Activities for Children With the Winter Blues

Sledding

• No matter how jaded you are, every child with access to a big hill and snow enjoys sledding. Whether you have a hill in your backyard or there is a slope at your school, sledding can eliminate any of your winter blues. Various styles of sleds are available. Some kids choose the simple and unpredictable crazy carpet, which is essentially a thin piece of plastic that you lie on and then zoom down a hill. Others include a standard wooden sled with a long base and a curved front that you sit on and hold on to the ropes, but then there is a sled where you sit upright on and steer.

Snowman

• Building a snowman is a winter tradition for many kids. Each of the three sections of the snowman start off small but then grows large as you roll the snow. You put the biggest ball of snow on the bottom and then pile on two additional snowballs, one for the body and one for the head. You can then decorate the head to create a face and shove branches into each side for arms.

Skating

• Whether or not you have an outside skating rink in your winter climate, you should be able to find one indoors. A rink can accommodate a slew of activities, whether you play hockey, figure skate, curl or you just like skating around the rink. Many children use a metal frame to support them while they skate, but many other kids are well adapted to the ice and can skate with an incredible amount of ease. This activity can be done whether you live in a climate with lots of ice or in a climate where the rink you use is indoors.

Fireplace

• An indoor fireplace can melt away many children's winter blues. In many areas around North America the temperature can get too cold in the winter to be able to enjoy the outdoors. These situations call for an indoor activity. The fireplace is an ideal location to sit and watch the flames or to read a book. Arts and crafts can be particularly fun when there is a warm flame around. You could also take this time to chat with family and enjoy a hot chocolate.

Baking

• It doesn't matter what climate you are in when you are inside baking goodies. Baking can brighten the spirits of many children experiencing the winter doldrums. Not only do you get to take part in mixing batters together and icing cakes, you also partake in eating your creations. Activities like these, where a you can get her mind off of whatever is bothering you for a long period of time, can help you forget about your worries.