Have you been dreaming of getting to travel again? Is the cold weather and the inability to really go anywhere giving you cabin fever? I guarantee if you are feeling it, your kids are too! While I cannot get you a ticket to travel somewhere, I do have a few ideas of things to do with your kids to make it feel like you are somewhere else (even if just for a few minutes)!
~Play sand sensory boxes: you can fill up a larger bin with play sand (or if you have kinetic sand you can play on the table) and use other buckets or kitchen items to build sand castles and make fun shapes/drawings in the sand!
~Make special meals/snacks/drinks for a picnic in your living room: make up some lemonade or your favorite picnic meal and take the picnic to the living room! This can change up the meal just enough to make it less routine!
~Go “camping” in your living room: Bring out the sleeping bags/pillows/tents and have a camp out in your living room! Play games and make s’mores in the microwave or over the stove (always monitor kids around the flames of a gas stove)!
~Read a book with your child: It can be a book about where you have been or where you would like to visit when we can travel again! This can get ideas and conversations going about what you did/would like to do on the trip! You and your child can write down or draw their ideas!
~Make bath time into pool time: Extend bath time for your child and let him/her wear a swimsuit and play with their pool toys in the tub! Again, always be with your child when they are in the water for safety!
~Watch videos on zoo animals: Everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with the zoo! As a member, I used to bring my son every week! I loved learning about the animals with him! We have been watching different videos of zoo animals and learning about them and then drawing them and doing other simple activities with the animal!
We are all feeling a lot this year and are hoping to be able to travel and have new experiences with our children again. While this is not an extensive list, it’s a start to hopefully shake up the routine enough to feel like you can continue pushing until we can go places again! We will continue to push through with you this year and if you need more ideas of ways to shake things up, reach out!
Stay safe, warm, and healthy!
~Amber