8 Ways To Keep Your Kids Entertained Inside During A Snowstorm

On weekends when my husband is away on gigs and it’s a stormy day, the first thing I do is panic over having nowhere to go with my toddler. The next thing I do is try to lure everyone I know over and entice them with free coffee and bagels. That usually doesn’t work.

I try not to take it personally, and then think of a new plan. This usually involves maxing out on TV right after we wake up. (Shh, please don’t tell my husband!) After that, we must get creative. The good news is that my 3-year-old is great at playing on his own. I'm the one who might need the help!

I recently checked in with some mom friends about their favorite ways to handle — and enjoy — indoor days with their kids. Here are some fun ideas they shared:

1. Get Crafty

Tamsin Taylor, a mom and part-time leather designer, swears by a few arts-and-crafts projects that she says work every time. She has some great books with step-by-step instructions so her kids actually know what they are doing. Try books like "365 Things to Make and Do" and the "Belle And Boo Book of Craft. "

2. Head To The Kitchen

Many of the moms I know suggest baking with your children. I will have to pass on this one because a) I’m terrible at measuring, so anything I bake tastes like rubber, and b) I hate seeing all the butter and sugar I'm putting into my body! I want to be fooled.

Baking with your kid in the kitchen can certainly be fun. But if watching them crack eggs and get flour all over their face is more stressful than anything else, cooking, rather than baking, is a good alternative.

One awesome mom I know, Angela Cranfod Ries, makes "silly soup" with her children, which includes "water, a big bowl, measuring cups and whatever we find that’s edible." She adds, "It's always fun because there’s really no rules."

3. Clean It Up

One mom, Dyane Laurin, actually does some cleaning with her toddler. She gives her girl her own spray bottle, cleaning rags and a vacuum! I am not sure my son would go for this, but it's worth a try. (Apparently, cleaning makes my boy "dizzy," which is what he tells his preschool teachers!) If my boy could get into the cleaning spirit, this could be the best idea yet though.

4. Work It Out

Meghan Convington is a local mom, trainer and yoga instructor, so it's no surprise she gets active with her three kiddies when she's home. She plays games like Sargent Simon Says and Freeze Dance. She also creates obstacle courses in her house and does animal movements — anything to get the kids active and help Mom burn those calories! She writes more about these games here.

5. Get Back To Basics

Your games don't have to be complicated to be entertaining. Mom Amanda Wright plays a game where she basically sits on the couch while her kids run around the house. She hides an object and then has her kids look for it as she says, "warmer" and "colder," giving them clues.

Another mom I know plays a similar game called, "Pom Pom Pick Up," where she tosses pom poms on the floor and has her kids pick them up and put them in buckets. I sure do love these mom sitting on the couch games!

6. Turn To Favorite Toys

These Lincoln Logs can entertain kids for hours according to mom Kirstin Osur, who is also the president of a mom's club in my area. Of course, some kids love their Legos too and anything else they can build and then crash down with one kick.

Another mother I know, Heather Campanelli, suggests building an epic fort and letting her kids picnic in it. "We used to just use blankets and pillows, various furniture and scotch tape, but I bought this Ultimate Fort Builder from Lakeshore last Christmas," she says.

7. Balloon Toss And Dance Off

My husband and son play a fun game where they tie the string from those punch balloons on a stick. Then they fling the stick and catch the ball as it flies around the room. Even regular balloons can keep you entertained. While they play, they listen to their favorite tunes and dance in between tosses. (Note: You will have to get off the couch for this one!)

8. Sensory Play

For the ultimate fun activity for your kids, you must get water beads, like these. I had them at my son's birthday party, and they kept the kids busy for almost an hour. Every mother was amazed and dying to find out where they could get them! They are these small, jelly-like balls that expand in water, creating a sensory activity where kids dig and pour out the beads, over and over. They are fun to touch and even combine with other toys. I poured about 5,000 into a bucket with water and then sat back, drank my coffee and watched the magic happen.

Hopefully, these activities will keep you calm, collected and smiling at home on your next snow day. It is rumored that a tough winter is ahead, but don't worry too much. Life with children indoors can always be fun and interesting if you plan just a little and then flow with whatever comes next — even if you find flour and egg yolk in the shape of toddler-handprints on those walls.

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