The biting cold of winter has just recently touched down in NYC this year, but even during the recent warmer weeks, my family and I have already been spending more and more time inside rather than frolicking in the local parks or walking the busy streets.  With five young kids, I find that having everyone ripping through the house for several hours gets pretty hectic!  Meanwhile, when my kids are not running around the house driving me crazy, they’re yelling “I’m bored!” which drives me even more crazy (my own parents banned the word bored from my childhood home!).

So with all that being said, it’s nice to have some pre-planned activities on hand for indoor days that use everyday material we already have in the house. Here’s a list of fun activities for kids to complete when they’re stuck inside!

Fun Things to do in the Winter (for when you’re stuck inside!)

1. Homemade Hopscotch Mat: If my boys had it their way, they’d be playing soccer in our apartment whenever they got bored with their blocks and books. No matter what I do, balls constantly reappear and are chucked at lamps and wall hangings, which often does not end too well.  So I’m glad I found this fun and easy winter activity that gets rid of all that pent-up energy in a safer way. For a no-slip game, I’ve even heard of people using rubber mats or drawing the design directly into carpet with washable chalk. Either way, it’s a fun way to get your kids up and about when cabin fever hits, but without the flying soccer balls. The China cabinet will thank me later! Haha.

2. Paper Snowflakes: A classic! There still hasn’t been snow in the city, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring the snow to our apartment with these adorable decorations. If you’re looking for easy kids crafts that don’t use many supplies, these are for you. All you’ll need is some paper, scissors, and a little bit of patience to read the instructions. I know my kids will have a blast creating snowflakes that are just as unique as they are!

3. Baking Healthy Goodies: Is there anything better than the smell of freshly-baked cookies when walking in from the cold outdoors? I have been looking for easy and healthy snacks for my kids for years, but they are such pretty picky eaters. I’m so happy to have found this recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies that is both nutritious and delicious! A wonderful way to spend quality time with the kids, too!

4. Get lost in a good book: Whether you’re a new mom or your eldest is in High School, like mine (gasp!), reading never loses its value. In my house, I’ve found that frequent trips to the library and sprinkling books in every room of our apartment works better than begging my kids to read. But when the weather gets colder, one of my favorite things is to snuggle under the blankets on the couch and read to all five of my kids at the same time. Even with the six year difference between the eldest and youngest, Marielle, they all seem to have become enthralled with the famous Harry Potter series. A pretty daunting series to get through, but I’m thankful for the calming evenings these books have given us as a family!

5. Make Silly Putty: This is a fun winter craft for kids of any age! With any game we play around the house, I like to get my children as engaged as possible. So once they have their silly putty together in all different shapes and colors, it’s fun to ask them to create a scenario or a story with their creations! Who knows what silly, funny, or dramatic stories my kids will come up with!

I hope you and your family are having a great winter so far and that you’re surviving any cold coming your way! If you have any fun indoor activities you’d like to share, please comment below. I love hearing from my readers!