Dark mornings, darker evenings, and chilly gray days in between mean winter is here, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of fun to be had! Keep reading for some ideas to take you through the winter months with joy and intention.
Get some fresh air
- Have you heard of the “1000 Hours Outside” movement? It’s just that…committing to spend 1000 hours outside in 2022. Check out www.1000hoursoutside.com for ideas, tracking sheets, and more info.
- Find the snow! If you have snow near you, go play in it. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding – it’s all a blast.
- Hang out in an outdoor hot tub. The juxtaposition between the warm water and the cold air is invigorating!
- Visit your local zoo. Many times the animals are more active in the winter.
Warm up with food
- Make it your family’s mission to find the best hot chocolate in town.
- Spend time creating a secret family cookie recipe. Find a basic dough recipe and try adding spices, flavorings, candies, fruits, nuts, etc. until you find your family’s signature cookie. Once you nail down the recipe make a batch to share with friends or neighbors.
- See how many different kinds of soup you can eat this winter. Try new recipes and order soup for lunch!
Go out and about
- Go to the library and take advantage of the wonderful programs they offer for kids and adults. Choose a book to read as a family and spend 15 minutes a day reading it aloud together.
- Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen.
- Go to a play or concert. Assuming there are venues opening near you and you feel safe doing so, try experiencing a musical, play, or local concert that you haven’t seen before.
Stay in but stay engaged
- Host a game night and have everyone you invite bring a favorite game to play.
- Buy a puzzle and put it in a place where everyone can work on it as they please.
- Search the internet for winter-inspired crafts and enjoy doing a project alone or with the kids.
