If you are like most Ohio parents this time of year, you and your children are probably starting to experience cabin fever. With the cold temperatures limiting outdoor activities, you may be looking for creative ways to keep your children busy indoors without resorting to watching television. Here are a few ideas to help fight cabin fever.

Get Creative With Play

Creative play is essential for children’s development, especially when boredom hits after being stuck indoors for long periods of time.

• Have dance parties. Choose your child’s favorite songs, turn the lights down and use glow sticks or fun lights to dance out some energy.

• Bring outdoor toys inside. Bring some of your kids’ favorite outdoor activities indoors. If you have a large and safe enough space, such as a basement, bring the child’s bike or portable slide in to release some extra energy.

• Have family game nights. Pick a few age-appropriate board games, puzzles or card games to get your whole family engaged and laughing.

• Use your house as an obstacle course. Create an indoor obstacle course or treasure hunt throughout your house using household items.

• Embrace the cold. Take your kids outside for short periods of time to play in the snow, ride sleds, make snowmen or have a snowball fight.

Offer Choices

Offering children choices helps them feel in control and empowered.

• Let your child pick dinner. Encourage your children to help decide what to make for dinner and allow them to help with the meal preparation. This can be a great sensory activity for your children, and it encourages them to eat food that they may have never tried before.

• Create a DIY craft station. Set out a selection of age-appropriate art supplies for your child to create an art project of their choice.

• Make chores fun. If your child is resisting chores, offer him or her a choice of which chore they would like to complete first.

• Introduce new hobbies. Is your child interested in stamp collecting, baking or reading? Offer a few recommendations on hobbies you could start together over the winter months.

Encourage Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is an important skill for children – especially when they feel restless indoors.

• Incorporate sensory activities into your child’s play. Create a sensory bin with dried beans, rice, kinetic sand or pompoms. Add scoops and cups for your child to fill.

• Take a few minutes to reset. If your child has a problem focusing, have your child do jumping jacks, laps around the house or yoga poses to release tension.

• Practice breathing exercises. Create a quiet space where your child can go to relax and recharge. Introduce breathing exercises to help your child relax when they are feeling frustrated.