Use Inspiration to Keep Playing All Winter

As the weather turns cold, the ability to get out and play diminishes for kids. It becomes easy to spend their time behind the computer or in front of the television. Backyard games like “kick the can” and “ghost in the graveyard” are shelved until next spring.

Although there may be opportunities to play on a beautiful snowy day or that odd afternoon when the temperature warms up, the chances become more limited. Getting together with the neighborhood gang can be more challenging when everyone is inside.

With a little inspiration, however, kids can get their friends playing and use the indoors to create new games. Here are just a few ideas to get the kids playing this winter.

Blankets to Forts: Take the blankets out of the linen closet and let your kids invite friends over for a fort-making bonanza. With a few folding chairs, some cardboard and even the cushions off the old couch, the kids will be busy for a full afternoon creating tunnels and forts.

Board Game Tournament: Set up tables in the basement and pull out those board games that are stacked in the closet. Let the kids invite friends for a tournament and watch them work out the details of who will play against whom.

Treasure Hunt: Prepare paper clues that take the kids from place to place throughout the house. Have your kids invite some friends for an afternoon hunt. You can even break into two teams, hiding two treasures to see who finds it first. To keep the action going, make the “treasure” a fun game, art project or cooking adventure.

Charades: We love a good game of charades with friends. Divide the kids into teams and have them create the clues. Mom can be the judge and time keeper to get the game going.

There are many ways to inspire the kids and get them up off the couch to create an entire afternoon of adventure. Playing games with their friends makes them use their imaginations and negotiation skills as they work together.

Marlene Byrne
Author, Project Play