I am going crazy here! This has seemed like the coldest/longest Michigan winter since we've lived here (7 winters now) and it's not even over yet. Maybe it's because I have two restless kids that ask "Where are we going to go today?" and more preschool/playgroup committments and Dr. appointments than previous years so we have had to brave the roads and weather more often. Also, this is one of the first years I haven't had a little baby to keep me preoccupied during this time so it's just dragging on. We've still got probably two months of winter to go and I'm dying here! To combat this a little I've been trying to take the kids to some of the indoor play areas more often to let them burn off some energy and break up our week. Here we are at Jungle Java
http://www.junglejavaplay.com/annarbor/annarbor.php, which the kids love and call Jungle Fava. I don't know why...
Leah kept getting in trouble at this place because she kept taking her socks off (which is against the rules) so she could climb up the slide. I put her socks back on about 100 times in the 3 hours we were there and she eventually threw one of them behind the black netting and I had to get an employee to help me get it out, the same one that called me out for having a kid with no socks on. I'm embarrassed to go back there anytime soon...
So, does anyone have any other fun ideas for combating the winter blues with young kids besides destroying my house with paint/cookie dough/mini-lego blocks?
Leah kept getting in trouble at this place because she kept taking her socks off (which is against the rules) so she could climb up the slide. I put her socks back on about 100 times in the 3 hours we were there and she eventually threw one of them behind the black netting and I had to get an employee to help me get it out, the same one that called me out for having a kid with no socks on. I'm embarrassed to go back there anytime soon...
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4 comments:
Chrissy, sadly, there really isn't any solution to Cabin Fever that doesn't include messing up the house! However, you can keep the mess localized. For example, I pulled out the playdough yesterday and all my boys played with it for 3 hours! I even sat down and made a few things! It was really quite fun. Although it did make a mess, it was well worth the kids being occupied and not whining at me that they were bored. We also love to play xbox games, like Shrek! We could take up an hour just playing that. My boys love board games, and card games, and they love to do their own coloring while I scrapbook! Although I hate bundling my kids up to go outside, my boys absolutely love playing outdoors. And it seems like they are much happier when they can get out and run around. Hope this gives you a few ideas! Popcorn and a movie is always fun to do, (and you might even catch a few shut eyes)! Good luck!
You should get the girls some cheap digital cameras (don't go as cheap as the $30 ones designed for kids... they break too quickly and too easily... but grab a couple of them when they go down to like $60/70 range). Then you could go on photography safaris throughout your area, house, dad's work, where ever that cold Michigan wind blows you :)
I bought one for my little brother years ago and we do this every so often and it's an absolute blast! Not to mention, you'd be surprised at the really cool pictures they get because of the angles they shoot from! (another reason to not go too cheap... because you'll end up wanting to print and keep more pictures than you think). You'd probably have to get one for each girl, but it's worth the initial expense for the hours and hours of entertainment it brings. And think of all the free places you can go with and make a bigger activity out of it!
** Also, if you decide to do this... make sure you only put lithium batteries into the cameras... especially from the get-go... for whatever reason the alkaline batteries destroy those little suckers (even though the manufacture puts a free alkaline battery in the box... resist the temptation to use it or you'll be buying a new camera sooner than you need to!)**
SO sorry to tell you that it's 55 degrees here today and we're going to the zoo! :) We also had very nice weather yesterday and the kids played at the park for 2 hours. Wish you were HERE!!!
How funny--Jere is at Jungle Java right now with the kids. I hope they keep their socks on! :)
We also love to go to Jump City because the adults are allowed to jump on the inflatables, too and it's great exercise. We're usually exhausted in about half an hour! Give it a go!
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