We’re in it now, aren’t we? Peak winter blahs season. And while moving to Australia is a nice thought, it apparently isn’t an option. And a vacation isn’t possible for everyone. That’s okay. We have some fun, low-cost ideas to help you get the family’s groove back during these grey weeks. Bye bye, blahs. We’re manufacturing our own sunshine. Here are some family-friendly ways to beat the winter blahs…
BEAT THE WINTER BLAHS AS A FAMILY
Vinyl Dance Party:
Trust us when we say that there is simply something better about holding a vinyl record, carefully putting it on a turntable, and cranking the tunes for a blahs-busting dance party. Find something the whole family can dance to (or at least take turns playing favourite songs), whether it's Sharon, Lois & Bram, Beach Boys, or Harry Styles. Big, exuberant movements win here!
Play In The Snow:
Just embrace the white stuff and play in it. Take colouring fun outdoors and express your creativity. Building a snowman just got that much better with the Sno-Man (he, him) Kit!
Shh... do you hear that? It's the sound of a dinosaur! Strap on a pair of Snow Stompers on your boots and take a walk through the fresh snow to leave cool dinosaur footprints! Stompers will assist kids in exploring in the snow—and sand, for that matter—in the warmer months.
Create, decorate, and play! The Sno-Art Kit has everything you need to express your creativity and take colouring fun outdoors to decorate those awesome sculptures you make.
All aboard The Polar Bear Express Big Snow Tube and we'll race you down to the bottom!
If you need some indoor wacky play, get your downward dog on with the Goat Yoga Party Game.
Neon Fashion Show:
Remember the 80s and the neon fashion craze? My mom bought me a pair of bright pink socks. I was so excited to wear them on the first day of school in seventh grade.
Find the brightest clothes in everyone’s closets and start designing outfits for a colourful fashion show! Vibrant is in and we want to see the most epic colour combinations, complete with a strut down the catwalk.
Polaroid Session:
We’re all about the analogue, baby. Dust off or borrow a Polaroid or Instax camera, load some film, and have a creativity sustaining instant photography session! Grab some Danna Bananas props and craft a cardboard frame to make your own photo booth. Divvy up the photos, put some up on the walls, and tuck a few special ones into an album for immediate memory keeping.
Indoor Gardens:
Wanna check out some tropical plants from all over the globe in the middle of winter? Head to an indoor botanical garden: Allan Gardens Conservatory, Royal Botanical Gardens, Centennial Park Conservatory, Cloud Gardens, and Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. They are a welcome respite from the cold weather and are usually warm and full of leafy green things that make us feel alive again. If your budget allows, get the kids a small plant to bring the lush life back into the house. Bonus: Jot down some of the coolest plant names and look them up in a botanical encyclopedia with lots of great vintage illustrations.
Postcards for Everyone:
Why save the postcards for when you go away? It’s great fun to shop for postcards—pick the weirdest ones of your hometown you can find, or go for the neat artistic offerings. Take the time to write a fun message and update family and friends, and then go have a blast choosing the stamps (there are a variety on offer commemorating neat achievements). Enjoy plopping them in the mailbox—we'll guarantee you’ll hear back from the lucky recipients.
Photo walk:
Take your phone or cameras and go for a walk in an interesting area—it could be a park, a beach, downtown, or a nature area. Snap pictures of whatever catches your eye, from an empty playground slide to a spinning dryer at the laundromat. Avoid taking photos of people, and let the inanimate objects shine.
Have a campfire:
Use your woodstove, fireplace, or outdoor fire pit to host a campfire! Dress appropriately, enjoy the smell of wood smoke, and, of course, savour some hot chocolate and s’mores. Take turns telling stories or singing songs for the full campfire experience.
Go for ice cream.
It may be winter, but we can still enjoy ice cream(Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for it.)! Opt for the biggest creation you can find on the menu, from banana splits to enormous hot fudge sundaes with all of the toppings. Grab a bunch of spoons and dive in!
Start planting flowers:
We can’t wait for spring flowers, and we can start the joy by ordering seeds to start indoors or planting bulbs in pots. Choose the colours and varieties that speak to you, and get ready to reap the benefits when those gorgeous blooms emerge.
via savvymom