3 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever with Your Babies This Winter
Temperatures are starting to drop, ushering in the holiday season and all the joy this time of year brings. But cold weather can also mean months filled with seemingly endless days when you’re trapped inside with your littles. If you’re like us, you’re probably dreading finding ways to entertain a household that is going stir crazy. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Check out our 3 best tips for beating cabin fever with littles and some ideas for fun inside activities:
1. Schedule in fun - When it gets colder, your happy summer schedule fades and it’s easy to get stuck in the monotony of staying in and surviving. It’s no wonder that moms + kiddos alike can struggle when the cold snap hits! Our number one tip for fighting cabin fever is breaking up your monotony by scheduling in some fun! You can do this by designating special activities for each day or by making a bucket list of fun things you can choose from when your house is feeling extra boring. Try out arts & crafts, cooking activities, reading time with fun new books from the library, listening to an audiobook while playing with toys, building forts, exploring sensory bins, etc. Introducing something little and fun may be just the spark you need to eliminate the repetition of inside days.
2. Get out of the house - Bundling kids up and facing the chilly weather is not for the faint of heart, but the reward for leaving home can be invaluable to the whole family. Look into local places that will give you a warm place to go when you leave the house. Does your library have story time? Do you have a museum nearby that could save your sanity? Do you need to wander around Costco or the mall to get a change of scenery? Do you have friends you can do a playdate with or meet for lunch? See what your options are and get out of the house at least once a week! If all else fails, get everyone in the car, turn on your favorite podcast or playlist and buy yourself a treat - that’s why drive-thrus were created, right?
3. Move your bodies - Okay, I know we’ve all heard this before. But when winter hits, I have to fight the urge to camp out on the couch in warm blankets with my kids, watch way too much TV and eat junk (which, hi, is totally fine in moderation). But when we do that day after day, the seasonal blues creep in quickly and my very active kiddos get stir crazy fast. Exercise in any form is important for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the release of endorphins that make you happier! This winter, make a goal to get moving every day with your kiddos - whether that be through spontaneous dance parties, guided youtube flows (we love Cosmic Kids Yoga!), creating a slide with couch cushions, or building out obstacle courses like this one. Give it a shot!
Good luck Mamas - you’ve got this! Let us know how it goes and any tips or activities we missed. It’s going to be the best cold season yet!