Brr… winter’s cold can keep us inside more and cause chapped lips and even frostbite. I’m Karen Whiting and I recall at grandma’s house with her big Newfoundland Dog my older brother and I took breaks inside that doghouse with the furry dog to warm us up. We also made plenty of snow people and snow angles followed by hot chocolate. At an older age I was snowed in at grandma’s. We spent the time using the papers and box from chocolates plus chenille stems and other scraps to make dolls and doll clothes. Consider ways to be safe, warm, and enjoy the cold.

Watch for dry, itchy skin and chapped lips. Use moisturizers to keep skin healthy as well as lip balm. The cold can also bring on a brain fog so it may take longer to focus and for children to finish papers. Engage young minds with puzzles, reading, or games. Dress in layers to conserve energy and also to take off a layer when you get too warm. Watch for signs of winter blues (sluggishness, sadness, or oversleeping) and make sure children get to socialize and play.

Help children learn about layers with paper or felt dolls. They can add clothes and talk about what helps them stay warm from hats to socks. Share how air between the layers works like insulation to trap heat. Talk about what foods help prevent colds: citrus fruits, nut, fatty fish and eggs, and leafy greens. Talk about birds and animals in the cold and put out food for critters.

Stay hydrated. Gather together and read aloud or share stories. Add activities that use hands such as blocks, cooking, pillow fights or nerf ball games, and even reorganizing a room. Enjoy a devotions together and thank God for the weather and ways to keep warm.

Move your body and limbs as exercise or dance to music. This boosts circulation to keep you warmer.

Have fun watching your breath and playing in the snow or ice. Breathe through the nose to humidify the cold air before it reaches the lungs. Take short walks or simply dance outside. Put out a different sized containers of water and check to see how fast the water freezes. See if any pancake ice forms. Take photos of your winter outfits and activities.

In the snow:  Use boots with good grips on the soles. Take breaks from shoveling so no one overdoes it. The cold can bring on stiffness so stretch before going outside and wiggle those toes, fingers, arms, and legs. When there’s lots of snow it’s time to build snow people, forts, and maybe tunnels (with airholes), and make snow angels. You can also make a circle path with a cross in the middle, to make a large wheel, in the snow for some running games like fox and geese. One player is the fox who needs to catch the geese while staying in the paths.

Thanks,

Karen Whiting

#christianchildrensauthors #childrensbooks