• Have a movie night. Make some popcorn and pop in your family’s favorite movie. Snuggle under your blanket and relax!
• Have a family game night. Select a game that everyone in your family can play or make up one of your own. Focus on the fun of playing the game, instead of who wins or loses.
• Break out a jigsaw puzzle. Sit down with your children and tackle a puzzle you can all handle. You’ll spend quality time together and share a sense of accomplishment when you complete the puzzle!
• Visit your local library. Check out some books or take part in activities designed for children and families.
• Check with your local schools to see if they hold any open gym times or if there is an indoor swimming pool that is open to the public. Take your kids to play or swim so they get some exercise and a chance to use up some of their energy!
• Visit with friends. Allow your children to invite their friends over for a play date. (You never know, in return for your invitation, your children may be invited over to their friend’s house, which will give you a short break from your caregiving responsibilities!)
• Have your children create and send cards to friends and relatives, either as a thank you for the holiday gifts they received or as a way to recognize people who are important to them.
• Put on a puppet show! Using old socks or paper bags, some buttons and yarn, create hand puppets with your children. Designate a table as the stage set and drape a tablecloth or blanket over it for a curtain. Then sit back and watch your children’s show!
• Play dress-up. Since you can’t be outdoors anyway, take some time to go through your old clothes and decide what you don’t need anymore. Give your children your old clothes to play with and allow their imaginations to run wild as they play dress up.
• Go ice skating together. Call your local parks and recreation office for details about when and where there is ice skating. You may also be able to call this office to check on the safety of the ice, which is especially important if the weather hasn’t been particularly cold.
• Play in the snow! After it snows go sledding, make snow angels, a snow person or a snow fort.
• Volunteer as a family. Whether you help out at your local food pantry or your place of worship, pass your time by helping others. Many organizations are in need of help and extra supplies during the winter months after many people have volunteered during the holidays.

Winter may force you to stay inside more than you like, but it provides you with the opportunity to sit down and catch up with your kids. Whatever it is you choose to do, choose to do it together!

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a statewide, nonprofit organization that builds community resources, provides training and public awareness, and carries out advocacy activities in order to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts in Wisconsin. Founded in 1978, Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. For more information, please call 1-800-CHILDREN or visit www.preventchildabusewi.org.