January in the Pacific Northwest. The holiday decorations are down and it’s back to the usual routine. With all the sparkly anticipation of the early winter season behind us, the rest feels gray and gloomy. The Encompass team put our heads together to offer a few activity ideas for making the best of the next few months. Because let’s be honest. It’s not just January. For many, the winter blues can last right through February and even into March.
 
 
 

Inside Fun

Let the light in!
Before mentioning activities, our number one tip during daylight hours is to open all the blinds and curtains and let the light in! These winter months are dark. Even if we’re not outside, soaking up natural daylight is a game-changer for our moods and energy levels.

Build a blanket fort
That age-old activity from when we were kids? Turns out, it’s timeless. Help the kids grab sheets and blankets and go to work. Make it cozy with lights, stuffed animals, and pillows, then settle in. Books, coloring, puzzles, snacks – everything is more fun when you’re in a fort.

Sensory tubs
One of our most popular activities when we are out in the community is our sensory tubs. We fill them with rice, dried lentils, crinkly papers, fuzzy balls, and more. Then we bury puzzle pieces for kids to find so they can build a puzzle. Or they do a dinosaur match, looking for toy dinosaurs and matching them to a picture. This is an easy activity to replicate at home and creates fun quiet time entertainment.

Get cooking!
At a basic level, kids love to help pour and stir ingredients or run the mixer. Start with something simple, like Jello or cake. As they get older, help them read a recipe, use measuring cups and spoons, or set the oven temperature. If you’re feeling brave – give them a separate bowl to try cracking an egg. They will learn this skill faster than you might think, but only if you let them practice.

For more mileage out of your cooking activity, consider baking cupcakes or cookies. Once cooled, arm the kids with decorating supplies – frosting, writing icing, sprinkles. Be sure to take a picture because these works of art are too tasty to last for long.

FaceTime family or friends
When you’re feeling housebound, it can help to connect with loved ones. If your typically chatty kid suddenly doesn’t know what to talk about, have them choose a new or favorite book and let it guide the conversation. What’s it about? Who are the characters? What’s their favorite part? This is particularly fun when the FaceTime session is with other kids, and everyone comes ready to share.

Games
Board games, yes. Always. Whether it’s something new from the holidays or an old favorite, board games are a great way to get everyone together and pass the time away. But consider other games that get little bodies moving. See how long kids can keep a balloon in the air. Play musical statues. Create a scavenger hunt. Build a simple obstacle course with beanbags, cushions, rings, and other toys. Time how long it takes to run it. Play The Floor is Lava. You can find many more suggestions on the Internet. Tip: Be an active participant, not just the person running things. More fun for everyone!

Build
While it can be easy to think of this in the traditional sense of Legos, why not get creative? Give the kids a big stack of Dixie cups and watch them go town. It’s crazy how much entertainment can be found in something so simple. Try it.

Get Outside!

Step One: Try on those winter clothes
Kids grow fast. If you haven’t already, make an afternoon of dragging out the heavy coats, snow pants, snow boots, beanies, and winter gloves. Because if the snow comes – you want to be ready! And if we do get snow – we think you know what to do here.

Embrace the rain
Sadly, our gray winter days are more likely to yield rain than snow. But we still need to get outside. Grab the raincoats and boots and go for a nature walk. Have some towels on hand and let the kids jump in the puddles, stomp in the mud, and dance in the rain. Do it with them! Kids love it when we let loose and get silly. Is it messy? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes.

Visit the playground
Remember that playgrounds aren’t just for summer. Head to your favorite local spot or try a new one for something different. Take a thermos of hot chocolate for a warm treat.

Getting outside in these winter months is so important. The fresh air and exercise are good for everyone, even if the effort seems big.

Go on a Field Trip

Storytime at your local library
Most King County Library branches offer weekly family storytimes. These sessions are free and can vary from babies to toddlers to all ages. Check out https://kcls.org/storytimes/ for more information. Be sure to check some books out while you’re there!

Explore a museum
Here’s a hot tip: Did you know The King County Library provides a limited number of free museum, park, and zoo passes for library cardholders? Think KidsQuest, the Museum of Flight, The Northwest Railway Museum, The Seattle Aquarium, and more. Check out https://kcls.org/museum-passes/ to learn how the program works and start taking advantage of this amazing opportunity!

Go swimming
It may be winter, but water is always fun. Most indoor pools offer public swimming sessions at a reasonable price. Always check for the latest schedule. Note: The pool at the Si View Community Center is closed through mid-February for upgrades. Check out Julius Boehm Pool in Issaquah as an alternative.

Find an indoor playground
Help your kids get the wiggles out. Our friends at Si View Community Center operate a twice-weekly Indoor Playground for kids 0-5 years. For a small fee, kids can run, jump, and play while building social skills. As a bonus – grown-ups can have grown-up conversations! Registration is required. Learn more here: https://www.siviewpark.org/indoor-playground.phtml

Try ice skating
Our friends at Sno-King Ice Arena offer daily public skating sessions for kids and grown-ups starting from age 2 and up. Skate rentals are available, and experienced staff will be on hand to help get you started if you’re new to the ice.  Learn more at https://www.snokingicearenas.com/program/public-skating/.

These gray winter months will come to an end. In the meantime, a bit of planning and intentionality can help fill our weeks with fun, memory-making experiences. And the great news is, even now, our daylight hours grow ever longer. We can do this.