When It's Too Cold for Outside...Snow, Solo Cups, and Sailing
- shanin k
- Jan 19, 2024
- 2 min read
We have had chilled-to-the-bone temperatures for the last few days. School canceled or e-learning and making do with what is in the pantry—not going anywhere unless we must. My kids busy themselves with online games and videos, with the occasional break for schoolwork or a board game. It's also a time to revisit some of our favorite activities to keep them occupied indoors: indoor snow, solo cups, and sailing.
When it's too cold for outdoor play, bring the snow inside. You can use one large bin to share, or I have also given them individual coolers to play with on their own. Add some of their favorite water-safe toys, and they will be entertained. Just remember to use their snow mittens or gloves still.
Another activity that works for many ages is Solo cups. It doesn't need to be that brand, but that is what my brain is used to calling them—any plastic party cup you can purchase in bulk. My kids will spend hours stacking these and knocking them down by many creative methods. My favorite projectiles to crash cups are pretend snowballs, rolled-up socks, or stuffed animals. This was a big hit when Angry Birds was all the rage.
Sometimes, it is cold outside, and there is no snow in sight. It's a bummer of a combination for any kid. This is a great time to play with water inside—a fun substitute for snow. One of our favorite ways is to create sailboats from pieces of pool noodles, straws, and paper. The sails might get soggy after a while, but anytime they can splash around in water is fun. Another option for boats is to raid your Tupperware cabinet or recycling. Give them tape and let them create a masterpiece to see if it floats.
More ideas for indoor play:
