How to Combat Cabin Fever With a Toddler

When the weather turns chilly, getting outdoors with your little one is more difficult. While on seasonally pleasant days, you might head outside for fresh air or a change of scenery, you'll need to think of some engaging indoor activities for entertainment, too. Spending more time inside with little ones makes it difficult for kids to expend energy, which can lead to behavior problems. When cabin fever sets in, take quick action to keep your toddler busy and channel energy positively.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft ball
  • Finger paints
  • Pudding
  • Baking sheet
  • Craft dough
  • Dried rice or sand
  • Paper
  • Nontoxic glue stick

Instructions

    • 1

      Plan entertaining indoor games or pastimes for your youngster. Build a simple tent in the living room by draping a blanket over a table. Sit with your toddler and roll a soft ball back and forth between you. Find some space in the center of a room and encourage some gentle stretching activities, such as touching toes, reaching arms up high and stretching arms out to the side.

    • 2

      Bundle up on chilly days and brave the cold weather outdoors together. As long as it's not raining and the temperatures are not brutally cold with high winds and whipping snow or ice, your little one can enjoy time outdoors for a few minutes. Dressed warmly, with boots, snowsuit, hat and mittens, you and your toddler can play in the snow, take a walk around the block, swing on the swing set or play fetch with the dog. Unless the weather is too cold for safety or too wet for comfort, strive to take your toddler outdoors every day to give her fresh air and expend energy.

    • 3

      Provide sensory and art activities for your toddler. Some ideas for activities include finger painting, painting with pudding on a baking sheet, working with soft craft dough, playing with dried rice or sand in a large bowl or even just ripping paper and gluing it onto another sheet of paper with a nontoxic glue stick.

    • 4

      Invite a little friend over for a play date to break up a long morning or afternoon. With another little one available for play -- and the little one̵7;s parent -- both you and your toddler can enjoy some distraction and connection with new faces.

    • 5

      Participate in weekly programs that peer interaction and engaging activities. Libraries often offer toddler story time hours with stories, songs and art projects. Sign your toddler up for a dance class, gymnastics class or just a toddler/parent class that features a variety of specific activities such as games and art projects.

    • 6

      Plan additional excursions to get out of the house regularly. Wander around a shopping mall -- they often feature play places for little ones. Visit a restaurant with an indoor playground. Go swimming at an indoor swimming pool.

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