With winter weather comes a lot of indoor time. Even when the snow and ice storms are taking a breather, the cold temperature and bitter winds are not conducive to a lot of outdoor time with a toddler.
For anyone who is home alone with a toddler, there are ways to make the long hour spent indoors more educational, playful, creative, and most of all, enjoyable for both you and your toddler.
5 Free Ways to Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter
Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter: 1. Join or Start a Play Group
If you are not already part of a community or neighborhood playgroup, try to find one. Or set up a weekly play date with other local parents who also have toddlers the same age as yours. Alternate whose house you go to for the play date. Even one or two hours a week will give both you and your toddler a chance to get out of the house and interact with other people
Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter: 2. Make Arts & Crafts
Make your own weekly schedule of arts and crafts. Schedule as few or as many as you like in one week, depending on the toddler. Look up crafts ahead of time online, or get a book from the library. Save saferecyclable items like paper towel rolls that can be used in crafts at no extra cost to you.
Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter: 3. Attend Story time
Find out the schedule of the story hour at your local library or book store. Pre-register if need be. Free weekly sessions are typically four to six weeks and run year-round. Attending astory time at the library gives you toddler a chance to interact with other little ones his or her own age. It also gives you the chance to meet other parents who might also be suffering from a bit of cabin fever.
Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter: 4. Visit Children’s Room at the Library
Maybe your toddler is too young for story time at the library. Or the day and time of the story time does not meet your schedule. Plan a weekly trip to the children’s room or section of the local library. The library will provide your winter indoor toddler with a new environment to explore. The toddler will also finddifferent toys and puzzles to stimulate his or her growing brain. The toddler may even find a book or two to take home for reading time.
Depending on when you go, you may even run into other toddlers and parents.
Stay Sane with Your Toddler This Winter: 5. Exercise together
Find an exercise you and your toddler can do together in the house. Toddlers have an amazing energy level, and like to run around. They don’t care if it’s inside our out. Play a rowdy game of hide and seek or peek-a-boo.
An important thing to remember, even in the winter, is that both the toddler and the parent need some fresh air, a change of scenery, and some interaction with other people.
By scheduling your own activities for you and your toddler, you will not be stuck wondering what to do today, or this week. The schedule can and will change, because that’s how life is with a toddler, but at least it will give you an idea list of activities.
