The time has come where my couch is no longer just for sitting and the stairs are a new, interesting place to watch what happens when you toss toys down them. We have entered the middle of winter.
During the warmer months, we can head outside to release a little energy and explore the town on a walk to the park or the library. Now, with sub-freezing temperatures, we are stuck inside, working to find new and creative ways to stay active with both the mind and body.
A couple of years ago, when I had my first encounter with winter and children, I found the couch was a favorite place to climb, roll and basically try anything dangerous that seemed fun. I decided a better place to play would be a new indoor slide, and for children ages 1 and 2, it was great.
The following year made my husband and I discover that a two bedroom house was no longer going to cut it. Month after month in the confined space, with the girls sharing a bedroom brought us to our wit’s end both during playtime and at bedtime.
An overall need for more space brought us to our new house, which led me to believe the winter stuffiness might not be so bad this year. I have to say, it has helped having more space and several rooms to travel and play. But, for the first time this winter season, the cushions came off the couch to make a slide/bridge play area that lasted all afternoon.
Thankfully, the girls got a large haul of Christmas toys and activities this year that seems to be keeping their attention longer than in years past. My personal favorites include the marble run and magnet building pieces.
We have already built, rebuilt and built again dozens of configurations of the marble run and are exploring shapes and building combinations with the magnets. I have to say, I love the new learning toys and I’m already looking to add to our collection to make larger, more complicated configurations.
Always a favorite, Play-Doh is a part of our daily routine. Whether they are using the cookie cutters to make dessert or “growing” crazy hair in their Minion set, it always ends up with mixed Play-Doh the color of muddy water.
We have been working on putting away our Play-Doh so they can play with it again, but I am still finding dried pieces that ventured away from the Play-Doh table almost every night.
We will keep working to entertain and get the energy out while nature is frozen, but I can’t wait to get back outside and play in the grass and sun in a few months.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534
or jpierson@newtondailynews.com