IDEAS TO KEEP THE KIDS BUSY DURING THE WINTER
During the cold winter months, children get restless and parents
get frazzled. Children need to have a place and time to get messy
and use a little imagination. A parent can foster or deter creative
development in children by the space offered for discovery activities.
When children mess around with art materials, they develop an
attitude of awareness, allowing observations to soak. "Not
just their hands are at work, but their eyes and minds are open
to what is happening."
Making room for art and leisure activities will give a child's
imagination a place to grow. Here's a list of possibilities for
an activity space:
- Allow space for plenty of scraps, extra materials and tools
that can spark imagination possibilities.
- Provide an area to spread out activities, such as a table
or a portion of the floor.
- Reduce the space used for television viewing and stereo listening
in the living or family room that would allow the addition of
items such as a piano or a drawing table.
- Turn an underused formal dining room into a music practice
room or a child's craft area.
- Establish a collection point for supplies and materials,
perhaps a closet, trunk or free-standing cupboard.
- Display attractive supplies in the living area or workroom;
their visibility can provide inspiration.
- Provide a means to carry work-in-progress for portable activities,
such as plastic shopping bags, a handled box or tray.
An open, free space is much better than one in which an adult
continually reminds the child to be careful of spills or nicks
in the furniture. However, clean-up, care of tools, and care of
work space should be expected and become a positive part of each
work session.
Here's a list of other ways to ward off cabin fever:
- Try swimming in the kitchen. Pull out the wading pool, put
in a few inches of water and let the little ones play. Instead
of rubber ducks and the usual bath toys, let the children pay
with a turkey baster, egg beater and measuring cups. Never leave
children alone when they are playing in the water.
- Have a picnic in the basement. Plan a pretend picnic but
make the food real. Let children spread peanut butter or slice
bananas with a plastic knife. Older children can plan the menu.
Pack everything in a picnic basket and journey to a far off place
to eat. Journey back by playing follow the leader all over the
house.
- Make play dough. Children of all ages ... even adults ...
love play dough. Combine 2 cups of flour, 1 cup salt, 1 tablespoon
cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 cup water with food
coloring added. Cook all ingredients over low heat, stirring
constantly until dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and
forms a lumpy mass. Remove from heat and knead the dough. Store
in a plastic bag or plastic container in the refrigerator.
12/22/97
Lesia Oesterreich
Family Life Specialist
Iowa State University Extension
1086 LeBaron Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-0363
Treva Blumenshine
Extension Communication Systems