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Dec 2009  |  By Meredith Sinclair  |  Comments (0)

A Stuck Inside Guide: Tips and Tricks for Preschooler Entertainment

TAGS: January 2010 magazine, preschool play ideas, gak recipe

Lets’s face it. Chicago winters are tough. But don’t let the snow-filled, housebound days get you down. There’s still plenty to do when you’re stuck inside.

Don’t panic. Here are a few tips to keep you and your preschoolers from being taken-out by a nasty case of cabin fever.

1.Rely on your imagination and a novel use of objects you already own. Whether it’s setting up an animal hospital with the obscene amount of stuffed beasts your kids already own, or transforming a box of buttons into a precious gem shop on the dining room table, novelty is the name of the game for the 2- to 5-year-old set. Keep your antenna up for possibilities to use what you already own in novel ways.  Here are a few examples:

• Set up your dining room chairs two by two, and pretend that they are the seats on a train or airplane. Climb aboard with your kids and talk about where you’re headed and what you’ll do when you arrive. Throw some props in there, and you’ll be amazed how long they play.
• Make soapy paint together, and have bath time in the middle of the day.
• Eat dinner underneath the dining room table. Throw a blanket overtop to create a cave, lay a plastic tablecloth on the floor, bring your flashlights, some placemats and your imaginations and dine “underground.”  Note: This is probably not the night to serve spaghetti.

2. Get messy ... and deal with it. If your playroom doesn’t look like a Pottery Barn Kids catalog, children are used in those ads anyway. Messy play is the best kind, and it’s far less stressful if you give them their own space in which to create.

Find a small trash-able table that can take up winter residence in your kitchen or other mess-friendly zone.  This allows your kids the freedom to paint, craft and concoct gooey substances all winter without worry.  (Gak is one goo that’s a must try). You can also create an indoor sand box using a giant plastic storage bin and several bags of cornmeal.  Just put a plastic tablecloth underneath the bin and dump in the cornmeal along with some shovels, funnels, measuring cups and tiny toys. When they’re finished playing, pop the lid on and store it for next time.  

3. Misery loves company, so bring in your friends. Don’t try and go it alone, girls. Team up with a like-minded mom and design some indoor play experiences together.  You can share the load, the mess and maybe a glass of wine during naptime.

4. Be resourceful. It takes a village to raise a mom … you just have to know where to find your tribe. Make It Better has built that community online. Log on to share ideas and grow your connections.

Try these kid-friendly recipes for indoor fun:

Soapy Paint for the Tub

• 1 cup mild detergent flakes (found in the detergent section of the grocery store)
• 5 tablespoons of water
• Food coloring
• Zipper-top sandwich bags

Directions: Put the flakes, water and a few drops of color in a bowl. It's best if you put the mixture together with an electric mixer until it reaches the consistency of whipped cream. Make a few different colored batches and place into sandwich bags and seal. When you're ready to paint, snip one of the bottom corners of the bag and squeeze.

Gak

• 1 cup liquid starch
• 2 cups white Elmer's glue
• food coloring

Directions: Add food coloring to liquid starch. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. This is a slightly nasty process and will resemble slimy small intestines, which means your kids will love it. Knead the mixture together until totally smooth and firm. This should take about 10 - 15 minutes. If it needs to be a bit firmer, just add small amounts of liquid starch.