We are grateful to Liz Ward, Ph.D. who generated a lot of great ideas
of how to keep your kids active and happy in the cold winter months:
Get Active
Dance party: put on music, take off shoes, plug in your disco ball if you
have one.
Forts: use couch cushions, old blankets, and chairs to
build a fort or add an obstacle course for an extra
challenge.
Musical Chairs
Simon Says
Walk up and down the stairs in your building
Sensory Play
Shaving Cream/Pudding: a plastic table cloth makes clean up a lot easier!
Make Playdough: http://www.playdoughrecipe.com/ put out rolling pins,
cookie cutters, popsicle sticks etc to play with
Make Glop: http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/polymer.php
Bath time: give your child some home swim time, add bubbles, shaving
cream or Tupperware for bath play, etc…
NYC Outings
Wildlife Conservation Society: Central Park Zoo and other locations
Museum of Natural History: Discovery Room, Hall of Gems and Minerals
Museum of Modern Art
Children’s Museum of the Arts
The Jewish Museum
The Guggenheim Museum
Ice Skate: http://www.laskerrink.com/
Book Culture at Bank Street: http://www.bookculture.com/ story time in
different languages
FAO Schwarz (one parent told her child that it is a museum, for looking and
not buying)
Grocery Store: have your child help prepare a list with pictures, and help
gather and check off the items on their list as you shop together.
Routine Errands: Some children love to take in the sights and sounds as
you get your errands done!
Local Children’s Library
*Did you know that once you join the NY Public Library (for free), you can
download books to your IPad or Kindle for free?
http://ebooks.nypl.org/5E270495-99F7-46EE-A1CBDB9479E31BB9/10/257/en/Default.htm
Indoor Play Space
Indoor Play-station (ACT) at St. John the Divine Church
http://www.actprograms.org/programs/parenttoddler.html#playstation
Construction Play
Blocks of all types: add animals to make a zoo or people to make a house
Legos
Large cardboard box: can be a house, a space
Clics: can build large constructions, boat,
Straws and Connectors
Home Chores
Baking and cooking is always fun and kids are more likely to try new
foods when they've helped to make it!
Washing Dishes: give your child some soapy water, a sponge, and some
non-breakable items
Sorting Laundry: put the clean laundry in a pile on a bed and let your child
sort by clothing owner
Sweeping and use of dust pan
Vacuum or Dustbuster
Dusting or wiping surfaces with damp cloth
Pretend Play
Create and play any of the following: house, library, school, supermarket,
pet store, doctor office, etc…
Encourage your children to create and perform their own ..
Magic Tricks and Magic Shows
Singing, Dancing, Acting Shows
Puppet Making and Puppet Shows
Science Projects (find ideas online)
Thank you, Liz, for leading another terrific session
and for compiling this reference list of ideas! Hope
you enjoy and keep sharing ideas with one
another!