Just as we began to think that spring had sprung here in Colorado, we’ve been hit with two blizzards in the past week! This not only means some snowy outdoor fun, but also a lot of indoor time on our hands as the temperatures have plummeted. We delved into the Boredom Busters board on the Pi’ikea Street Pinterest page for some indoor play ideas. Here are some of the activities we’ve been using to fill the time and keep little hands busy, plus some fun books to read on a snowy day from our Good Reads for Kids Pinterest board:

This cupcake activity from vol25.typepad.com requires quite a bit of ink to print out, but it was definitely worth it’s weight in ink! My daughter has probably spent 2 hours cutting and pasting these adorable cupcakes together. Great for fine motor skills and sparking imaginations.

These delightful printable dominoes from Handmade Charlotte have also been a favorite activity lately. We haven’t actually played a real domino game with them yet, but kids love making patterns with them or using them to play a matching game.

The simple combination of vinegar, food coloring and baking soda captures the interest of children of all ages. This post from hellobee.com is describing a science experiment for 4th graders, but my 4 year old also loves the bubbly fun of dropping colored vinegar onto a plate of baking soda. This can be a pretty messy activity, so it’s a good idea to use a kitchen counter or art table.

A pretend play cooking station from mamapapabubba.com  inspired me to dig through my cabinets and pour out some mostly-empty bags of rice and beans for my daughter to “cook” with. She loves her play kitchen but it had never occurred to me to actually put real food in the pots and bowls. The addition of real food definitely kept her interested for longer than usual.

We love picture books here at Pi’ikea Street and snowy days are especially nice for snuggling up with a good book or two. Although it is supposedly spring, our recent snow storms have kept us in the mood for some wintry reading material. Our new favorite is a beautiful edition of the Robert Frost poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening illustrated by Susan Jeffers. The illustrations capture the stillness and beauty of a snowstorm perfectly and kids love searching for the forest animals found on each page.

Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli is a another new favorite and we have been reading it constantly this winter. The bright, cheerful illustrations add sparkle to this tale of a town in the middle of a deep freeze. As the icicles grown longer and people grow colder, the mayor finds a way to bring light and warmth to the community. This book also includes a recipe for “Snow Candy” made by pouring hot maple syrup over a pan of snow and we have enjoyed this winter treat several times this year!

Duck Skates by Lynne Berry has been a favorite in our family for many years and I still love reading the tale of five little ducks who go on a skating adventure. The lilting rhyme and adorable watercolor illustrations by Hiroe Nakata make this a book that you will read over and over again.  

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner is a lovely introduction to the world of winter animals. The book follows a father and daughter as they ski through a snowy wood and encounter some woodland animals. At the same time, it shows the animals they don’t see, the ones who are hibernating all around them.

Stay warm this week and leave us a comment with your favorite cold-weather activities!