How Do You Keep Your Children Occupied During These Snowy Days?

 This week's Mom's Council question came from mom Amy Sessler Powell.

It's a variation of the eternal question: "What do you want to do?"

The question asks what do you do to keep your children busy in this wintery winter?

Our Swampscott moms know what to do on a snowy day. They and other parents have had lots of practice this winter.

They head in a various directions. 

Heidi McCoy heads for the  great indoors:

When the kids are stuck inside and get restless, it's time to go "camping." 

Throw blankets over chairs and tables to make "tents."  Give them a flashlight or lantern and sleeping bags. 

Have them draw a campfire on paper or poster board.  Give them sticks and marshmallows to "roast." 

Have them draw a "pond" with fish.  Let them use their sticks to go "fishing".  The sky's the limit! 

Mellisa Caplan heads for some indoors recreation:

When my kids are feeling cooped up I try and take them to open swim or open gym at the Y in Marblehead. 

They have a daily schedule and it's free if you are a member and it's affordable if you are not. 

I also enjoy taking them to open gym at Burke's Tumbling.  Jen does a great job with the kids and that too is very inexpensive.

Mindy Hanlon spends time talking and enjoying a movie with her daughter. 

When my daughter was little, I used to get out the blankets and make a fort, play games, make obstacle courses in the house, any thing to keep occupied. 

Now that she is older and our lives are quite busy everyday and we don't get a lot of free time, we have been enjoying the extra time we have been given by shutting off the phones and spending time together. 

Just watching a movie together or taking the time catch up with what is going on can be a welcome change to the usual responsibities we have.

Sara Christie looks to the great outdoors:

I find that the best cure for cabin fever is to get outside.

I love to grab a kid and go for a walk on snow-covered streets. Be creative as you look for ways to get your daily intake of fresh air.

Recently, a friend took one of my sons to the Myopia dog sled races at Appleton Farms in Ipswich.

They had fun watching the race and got to "meet and greet" the dogs afterwards. (more info. at nesdc.org)

What do you do on these snowy days to keep your children occupied?