The Beast from the East is set to hit the UK again in the coming weeks bringing cold temperatures, harsh winds and potentially even some snow with it. From tobogganing to snowball fights, a snow day can provide endless amounts of fun for children but more often than not, snow only hits the far corners of Cairngorms and the rest of the UK must just endure the cold weather.
Even with all the thermals and Uniqlo HeatTech in the world, it can be challenging to get children outdoors when it’s chilly and dreary outside but there are plenty of fun activities to keep them busy, entertained and warm indoors!
Image credit Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
1. Get Baking
Aside from being a joyous (and delicious) pastime, baking offers many benefits for children such as developing their motor skills, exposing them to new foods and flavours and allowing them to take pride in something they have created.
There is no shortage of recipes out there and it’s up to you to pick what most appeals to your family but some of our favourite recipes include:
Chocolate Courgette Cake - who doesn’t love chocolate cake? This recipe is great for using up leftover courgettes and is an easy way to sneak some extra veg into a child’s diet. Plus, this unusual veggie addition will help make your cake super moist!
Healthy Flapjacks - these are a great snack or breakfast option as they’re free from refined sugar and you can customise to include dried fruits or dark chocolate as you wish.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Swirls - The beauty of these is that the dough is made simply from yoghurt and flour so there’s minimal fuss and minimal ingredients but all of the yummy flavour you’d expect in a cinnamon swirl. And yes, you can also bake these in the oven if preferred!
2. Do a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts indoors or outdoors (when weather permits) are a favourite pastime of Januarys’ Nanny of the Month, Iwona and they are such a wonderful way to keep children engaged and entertained. If doing a hunt indoors, simply place clues around the house for them to follow, with a prize waiting at the end.
For younger children these clues can be simple, like “find something red in your bedroom”, while older kids may respond best to more complex clues or simple riddles like “I come in pairs, I'm easy to lose, I go between your feet and your shoes” (socks).
3. Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts are always a great way to inspire a child’s creativity and imagination. You may already have some form of an art cupboard at home for your little ones to go wild with but if you’re lacking in ideas then here’s a couple of fun projects to get them started:
DIY Fridge Magnets - Grab some clay, some paint and a pack of magnets and fashion some funky designs to turn into fridge magnets for friends and family!
Blown Eggs - With Easter not far away, now is the perfect time for blowing and painting eggs.
Use a sewing needle to prick a small hole in the top and bottom of an egg and blow the contents of the egg into a bowl until it’s hollow.
Give the egg a rinse and a gentle dry before painting the shell with a design of your choice! These will keep for a while and make lovely Easter ornaments.
Note: Parents may need to help children get these started as it can be tough getting the first little bit of egg out but once you have a flow, children can easily take over!
Top Tip: Keep the contents of the egg to use as scrambled eggs, omelette or the base for a yummy cake later in the day.
DIY chess board - Using a small wooden board and some clay, children can either replicate the pieces used in a traditional game of chess or make and paint unique playing pieces to look like family members or favourite characters instead.
4. Build a fort or an indoor campsite
The beauty of a fort is that there are no rules on how it should be constructed, it’s totally up to a child’s imagination.Children can make use of anything around the house such as pillows, sheets, chairs and blankets to create their fort and then fill it with their favourite books, soft toys and games.
During weekends and school holidays, forts can also be turned into an indoor campsite by putting mattresses and torches inside so children can spend the night there or fall asleep with a movie and snacks.
Top tip: Turn out the lights and place a paper cup with holes in it over a torch to replicate the night sky on the ceiling!
5. Silent Disco
Dancing is a great way to help children get active and work off any excess energy while they’re stuck indoors but having a silent disco affords parents and nannies the opportunity for some peace and quiet. Get children to help setup the disco itself by making or putting up some decorations such as:
A coloured disco lamp
Streamers or leftover balloons from previous birthdays
Homemade paper chains
Once the room is set up, encourage children to put on a disco outfit and give them a device that can play music with a pair of comfortable headphones (set on a low decibel to protect their ears). Then it’s up to them to crack out their best moves!
6. Put on a show
Most adults will have fond memories either of being in a ‘show’ put on for our parents or enthusiastically watching shows performed by our kids.
To really get childrens’ creative juices flowing, encourage children to turn their favourite book into a show by finding costumes from the fancy dress box or fashioning costumes as an additional craft project, picking out music and coming up with dance routines (if relevant) or making admissions tickets.
These ideas are just the start but hopefully they provide you with some inspiration for fun activities on cold and rainy days indoors that bring a smile to your childrens’ faces!