Indoor Boredom Busters for the Cold Winter Months

But baby it’s cold outside!  That classic song rings true in these cold winter months…however baby is less than understanding that he can’t go out.  How do you bust the winter boredom?!  Indoor activities – fun, engaging, activities – whether you need to kill some time between naps or play away the afternoon – I’ve got some activities to bring the fun into your living room.

• Rotate the toys.  When my Thing 1 was in daycare, I noticed that the baby room brought out different toys on different days (smart because every morning there was always something “new” to play with – a new something to build, a new something to climb, a new something to read).  Now, I do this same sort of toy rotation with little Thing 3.   I might take out his musical dinosaur and then another day his topzy tumblers (he LOVES that one).  Another day I take out his blocks and stackable stuff.     I find that having a rotation of toys inspires him to focus on one activity more (ans spend more time on that activity).
• Schedule the day.  Play time.  Snack time.  Reading time.  Nap time. Play Time.  Highchair time (so I can make dinner).  I find my own winter bordeom is busted when there is some sort of organization to the day.  Now, the baby doesn’t always agree with my schedule – and it has to change as his agreement with my plans change but we try to keep to the schedule as much as possible…for my sanity.
• Playdates.  Some days the best boredom buster is to put on a pot of tea, put out the toys and let the toddlers toddle about while Moms catch up.  It introduces baby socialization, learning to play side-by-side, exploring the world around them, and getting mummy time – all at the same time.
• Family Indoor Activity tips.  Get some inspiration on family indoor activities over at Fisher-Price.  It’s FREE, categorized by age, and powered by your child’s creativity.  From Spaghetti Worms to Baby’s Babbles to Pop Goes the Parent these activities (not Fisher-Price toys but activities to do with your child) are sure to bust the day’s boredom.
• Do something backwards.  Put on music and dance in the kitchen.  Put on a bathing suit and splash in the bathtub with your baby.  Put on your pjs in the middle of the day and play peek a boo with the blankets with baby.
• Scrapbook.  When better than to start a souvenir project than in the cold winter months.  Take lots of pictures with and of your baby.  Put them in the highchair, paint their feet and put their footprints on a piece of cardboard.  Mark their milestones on the calendar.