How to Stay Sane With Kids During the Polar Vortex
The news reports that the polar vortex hitting much of the United States this week is bringing the coldest temperatures in a generation. This means that our children have the potential to be the craziest of a generation. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
This is also not one of those times when we have to say, “Eh, what’s cold / snow here? Send them outside! “In some parts of the country people are being told not to leave their homes. Generally. For whatever reason. Even for a minute.
And yet your kids still have the same amount of energy as yesterday, don’t they? By now, I’m sure you’ve played every board game you can handle, littered with plasticine crumbs on your dining room floor, and you’ve done science experiments and crafts. Maybe you even baked cookies or used them in your dinner preparation.
In case you run out of ideas on what to do next, I surveyed our Parenting Facebook group to get their (off-screen) suggestions. These people can be quite creative.
Make a time-lapse animation with LEGO
This first proposal from group member Peter admittedly includes screens, but he says “a non-toxic, addictive version.” He and his child spent the entire day filming the time-lapse animation of the LEGO scene they built. He used this Stop Motion Studio app : “Free version enough.”
Here is a video they made that I showed my son, who reacted: “Yes, we need to do this.” (My favorite part is the random snowman running around the house for no apparent reason.)
Create an indoor obstacle course
This struck me as a good idea because there are endless combinations you can think of; customization is indeed part of the activity and therefore kills extra time.
The parent who suggested it at random prefers hula hoops, Amazon boxes, and egg boxes, but the only limitation here is your imagination (and safety).
Go camping (inside)
Don’t hike outdoors . Guys, there is a polar vortex! Set up a tent in the living room instead. Add sleeping bags, blankets, flashlights, and a cricket sound machine for added impact.
Bonus points if you have everything you need to prepare s’mores.
When all else fails, chase them
Chasing each other was a surprisingly popular proposition in the group. This brings me back to the time I was spending 15-20 minutes a day chasing my preschooler (and / or stalking) around the house. Every evening at about 5 pm he had a sudden, wild burst of energy, and a little chase knocked him out of himself and so tired that he sat and watched the show, and I began to cook dinner.
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