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The weather outside may be frightful, but the prospect of having the kids home doesn’t have to be.

By Brigitt Earley | December 11, 2020 | MarthaStewart.com | Indoor Activities

Snow days have always been tricky. A single phone call—”School’s canceled!”—changes the whole day, sending parents everywhere scrambling to keep their kids occupied from sun up to sun down. But this winter, moms, and dads face a new and unique challenge: keeping their kids busy at home for days on end. Though many schools are still in session (at least in some capacity), there’s no telling what the coming months will bring. If we learned anything in 2020, it’s to expect the unexpected. Whether in-person school gets cancelled or not, chances are kids will be spending a lot more time at home this winter. And with social distancing restrictions still in place, there will be fewer opportunities to occupy this extra time with trips to play places or play dates with other kids.

What’s the best way to limit cabin fever and keep everyone—kids and adults alike—sane without resorting to hours upon hours of screen time? There are plenty of indoor activities that spark creativity, promote learning, encourage imaginative play, and—most importantly—are fun enough to keep whining and groans of “I’m bored” at bay (at least for a few precious hours). Here, are some clever ideas to inspire you.

Plan a treasure hunt.

Hide a few special treats and prizes around the house, then draw up a treasure map to help guide the kids’ hunt for the goods. While you do this, challenge the kids to come up with pirate costumes to really play the part. If that sort of activity takes more effort than you can muster, here’s an alternative idea: Turn to Etsy, where you can find tons of printable indoor scavenger hunts. All you have to do is download, print, hand out, then come up with a special prize at the end.

Bake your favorite recipes.

Give the kids a cookbook to sift through, and let them pick out a new-to-the-family recipe to try. Making something like a kid-friendly dessert is a great way to keep little ones busy while also teaching important skills. Kids will not only learn how to cook, but they’ll also absorb important math skills through measurements. Plus, you’ll all have something delicious to show for the hours spent.