Yes, it’s winter and its cold with dreams of with summer becoming a distant memory – you may even be getting used to waking up to dark grey mornings. If you’re like me, sometimes it can leave you feeling unmotivated and wanting to stay in bed, but if you have kids you know that staying tucked up cosy under the covers just isn’t an option!
So, I’ve gathered together my top vintage inspired cold and rainy day activities, all tried and tested with my son, that are guaranteed to keep you and your little ones entertained.
Indoor Picnic / Teddy Bear’s Picnic
The easiest way to add a bit of excitement to lunchtime!
Simply spread out a blanket in your lounge room, serve yummy finger food and get their teddies to keep your little one company while they fill their tummies. The blanket also means an easy tidy up!
Get Baking
Baking is a firm favourite for a stay-at-home day because it is a fantastic (learning) activity and gives you something tasty to eat at the end of it!
The trick is picking something simple. I recommend making something fuss-free, like biscuits, jam tarts, custard tarts or a Quick One-Egg Cake.
Here’s a fool proof recipe for Quick One-Egg Cake you to try at home from Wonderful Ways to Prepare Cakes & Cookies, 1977, a light vanilla cake with ingredients usually found in the house so no need to buy anything ‘special’. Perfect with tea or coffee.
1 ½ cups self-rising flour
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup white sugar
¼ cup (62g) melted butter
1 egg
½ cup milk
½ tsp vanilla essence
- Stir dry ingredients together
- Stir in butter
- Add egg beaten with milk and vanilla essence. Beat well.
- Pour into buttered and floured 20 cm cake tin
- Bake at 1800C oven for ½ hour
Make A Cubby House
This brings back so much nostalgia for me. I made a lot of cubby houses growing up usually with chairs, blankets, bed sheets, pillows etc. Cubby Houses make everything a little more fun and if you combine with an indoor picnic then you’re guaranteed a fun time.
Go outside and splash in puddles
Be inspired by Peppa Pig and go and splash in some muddy puddles!
Pop on some gumboots and a raincoat to brave the weather. Being out in the rain when you’re prepared and expecting it can be a lot of fun. Jump in puddles, look at the raindrops, look at plants, trees etc – it’s a different and fun learning environment.
Once you’ve done head inside for a hot chocolate to warm up….bliss.
