Indoor Winter Activities for Children - Continued

It is sometimes difficult to find a pen pal, but once you do, finding one that is going to be trust worthy so your son or daughter can write to them weekly or so will be a great reading and writing experiment that they will enjoy.  You can find pen pal clubs on line as well at many children’s sites.

Older children fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen are often going to need additional encouragement to keep their selves busy.  They would rather sit in front of the television than have to do something that is going to be useful for their minds or bodies.  These children are old enough to paint their rooms, clean up their rooms, walk the dog around town, go through their clothes and tell you which ones don’t fit any more, and they are most likely going to be interested in decorating the house for the holidays without your help. Because these children feel a little older they want more responsibility and decorating the house for New Years or Valentines is going to be rewarding for them.

Teach your children how to sort clothes, put them in the washer and how to turn the washer on. While this is a task that you often have to over see, you will be preparing them for the future!

Have your children make supper.  Fix easy meals in the microwave or in the oven (under your supervision of course) so that they are practicing on their life skills.

Children who are any where from eight to eighteen can make cookies, cakes or breads while you are supervising the younger ones.  Practicing both for boys and girls will keep them occupied and let you take a little rest at the same time!

Getting an exercise bike and putting it in front of the television is going to keep children of all ages busy while watching television.  Small hand weights can be used while watching television as well, working arms muscles a little while in the house.