Ideas to keep an engergetic two-year old busy on cold winter days?

Question

My daughter and I are moving to Georgia in a few weeks and I am a little worried about how to keep her busy during the cold winter days.

Its hot here in Australia at the moment and from about 9am til 1pm she plays outside in her pool or playground. Then after lunch and a sleep she is back outside til dinner. This is how is has been ever since she was able to sit in a wadding pool and I am worried about how she is going to cope with being inside for so long.

Any ideas about how to help her would be great. Of course I do art and craft with her, reading and writing, and spend all day with her.

How am I going to help her deal with being inside for the next few months?

What are suitable outdoor activies during winter? Of course I am aware of the appropriate clothing that she will need to be outside. But what can I really expect for this winter being indoors with my daughter?

for those of you who say that Georgia is not cold, it might not be for those who are used to winter, but I have NEVER had winter. i live in Tropical North Queensland and I do feel the cold!

Answer 1

I have had the same problem w/ my 3 year old! If she is used to playing in the pool then maybe look into getting a membership to the YMCA or a local club that has an indoor pool...so she can swim all year around! Also YMCA's have great activities for kids like soccer and basketball! Get her involved in Dance or Gymnastics which is fun for her and fun for you to watch! Look around your neighborhood too...i am sure there will be other moms w/ the same dilema.. set up a play date w/ some other kids! Have special days where you take her to the movies....or you can rent one! If all else fails play in the snow! I wish you good luck and safe moving!

Answer 2

Well, proper clothing is the key. Long pants, and dress in layers so when she gets warm from exercising, she can take off a layer or two -- oh, and bring along a tote bag.

Georgia, from my perspective, isn't really cold. I'm sure you will get used to it in a few weeks, if you go out everyday, and don't overheat your home. Really! We in the more schizophrenic climes go from 30 degree days to 5-6 degree days in a matter of weeks, and it's cold at first, but the human body is very adaptable. Up in the real frozen north, there are days when you can't be outside more than an hour or you risk frostbite. Georgia, it's a matter of piling on more clothing or being more active.

Take nature walks. Enjoy the snow, if you get any. You can easily spend most of the morning in a playground or your backyard. Home for a warm lunch, and a nap, and you can spend a couple hours outside again.

On rainy days (or snowy days -- but again, I doubt you'll have too many of those -- and do take advantage of playing in the snow when you have a chance, it's very fun!) you can make an obstacle course in your living room -- put a blanket over two chairs for a tunnel, a baby-blanky on the floor for a "pond", flat cushions or place mats for stepping stones, etc.

Balloon volleyball is also a pleasant way to spend indoor time.

Wrestling is good, too (-:. You can do foot wrestling (place your soles together and see how far she can push you), arm wrestling, back-to-back wrestling while sitting down, etc.

Also, invent your own Ministry of Funny Walks.

Dance to a music video -- either for kids or for adults! Make up ballets or modern dance pieces. Branch out and rent some belly-dancing or Thai dance DVDs. You can also spend some of your time making dance costumes out of paper.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

I love Australia. But here in Tasmania it gets a bit rough during winter. So this is what I learnt:

So long as you are able to supervise her all the time, and don't mind a mess, give her her own kitchen cupboard full of things she can play with like peanut butter and dried coconut. Teach her that at certain times she can pretend to cook with the stuff from her cupboard. At her age she will be totally absorbed in things like scooping cheap peanut butter out of a jar with a spoon. Kitchen stuff is great for kids because they get to play with their hands, mix stuff, make messes, eat the toys, use rolling pins, help wash the dishes, eat the toys . . . so long as you are patient and don't mind cleaning up, it will keep her going for a while and you get to try her on lots of new food tastes as well.

I usually found that my son and I do get cranky being inside all day together. Never mind. So we argue sometimes and don't talk to each other for a bit; well, we get over it. Cabin fever! Good luck.

Answer 4

First Georgia is not that cold during the winter, she will have plenty of days that are warm enough to play outdoors. I love art kits for the winter months... just get a large roll of paper (ikea $7) crayons, paint, construction paper, kid scissors, etc. This will keep her entertained for hours on end day after day

Answer 5

You could get a lil playground that goes inside for her to play on, lil toy cars that they sit in r great for keeping them entertained although if ur house is really small it may not work to well.
Maybe she could go to a play group and meet some lil friends, if u know the parents maybe they can come over with there kids and they could play tag and things together.
You could get a mini trampoline for her, or them lil ballerina sets they have out, they come with the mat and dvd and it keeps her active.
Good luck :)

Answer 6

here in Wisconsin where the temp. can dip well below zero on some days in winter.....I take ours to the local gymnastics club, they have an open session for kids a couple days a week...if I didn't do something like this to burn their energy (2 & 4 yr old) I would go crazy! and instead of cute little boys I would have bouncing super balls...lol we also go to the local hotel during the winter they have open swiming sessions in their pool and the cost is cheap and well worth it.