Instead of feeling frustrated by the cold, dark period from January to March, try to savor a slower pace, and incorporate more deliberate solitude and quiet time into your days. Teach your children to do the same — though kids are better at being in the moment. Here are some ideas of cozy winter traditions for comfort & fun to sustain you and your family through the coldest, darkest days.
Winter’s themes are dormancy and regeneration. By honoring rather than fighting this quieter part of the natural cycle, you’ll be ever more ready for the blossoming of spring. Unless you’re the type who begins waxing her skis as soon as the first snowflake falls, the ideal antidote to winter’s chill and gloom is to turn inward and give in to the natural tendency to retreat.
It can be a delightful time to retreat to the shelter of home and hearth and get things done without the distractions afforded by the other seasons. Direct your focus inward to stay in balance, and break the season’s monotony with fun, comforting treats.
Winter comforts and activities
Prepare for a relaxing snow day if a snowstorm is headed your way — a 1000- or 1500-piece jigsaw puzzle, some good-quality cocoa for making hot chocolate, a few entertaining videos and good books, and plenty of wood, if you have a fireplace or wood stove.
Stop fighting the snow and have some fun with it—go sledding, snow shoeing, or cross-country skiing; take a walk in the silence of winter woods. Do corny snow activities with your partner or kids—make snowmen, snow angels, snow ice cream.
Put up nesting boxes and bird feeders for wintering birds. You’ll be astonished at the number of birds that remain in cold areas for the winter, and at the amount of pleasure gained from observing them. You’ll find everything you need to know about feeding and sheltering wintering birds in this publication of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Have staples on hand to cook comforting soups and stews all season. To create a soup tradition, have a weekly “soup and bread night” all winter. Make sure you have your favorite seasonings on hand—an all-purpose seasoning mix, good-quality curry powder, an Italian seasoning blend are among those I find indispensable. Add good pot and ladle, attractive soup bowls or crocks, and some great recipes and you’re set for the season.
Celebrate the solstice. Many of us approach winter solstice—the shortest day of the year— with dread. On the flip side, though, the day marks the beginning of light returning as the sun starts moving northward again.
Winter solstice is part of the ancient tradition of Yule, celebrated December 20 to 23. Many people like to use this time to decorate their Christmas tree and put up lots of lights. Others fill their homes with lit candles, build a bonfire, or sing and tell stories about the sun.
Winter cabin fever fun
If you have preschoolers or young school-age children home on snow days and sick days, creating special cabin fever rituals will help you actually look forward to, rather than dread, those long days at home.
Some parents told me of a “cabin fever” drawer filled with special games, toys, and treats that come out only on these occasions, lending an otherwise gloomy day a festive air. When my children were young, snow days would mean pulling out a favorite kitchen chemistry book. They’d be excited and occupied experimenting with baking soda and vinegar, cornstarch and water, and other experiments.
Several cold, homebound days in a row can be challenging for parents of young children, but activities specifically designated for these kinds of days can make them feel more like a cozy retreat. Here are some simple ideas:
Indoor picnic: On the most dismal February day possible, plan a festive indoor picnic. Take a break from the predictable comfort foods of the season and have the kids help prepare an array of light finger foods, sandwiches, potato salad, and lemonade. Spread a blanket and, if possible, have the picnic before a cheering fire.
Indoor camping trip: Similarly, plan an annual indoor camping trip just when everyone has really had it with winter, or be ready to have one when a snowstorm is predicted. Borrow a few beautifully photographed books on national parks or other natural wonders from the library.
Decide where you are “going” for your trip by browsing through the books (and in the process, learning about some amazing places). Bring out the sleeping bags and air mattresses; pitch a small pup tent if you have one. Plan a cookout-style meal and tell great stories around a “campfire” (a real roaring fire in your fireplace, or an imagined campfire).
Use flashlights instead of incandescent lights. Have everyone sleep in the living room or family room. This winter spirit-lifter can be great fun even for those who don’t care for real camping trips!
Letter writing: Prepare a box of letter-writing supplies especially for these kinds of stay-at-home days. Have the kids make beautiful cards using collage materials, stamp kits, stickers, and scented markers.
Craft stores are a good source for blank cards and the aforementioned supplies. Once the cards are made, have the children write letters and notes to distant relatives and friends. Make a ceremony out of taking all the mail to the post office. The fun is extended if the kids start getting replies via snail mail!
Baking projects: When my kids were young and cabin fever hit hard, I always turned to the one indoor activity that never seemed to lose its charm—baking. Homemade cookies, muffins, and quick breads go a long way toward brightening days when you feel that winter will never end.
If you’re a bit more ambitious, cabin fever days are the perfect occasions to try the long, slow process of making yeasted breads with your kids. Enjoying warm, wholesome treats fresh from the oven nourishes body, soul, and senses at once.
Dress-up: Just before the winter holidays begin, visit a local thrift shop and stock up on dress-up clothes. Around the time of the holidays, these shops tend to have fancier and more offbeat items that are perfect for this sort of endeavor. Make sure to include accessories like scarves, belts, and hats.
After the clothes are cleaned, find a special container for them, like a wicker laundry basket or a toy chest. Take it out on a day when the winter blues descend, and watch the fun begin. Let the kids do what kids do best and just pretend, or encourage them to make up skits.
Further reading
Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw. This book is a fantastic resource for earth-centered seasonal celebrations. These include solstices, equinoxes, Yule, Ostara, Beltane, and others, with crafts, activities, blessings, meditations, and more, all geared to families with young and older children.
Cracked Corn and Snow Ice Cream: A Family Almanac by Nancy Willard. This beautifully designed and illustrated country almanac takes the reader through the year with significant dates, bucolic lore, projects, and recipes.
Nature’s Art Box: From T-Shirts to Twig Baskets, 65 Cool Projects for Crafty Kids to Make with Natural Materials You Can Find Anywhere by Laura C. Martin. If you’re trying to tempt your kids to venture into the natural world, this book provides ample incentive.
Nature in a Nutshell for Kids: Over 100 Activities You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less by Jean Potter. Same comment as the one above—another fun resource.
Cooking Art: Easy Edible Art for Young Children by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean Potter is an adorable book filled with simple and rewarding cooking projects to do with little ones, great for “cabin fever” diversions.
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