The snow day. Who doesn’t remember eagerly listening to the radio to hear the name of your school being read (agony for me, as my school’s name started with a “W”), hoping to be able to sleep in, then frolic for hours in the snow, followed by hot chocolate and some couch and warm blanket time?
Now that I’m a parent, “snow day” no longer means magic. Snow day means closed child care centers and juggling time off from work; piles of cold, wet snow clothes in my hallway; soggy bootprints down my hall; and figuring out how to entertain these kids (inside) all day.
Last year’s winter was rough in the oh bother house. I was super pregnant; Holden was super energetic and yet too young to spend too much time outside. It’s not going to be any easier this year, now that I have two kids under the age of three. I’m gonna have to get creative.
Presenting: Beating cabin fever, Oh Bother style
Now, of course, you can go ahead and search for “cabin fever” on Pinterest and get a whole bunch of super-cute, super-mom ideas (and a few photos of some gorgeous cabin interiors) but we can be honest with ourselves and admit that we probably won’t actually do any of them, right? Just me?
1. Build a fort. Under a table. With couch cushions. Inside a cardboard box. Just make yourself a little hideaway and bring some books.
2. Appetite for apps. I wrote a blog post about a year and a half ago about great mobile apps for babies. I honestly need to find some new ones for toddlers, but Holden loves to play on my phone whenever I allow her (usually in a pinch, like pre-meltdown at the store). Tell yourself it’s educational.
3. Let ‘em help cook. For me, “cooking” lately means scrambling eggs or assembling a toddler “charcuterie board.” Whatever works for you. Focus on the half an hour you just killed making a sandwich and not the peanut butter smeared all over the counter.
4. Bath time. You know how bath time is usually such a pain because it takes so much time out of your evening routine? Embrace it today. We use the Crayola colored bath drops and bath crayons. There’s an amazing blog called Growing A Jeweled Rose that has all sorts of sensory bath ideas if you want to really explore bath time fun.
5. Cardboard drive-in. This is a craft I’ve actually done--and trust me, if I can do it, you can do it. Grab a large-sized cardboard box and turn it into a car for your own “drive-in” movie.
6. Indoor picnic. Grab a blanket and some easy eats. For some reason, Holden goes ga-ga over picnics. You can even dress in warm-weather clothes if you have ‘em handy and want to make it more of an event.
7. Make tracks. A little masking/painters/washi tape on some carpet and some things that go vroom and you have yourself a town… or a racetrack. There’s even play tape that looks like a road if you want to get all fancy about it.
8. Crazy obstacle course. If your kids are bouncing off the walls like Holden usually is, just go with it. Move any hazardous stuff to the side and let them go nuts on a couch/ottoman/cushions/pillows obstacle course.
9. Montessori matching. Since apparently toddlers are naturally drawn to activities that let them use their sense of order, put nature to use! Here are some great blog posts with ideas from Dana’s Pink Ribbon and Becoming Peculiar. Making your kid match their own socks from the laundry? Sign me up.
10. Get out. If the weather’s not terrible, pile into the car and just go for a little drive, just to get out. Sing along to the Frozen soundtrack. Or don’t.
Stay safe (and sane!) this winter! Follow us over on oh, bother blog or on Instagram (@nomiddlenamemeg) to see how we’re weathering the weather.
