Tips for Keeping Kids Engaged During the Winter
Winter’s chilly temperatures can make outdoor activities a challenge, leaving many families wondering how to keep kids busy while staying indoors. Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) offers an excellent framework for meeting your children’s needs in ways that foster connection, empower them, and promote self-regulation. Here are some ideas to help keep your kids entertained and happy indoors this winter.
1. Connect Through Play
Connection is important for all caregiver and child relationships, and play is one of the best ways to build trust and strengthen relationships.
- Family Game Night: Bring out board games, puzzles, or card games. Let your child choose a game, and use the time to laugh and bond together.
- Creative Storytelling: Encourage your child’s imagination by creating a story together. You can take turns adding to the plot or use toys to act it out.
- Dance Parties: Movement is a fun and healthy way to connect. Crank up your family’s favorite tunes and let everyone dance their hearts out!
2. Empower with Choices
Empowering children by offering choices helps them feel safe and in control.
- Build-Your-Own Snack Bar: Set up a snack station where kids can assemble their own treats, such as mini pizzas or trail mix. This gives them a sense of ownership over their decisions.
- DIY Craft Station: Provide a selection of craft materials like paper, markers, glue, and stickers. Let your child decide what they want to create—anything from greeting cards to mini sculptures.
- Theme Days: Let kids pick themes for the day, such as “Pajama Day,” “Superhero Day,” or “Cooking Day.” Plan activities around their chosen theme.
3. Help Them Regulate
Winter weather and being stuck indoors can sometimes leave children feeling restless.
- Sensory Activities: Create a sensory bin with rice, beans, or water beads, or let kids play with slime or kinetic sand. These activities can be soothing and fun.
- Movement Breaks: If kids have pent-up energy, set up an indoor obstacle course or try simple yoga poses to release tension.
- Mindfulness Moments: Introduce breathing exercises or guided relaxation to help kids wind down and stay calm. A cozy reading nook with blankets and pillows can also provide a quiet space to recharge.
4. Nurture with Routine
Predictability and structure can be especially comforting for children during long winter days indoors.
- Visual Schedules: Create a schedule for the day with pictures or written tasks so kids know what to expect. Include a mix of activities like crafts, meals, and quiet time.
- Bedtime Rituals: End the day with familiar routines, like reading a bedtime story or sharing one thing you’re grateful for. This consistency helps children feel secure.
5. Encourage Connection through Service
Helping others can create a sense of purpose and togetherness.
- Make Cards for Others: Have your kids design and decorate cards for family members, friends, or neighbors.
- Family Clean-Up Projects: Turn tidying up into a team activity. Assign everyone a role, and celebrate your accomplishments with a small reward like hot cocoa.
- Acts of Kindness: Brainstorm simple ways to spread kindness, such as donating gently used toys or baking treats for a neighbor.
By using these ideas to structure your indoor activities, you can create a nurturing environment where your kids feel connected, empowered, and calm, even when the weather keeps you inside. Remember, it’s not about perfection but about building trust and finding joy in small moments together.