With winter on our doorstep, families will start to spend more time indoors. Even when families are generally close-knit, being cooped up indoors can soon lead to boredom and frustration. This is particularly true when siblings are prone to annoy one another when required to spend too much time together. Thankfully, there are a number of fun-filled activities the entire family can engage in to help pass the time, and planning ahead is certainly a great idea! Partaking in fun activities and games, can also help strengthen the family bond and create memories! Here are a few ideas to consider when planning to have some fun with your family this winter.
Keep it Simple
Playing board games with the family is always a fun way to keep both adults and children occupied. Depending on how old your children are, you can pick a selection of games ranging from Jenga and Dungeons and Dragons to Snakes and Ladders and Candy Land. There is even a wide range of inclusive activities for kids with special needs that don’t require anything but your imagination and a few basic household items to set up. Simple matching games can be enjoyed by everyone and parents have been known to have as much fun with play-doh as their children!
Don't Forget About Card Games!
Card games can be just as engaging as board games, and with no set up involved, it is just so simple to start a game. Not to mention that card games are great to take along on a family vacation or even for a long car ride. My kids especially enjoyed the Israeli card game Taki, for years, which is similar to Uno, and of course card games like Sets and Swish, are also wonderful, though not for the car as a large table is required. With the classic deck of cards often forgotten, buy a book about card games and get the family interested in exploring the wealth of simple games passed down a few generations! I used to love playing solitaire!
Don’t Neglect Tradition
While there are tons of modern games and other activities to engage in as a family, there are quite likely also some fun, traditional games that the whole family can enjoy. Although many traditional games are known to be played during specific holidays, there is really no reason why you can’t play some of them during a regular family gaming night. It is true, we play with dreidels generally during chanukah only, but if you didn't get the chance, why not do it now? Or for a new twist on dreidels, play with spinning tops of all kinds. And how about some traditional games once played by the grandparents, like bingo or dominos? I've been wanting to learn how to play mah jong, as my grandmother loved it, and it was for some reason quite popular!
Bring Outdoor Games Inside
If you can’t engage in fun, outdoor activities because of the cold weather, why not bring a few of them inside? Although playing ball indoors may not be a good idea, there are many other games to consider. Even children (and seniors) with limited mobility can participate in a few rounds of ‘Simon Says’ or a relaxing session of yoga that can help clear the mind while also promoting flexibility and muscle strength. Making kites together as a family to fly when the warmer weather returns is another exciting activity that both young and old can participate in. If you have never made a kite before, don't despair, there are countless easy-to-follow instructions available on the internet.
Engaging in fun activities as a family is not just enjoyable, but very beneficial as well. As long as you make an effort to ensure the activities are as inclusive as possible, there is no reason why the whole family can’t partake in the fun.
