Submitted by SpringfieldMoms Contributor Kathleen Clark
During the winter months, we lose our fail-safe boredom buster of going outside. I have a few suggestions for things to do to help limit screen time.
- To start with, as tedious as it may be, encourage tidiness. It is no fun to play with toys that are just lying around like junk. In our house, it helps to keep sets of toys together and inaccessible except when asked for or on certain days. This helps the toys to feel new again and the kids are more likely to play with them. We do this with our tinker toys, blocks, trains, puzzles and a castle set. *SpMoms Editor Tip: check out the new Netflix series: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, she has great tips on how to get the family involved in a major house cleaning up project room by room!
- Another idea is to re-vamp something old with something new. You do not have to go out and buy a new piece to a set. Just the other day, our extensive toy car collection was ‘no fun anymore’. We put a yardstick between two chairs for a bridge, and presto! This inspired a
whole new dimension of fun (for a whole afternoon)! - Encourage a hobby. Some ideas could be rocket building, pinewood derby cars, painting or sketching. If you are involved in a club like 4-H or a scout group, work on those projects. Look for some local contests, such as pinewood derby cars or holiday craft displays to enter a project in.
- For sanity purposes – stop looking at Pinterest so much! Do not be intimidated by those fancy Do-It-Yourself activities that turn out to require day’s worth of planning and a stockpile of items only a hoarder has. Dollar stores and craft stores have a nice selection of craft kits with everything you need to create something of your own. Stock up when you can.
- Read a book – such an old standby. It sounds boring when it is given as an order, so liven it up. Try reading in a blanket fort with a flashlight or in a normally off-limit location like your bedroom, office or under the table.
- It does not have to all be fun and games. For older kids, assign them the task of making a side dish for supper.
- Music – this is often underused.
Turn on the radio. Try a new music genre or look for storytellers and their stories via streaming methods. Karen Dennis, family 
coordinator for the Birth-3 program, gives participants Anna’s Old Boot, a CD with stories and songs. This has become a rainy day favorite in my family. - A supply of puzzles and games with a twist can be fun. Items like Brain Quest cards are fun. We have some fun heavy duty number cards with Eric Carle pictures.
- Above all, set aside a few minutes of your time to do the activity with your children. You do not have to do it the whole time. Remember, a little goes a long way. If you get them off to a good start with an activity, they will stick with it on their own longer, and it will be more fun since the parents helped too.
Kathleen Clark of Scottville can be reached at kathleenclark1999@yahoo.com
