This website has a lot of ideas for family activities. Check it out if you live or visit:
- NYC
- LA
- Boston
- New Jersey
- Long Island
INDOOR WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS for Kids
- make paper snowflakes
- clean out the toy box
- go camping in the livingroom
- make a mobile out of found objects (acorns, rocks, branches)
- write up some New Year’s Resolutions
- create a simple Family Tree
- play basketball with a wadded up piece of paper and a wastebasket
- play card/board games
- design your own game
- make homemade play dough
- play with play dough
- play hide-and-seek
- send virtual greeting cards
- make a craft
- choose photos for a family calendar
- arrange photo albums
- draw, color, paint
- copy your favorite book illustration
- write letters to a relative, friend or pen pal
- write stories
- write a play, act out a play
- invent indoor circus acts
- perform an indoor circus
- brush the pet
- read a book/magazine/newspaper
- read a story to a younger child
- listen to a story or book on tape
- make up a story
- make up a story by drawing pictures
- cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
- make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
- write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
- draw a cartoon strip
- write in your journal
- plan an imaginary trip to the moon
- plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go
- write reviews of movies or plays or TV shows or concerts you see during the break from school
- write a science-fiction story
- find a new pen pal
- put together a family newsletter
- have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling
- make up a play using old clothes as costumes
- play dress-up
- play Cowboys
- produce a talent show
- memorize a poem and for your family
- make a tent/fort/teepee out of blankets
- do a jigsaw puzzle
- play on the Geosafari
- do research project
- do brain teasers (ie: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
- cook, prepare lunch, dessert, dinner
- try a new recipe
- have an indoor picnic
- bake and decorate cut-out cookies
- surprise a neighbor with a good deed, do a secret service for a neighbor
- play store
- make food sculptures (from pretzels, gumdrops, string licorice, raisins, cream cheese, peanuts, peanut butter, etc.) and then eat it
- make sandwiches and cut them out with large cookie cutters
- prepare a “restaurant” lunch with menus
- hold a tea party
- have a Teddy bear picnic on the floor in the livingroom
- learn magic tricks
- put on a magic show
- make sock puppets, put on a puppet show
- crochet or knit
- make doll clothes
- sew buttons in designs on old shirts
- organize a dresser drawer
- clean under the bed
- vacuum or dust window blinds
- write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to do
- practice musical instruments, perform a family concert
- teach yourself to play musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar)
- create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands
- make up a song
- build with blocks or Legos
- create a design box (copper wire, string, odds-and-ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread, yarn, etc.)
- have a marble tournament on the livingroom carpet
- give your pet a party
- check out a science book and try some experiments
- play jacks
- play charades
- make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
- call a friend
- plan a treasure hunt
- make a treasure map
- plan a special activity for your family
- search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online
- learn the flags of different countries
- have a Spelling Bee
- make up a game for practicing spelling
- make paper airplanes, race them
- learn origami
- make friendship bracelets for your friends
- make a wind chime out of things headed for the garbage
- paint your face
- braid hair
Have fun!
