How to Combat Cabin Fever With a Toddler

All cooped up and nothing to do? Beat the winter blues with games and activities for parents and children.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Balls For Toddlers
• Blankets
• Crayons
• Beach Balls
• Chidren's Toys
• Children's Puzzles
• Infant/toddler Toys
• Blankets
• Crayons

1. Plan a fun activity to do at least every other day. Your toddler is as bored and frustrated of being cooped up in the house as you are. What makes things worse is that your child doesn't understand why you are staying home; he or she may become angry and act out.

2. Try to engage your toddler in a fun, creative physical activity once a day. Plan the activity for a time during the day that you feel drags on forever.

3. Throw a beach party. Turn the heat up, put on shorts and get the beach gear out. Throw a blanket on the floor and have a pretend beach picnic complete with fresh fruits, cold juices and ice pops. Play a game with a beach ball or sort old shells from summers past.

4. Make an indoor fort. Your fort can be as simple as a blanket over the dining room table or as complex as your living room furniture allows. Let your toddler have a flashlight to navigate the fort and have fun crawling in and out with each other.

5. Make indoor snow. Ball up pieces of white paper or newsprint into different-sized snowballs and throw them in the air or at each other. Fill up a toy bin with your snow and jump in. Your options are limitless and your toddler will have loads of ideas for the snow.

6. Pile couch and chair cushions on the floor. If your toddler is just learning how to walk and balance, this activity will help to strengthen muscles and build stability. If your toddler has been toddling for a while, climbing and jumping off cushions will be a squealing treat that could last hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a play group and frequent it regularly.
• Call your local library for story or puppet times.
• When piling cushions, make sure you are a good distance from furniture or have padded sharp edges sufficiently.
• Seek professional help if you experience extreme anger, frustration or depression when working with your toddler.

[lloydsspence]

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[ecpmeggie]

on 4/20/2009 Good article! This winter has been tough on my toddler and my infant! The couch cushions was a great idea my tot does. It's fun to pretend we are rock climbing!! 5*

on 3/16/2006 Fill a large, shallow Tupperware or Rubbermaid bin with inexpensive oatmeal or rice. Let your child put some cars and trucks in the "sand" and have them drive through, dumping and burrowing. You can also provide kitchen items such as funnels, ladles, small bowls, etc.

I suggest setting this activity up on the kitchen floor for easy sweeping later on.

on 11/22/2005 Put on your child's raincoat & rainboots and go enjoy the rain a little! Your little one will love splashing around in the puddles. Then give them a warm bath when you're all done outside. This will occupy even more time!