Winter is in full swing, and for a lot of us that means being stuck indoors. Cabin fever can be especially challenging in tweens as their growing creativity calls for more sophisticated outlets—ideally without resorting constantly to screen time.
Here are some fun ideas for curing cabin fever in your tween.
Get away. A change of scenery can work wonders, even if it’s still within walls. Whisk the kids away to an indoor swimming pool or science museum. Sign up your tween for an afternoon art class or spend the afternoon shooting hoops at a local gym. Getaways don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Just a few hours of fun away from home can cure the fever for days or even weeks.
Team up. Stimulate your tween’s intellect with a group Bible study or book club. Invite friends over to decorate cupcakes or play board games. Host a spontaneous dance party in your basement. Fellowship with other kids can offer a welcome respite from the same-old routine.
Be crafty. Stock a winter craft bin full of art supplies of every kind. Challenge your tween to use the materials on hand to create something new. If you’re a crafty parent, teach her one of your favorite skills such as sewing, knitting or scrapbooking. You just might find she’s an eager partner for your hobby!
Read, read, read. If your tween tends to default often to a TV or mobile device, tell her she can earn an hour of screen time for every hour she spends reading. Then stock her home library with entertaining and edifying books, like our wide variety of Faithgirlz fiction titles.
Chores. If your tween is in a slump, have her do a household chore every time she says, “I’m bored.” This will either encourage her to find something constructive to do, or it will help keep your house squeaky clean. Either way, you win!
Play outside. Finally, even though the weather may be frightful, try spending time outdoors as a family. Take up snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing. Buy matching mud boots and hike the local parks. Release your inner kid again and have a blast sledding or playing kickball in the not-so-green yard. By participating in outdoor activities with your tween, you’ll not only cure her cabin fever but also make some mighty sweet memories as a family.
