Cabin Fever?

SURVIVING THE WINTER WITH LITTLE ONE’S

I have three young (ages 8, 5, and 3) spirited children.  By spirited, I mean I am really sorry if you ever have or ever do find yourself in line with us at the local Walmart checkout line!  

This time of year can be challenging for parents of young kids.  Christmas is over, you are broke and it is about to get extremely cold.  All of you will be catching not only real fevers but worse…CABIN FEVER!

So how can you prepare to stay sane in the dead of winter between being trapped inside, administering does of Tylenol and antibiotics and listening to the sounds of incessant coughing all night?  A little preparation can go a long way.  It is a horrible feeling to finally get your kids to bed and think we yelled and screamed all day or we did nothing but watch TV. 

Here are some tips to keeping it together during the Winter months.

1. Novelty goes a long way.  Find some time to go to a store, Walmart, Target or Michaels. First purchase, a rubber maid container.  Fill it with cheap items…shaving cream, finger paint, string, beads, pipe cleaners, tape, solo cups, cookie mix, frosting, play doh, new board games, pasta, glue and any other items that are on sale that look interesting or fun.  This bin will need to stay up high and out of reach.  It comes out when everyone is about to go crazy and you pick a fun activity to do.  Your kids will love it and you can pat yourself on the back for getting through a tough afternoon without turning on the TV or turning into momzilla.
2. For those days when you just HAVE to get out of the house…here are a few low to no cost ideas.  
1. The local library-free
2. Indoor pool
3. Sledding
4. Winter nature hike 
5. Building snowmen
6. Trip to the children’s museum in Bloomington
7. McDonalds Playland (if you are ok with germs)
8. Bowling
3. TV and electronics are not totally evil, sometimes when everyone is just tired or sick a PJ day on the couch may be the trick.  Veggie Tales videos seem to entertain all ages in our house.  

If you find that everyone has some energy but it is too nasty out to go to the gym some Just Dance or Wii Fit is a really great option.  In our house we like to just put on some fun music and have a dance a thon.

1. Other indoor activity ideas
1. Charades
2. Eye Spy
3. Simon Says
4. Build a fort
5. Indoor Obstacle course or relay races
6. Duck Duck Goose
7. Hide and Seek
8. Baking
2. Parents need breaks from their kids.  Some of us more than others.  This has nothing to do with being a good or bad parent.  We all have different tolerance levels for noise, chaos and parenting demands.  Find a friend who has similar needs and see if you can take turns having some alone time.  Play dates can help entertain your kids too and allow you to get a couple of things done.  If funds allow, get a baby sitter every couple of weeks and go out alone

Lastly, remember your house does not need to be spotless.  Get done what needs to get done and then get on the floor or sit at the kitchen table and talk, play, create, have fun with your kids.  This is the key to building an open relationship with them.

Maggie Bagley is a licensed clinical social worker who has extensive experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, anxiety and behavioral disorders. She is a therapist and owner at One Counseling and Wellness.