With the colder weather approaching, I am thinking ahead to some winter fun to get you in the holiday spirit. Also, I think we can all agree that in Cincinnati we never know when that first snow is going to fall and we can officially declare that the winter weather is here to stay. Below are three fun things to do with your kiddos inside during this season.
Best of all, these all require minimal effort and they are mom tested and kid approved.
Indoor Snowball Fight
This is a great way to have some winter fun indoors and even burn off some energy in the process. I made one of these a few years ago and left it out all winter. Not only do my kids love to randomly start a “snowball fight” but many adults have been known to throw some snowballs around too.
What you need:
Bucket or basket
Approx. 10-12 large white pom poms (mine are about 3 inches across)
Optional: Cute tag or sign for bucket
Directions:
Put the pom poms in your bucket. Add a cute sign that says “Snowball Fight”, “Let’s Have a Snowball Fight” or another creative saying. Place in a spot where you don’t mind a little “snow” and let the fun begin!
Click Image Below for a Snowball Fight Printable
Play Snow
The best part of this recipe is that this fake snow actually feels cold! It can be molded and feels like the real stuff. I recommend putting this in a large container on top of some trash bags or a plastic tablecloth to make clean up a breeze. When I made this for my daughter’s Frozen themed birthday party, I put it in our water table and it worked perfectly.
What you need:
2 large boxes of baking soda
1 bottle of lotion or hair conditioner
Optional: Glitter
Directions:
Gradually add lotion or conditioner to the baking soda until the mixture comes together and is moldable but not too wet (it shouldn’t stick to your hands at all) I put my lotion in the fridge the day before so it made our snow extra cold. Give your kids plastic cups and other play-doh tools and this will provide lots of entertainment without the need to go outside in the cold.
Cinnamon Ornaments
These cinnamon ornaments make a great addition to any Christmas tree. They smell amazing and honestly, ours still smell great 2 years later.
What you need:
¾ cup applesauce
2 bottles cinnamon (around 2 oz. each)
Straw or skewer
Ribbon or string
Optional: Paint and Mod Podge
Directions:
To make this dough all you need to do is combine the applesauce and cinnamon and knead until the dough forms and comes together. You can use a rolling pin to roll it out and then any cookie cutters or play-doh tools to create your shapes. You want your ornaments to be about 1/3-1/4 inch thick. Use the straw or skewer to make a hole at the top to tie the ribbon in later. Bake your ornaments at 200°F for 2.5 hours. I would check periodically based on how your oven typically cooks just to make sure they don’t burn. These are perfect on their own but if you want to enhance them a bit you can add some paint detail and then seal them with a clear coat of glossy Mod Podge to make them shiny.
As we get into the winter and holiday season I hope you have fun doing some of these projects with your kids. Make sure to let us know how they work!