Indoor activities to beat cabin fever

During this time of year, when the holiday hustle and bustle is over and when the weather is gloomy and wet, is when cabin fever seems to set in. This year I’m going to try to help prevent the cabin fever through a few activities I’ve rounded up to keep us busy inside.

1: Ice meltdown

This activity is super easy and uses items you likely have around your house already however it does require prep the day before.

Materials needed:

Cupcake pan/muffin tin

Water

Little figurines

Squirt bottle(s)

Large bin

Squirting water at ice cubes that have bugs frozen inside

Fill the cupcake pan up with water and drop in one figurine into each slot. Freeze overnight. Release the ice cubes into a large bin. Fill up a squirt bottle with warm water and let your kids go wild spraying the ice to melt it and free the figurine.

I've used counting bugs and mini dinosaurs for our figurines. I've also been known to grab the leftover peri bottles from my early postpartum days as squirt bottles! You can also get creative and add in food coloring to the water to add some additional excitement.

2: Bean Play

This activity has been in our house since my son was 2 years old. At 3.5 years old he still enjoys this activity and this one is super easy to put together after you grab a bag of dried beans.

Materials needed:

Dried beans

Medium size container

Cups, spoon, etc.

Boy playing with bugs and beans sorting colors

Take your bag of dried beans and place them into a plastic container. You can also buy several different types of beans for an added variety. Add cups, spoons, or even small construction vehicle toys. Let your child transfer beans between the container and cups, etc.

I like also to put the container in a larger bin to help contain the beans especially when the bean play ends up going outside of the container.

3: Marshmallow houses

This activity was one I thought of as I had a failed doing a marshmallow snowman activity. I was quick to think of what we could do with marshmallows and toothpicks.

Materials needed:

Toothpicks

Mini marshmallows

Start with putting together toothpicks and marshmallows to form a cube and then add the angled roof on the top with 3 toothpicks and one marshmallow. Viola a house!

It is not a 100% independent activity for my 3-year-old but after we did one house together he did replicate and build a few more with just a bit of help.

What other ways are you trying to beat cabin fever this winter? I will take any and all ideas to help keep things fresh over here!

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