Winter Activities

So many people are looking for ways to spend time with their family when the winter days are chilly and the nights are long. I have put together a few of our favorite winter activities without any holiday attachments.

1. Grab a fun board game and spend family time
2. Sunday night smoothies/shakes, popcorn & funny animal videos or a wholesome show
3. Charades, write it on pieces of paper and take turns
4. Write a play and act it out. Get everyone involved
5. Family read aloud. A special evening book to wind down before bed.
6. Have a tea party. Wear wacky socks, fancy dresses, or favorite hats

7. Special Food nights help switch up the mundane days.
– Themed night ideas – Smoothie/Shake Sundays, Soup Monday, Taco Tuesdays, Chinese Wednesdays, Leftover Thursdays, Pizza Fridays, Sandwich Shabbats. Do you have any favorites?
– Children pick & prepare. Pick one night a week where the children get to choose the meal and prepare it (to the best of their abilities). It’s great teamwork skills and builds confidence in the kitchen. Bonus they love to serve. Let them set the table and serve you. They love doing this.

8. Set up an area to display beautiful artwork – string & nail or an old pallet. Think cheap! Then let the children at it. We love colored pencils, oil pastels, charcoal, watercolors, and acrylics
9. Make cookies! You don’t have to observe Christmas to throw a cookie party. Invite some friends and exchange cookies. (Favorite fresh milled chocolate chip cookie recipe)
10. Spa Day. Make some non toxic face masks, body butter, and foot scrubs. Listen to some calming background music and make a yolky matcha tea.
11. Learn how to play that musical instrument you’ve been putting off
12. Study a new language. (pictograph/OTIOT ancient Hebrew is on our list, here’s our Psalm 119)

13. Declare a pajama day and build a fort. Pile of books is a must
14. Knit | Crochet | Sew. It is a perfect time for making hats, mittens, socks, mending garments, and sewing new ones! Slow down and work with your hands by the fire
15. Start a new audiobook for yourself to learn something, perhaps gardening for Springtime
16. Make playdough | slime | kinetic sand
17. Play with a marble track
18. Set up a restaurant, store, or farmer’s market and play math. Sneaky, huh?
19. Make your own personal care items – deodorant, toothpaste, candles

20. Bundle up! Go sledding, skiing, build a snow fort, snowball fights
21. Go ice skating. That’s always a treat here
22. Set out a bowl to collect fresh falling snow and make snow ice cream or snowcones (We use organic maple syrup or sweetened condensed milk for ice cream. Snowcones is simply some mango juice poured over top)
23. Learn & practice leather, metal, and woodworking skills
24. Practice your bushcraft skills in the winter. We like to watch survival type shows on youtube
25. Get your hunting license and learn how to hunt to provide food for your family & preserve it. Get your fur trapping license and learn how to harvest the fur

Whatever you do, savor this season of slowing down. I used to complain about this season, but now I count it as joy to get to sit by the fire and enjoy down time. Spring will come and there will be much to do in Summer until Fall. We only get 18 or so winters with each child, Yahuah (God) willing, so make them count. Shalom!