We know that late winter in Wisconsin can be challenging—so we worked together with 1000 Friends of Wisconsin to compile our favorite ideas to stay active and well. You'll find all of them below, sorted into three categories: indoor fun, outdoor fun, and emotional/calming activities.
Be sure to print off our Fridge Page—a list of all activities here in abbreviated, printer-friendly form. That way, when cabin fever strikes, you can take a quick glance and find an idea or activity. If you need more details, you can always visit us right here!
Ready to get started? Click on one of the three categories or scroll down to see the entire list. We also have compiled some other resources in the resources section at the bottom of this page.
And be sure to share the fun! We'd love to see your adventures! Tag Healthy Kids Collaborative on Facebook (@healthykidscollaborative) or Twitter (@healthykidsdane). Use #healthykids and #gotcabinfever hashtags!
Outdoor Fun
Ice Skating
It may take some time to get used to moving on ice skates, but it's a great winter activity that will keep you warm and active. Head to a local park or pond to give it a try! Look up the local Parks Department or sporting goods store if you need rentals.
Snow Art
Snowpeople, snow angels, igloos, forts—your imagination can help you to create winter art with the snow!
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of items to find around your neighborhood. Share the list with your neighbors and see who can find everything. Bonus: Have your neighbors hide things in their window or in their yard as items to find on the scavenger hunt.
Sledding Olympics
Try all sorts of sledding styles and have your own sledding olympics!
Category ideas: Fastest Single Rider, Fastest Double Rider, Best Trick, Silly Style Award, and Best Wipeout!
Animal Tracks Scavenger Hunt
Go on a walk and find three different animal tracks. Be sure to find some tracks that belong to a bird and some that belong to a mammal. Here's a helpful resource: www.eekwi.org/animals/tracks
Indoor Fun
Indoor Circuits Challenge
Do this sequence of exercises as fast as you can—take a 30-60 second break and do it again! Try to do 3 or more "circuits" in a row.
- 10 Sit Ups (Crunches)
- 10 One-Legged Hops (5 on each leg)
- 10 Jumping Jacks
- Challenge: Add an exercise of your choice!
Obstacle Course
Pick four things from inside your house. Build an obstacle course with them! Then, jump, dance, or speedwalk around (or over or under!) them three times. In order to "cross the finish line," pick up all four things and put them away!
Drinking Water Challenge
Track how much water you drink each day for a whole week. 8 cups (64 oz) per day is a good goal for most people!
Chopped: Home Edition
Pick four mystery cooking ingredients. Pick teams and someone to judge. Each team has one hour to create a custom dish from the mystery ingredients to impress the judges!
Make a Stop Motion Video
Start by making a storyboard of what you want the movie to include and then start taking pictures! The small movements you make for each picture will test your patience and provide lots of laughs as you make the video. Find a stop-motion app to make your video.
Bird Feeders!
Be creative with what's laying around the house, or use this guide to homemade feeders. It's a great craft project, which will turn into a bird-watching adventure! Save a milk carton or use an old bagel to make a homemade bird feeder.
Emotional Wellness
Gratitude Journaling
Find or make a notebook to use as a gratitude journal for the month. Write down at least one thing you are grateful for or happy about before you go to sleep or when you get up each day.
Mindful Breathing
Find a quiet place to sit. Close your eyes and breathe in slowly through your nose, saying "In". Then breathe out. Do 10 in/out breaths. Try doing this once in the morning and once at night.
Winter Poetry
Use your senses to write a seasonal poem. Look or go outside and pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, and even the tastes of winter to help give you some ideas. Try a three-lined haiku for a challenge!
Indoor Winter Olympics
Have each person in your home choose a board or card game to play for your family's first ever Indoor Winter Olympics! Keep score and think of silly prizes to award the gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
Workspace Makeover
We've been learning and working at home for almost a year now! If you haven't already, give your work space a new look or a good tidy, especially if it's a multi-purpose area. Keep it simple or go big to help your family make the most out of your working spaces.
