a snowman right in your own backyard.


4.  Don’t under estimate the power of a good puppet show.  It may sound a bit old fashioned but kids love this activity.  Make your own puppet theatre by having the kids design and decorate an old sheet or using a big box.  If you don’t have any puppets, stuffed animals work great or make homemade puppets using socks.  Have the kids work together to come up with a story idea and have them perform the show for you, neighbors or grandparents.


5.  Have a ton of photos and collected souvenirs/artwork lying around?  Buy up a few photo albums or scrapbooks and work with your kids to put together their own keepsakes.  They can use art supplies to decorate the pages, bling and stickers.  It gives the kids a fun project to work on and accomplishes something most busy parents don’t get time to work on.


6.  Who doesn’t love a good family talent show?  Have each family member work on their talent, whether it’s a magic act, dance number or some killer lip-synching, and put on a show for each other, friends, or neighbors.

7.  Stuck in the house for too many days to count?  It’s time to break out of the ordinary routine and have some fun with your family.  Have a slumber party in the living room with sleeping bags and flashlights, have breakfast for dinner, organize a family movie marathon with popcorn and movie treats, work with the kids to rearrange their bedrooms for a change, or if you’re brave, let the kids be the parents for a day!


8.  Meet the family in the kitchen and cook or bake up a storm!  Have the kids help in finding recipes and creating a menu plan.  They could even pick a couple of items to bake that could be frozen and used to put in their lunch boxes.  Get the kids involved in washing and peeling veggies, give the little ones wooden spoons and have them help dump in measured ingredients.  This is a great time to help your older children learn to stir foods on the stove top, crack eggs, and figure out which measuring spoon and cup to use.  A dinner cooked by the whole family will be amazing.



About Jennifer Chung

Jennifer Chung is a parenting expert and co-founder of Kinsights: part parenting community, part online health record. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more.  Connect with Kinsights at https://kinsights.com to learn more and sign-up! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@kinsights).

The post Fun Family Bonding Ideas For This (Long, Snowy, Cold) Winter appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Outdoor Activities:

1. Good Ole Sledding
There’s nothing like zipping downhill on a cold winter’s day. Don’t have a sled? No worries, just use an old trash can lid, an inflatable pool toy or a storage tote lid and away you go!

2. Ice skating
Whether you have one in your backyard or you go to the nearest ice skating rink, this is a great day of fun for the whole family! Kids will get a good laugh out of dad falling on his rear-end and parents are secretly slipping in some good exercise for themselves and their kids!

3. Build a Snowman   
Create a frosty friend with old hats and scarves! Better yet, build a frosty family to look like your own.

4. Snow Painting
Fill a spray bottle full of water and add a few drops of food coloring and go out in the yard and create a masterpiece!

5. Go Caroling
You don’t need a one-horse sleigh or angelic voices to enjoy caroling with your family. The key to making caroling fun for kids is mixing cheery music with lots of holiday spirit! Be sure to bring flashlights for safety, hot cocoa to warm your tummies and wear comfortable shoes.

6. Museums, Libraries or Bowling
Winter is the perfect time to find indoor places to go for family fun! Museums often have free exhibits, libraries usually have story telling times for kids and who doesn’t love a good game of bowling!

On days where the snow is falling so hard you can hardly see through it, you may just want to hang in the house.
Here are some great ideas for staying in and having a blast!

Indoor Activities:

1. Bake Cookies & Other Yummy Treats
Baking together builds great family memories! It opens up the perfect opportunity to really talk with your kids and to make this idea a little sweeter… you can all eat the goodies after!

2. Drink Hot Cocoa by a Fire
Feeling a little too frosty, cozy up next to a fire with some delicious hot cocoa (add candy canes and or cinnamon sticks for a special twist). Mmmmm!

3. Play a Board Game
Pull the old classics like Monopoly & Scrabble out of the closet, knock the dust off of them and gather around the table. These games are not only fun but are educational too! Monopoly is great for teaching your child to count money and Scrabble is a great way to work on spelling.

4. Make a Gingerbread House
Help them build the candy house of their dreams with all their favorite candies. For an extra surprise, hide a special present inside the house after for them to find.

 5. Have a Movie Night
Choose a movie the whole family will enjoy and pop some popcorn! Snuggling on  the sofa watching a movie is the perfect way to spend a cold evening in! Throw a  few M&M’s into your popcorn if you like sweet & salty!

 6. Pull Out Old Photo Albums
Reminiscing over old holiday photos will not only bring back great memories but    may also generate some fun ideas. A lot of great times started with “Remember  the time… we should do that again!”

The post Top 12 Family Winter Activities appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.