MaryJoRulnick.com - Cold Weather Family Fun

Quote for the month:
"What really matters is what you do with what you have."
- Shirley Lord

Home

Are you in need of even more practical solutions for your frantic life?
The Frantic Woman’s Guide to Life: A Year’s Worth of Hints, Tips and Tricks

Cold Weather Family Fun

by Mary Jo Rulnick

Ah, the holidays are just a memory, however, winter is still hanging around. What we need is a “time out” from our overscheduled days and a chance to connect again with our children — while giving ourselves a chance to laugh and enjoy the freedom and innocence of childhood. Here are a few suggestions for doing just that.

Snowball Fight

Consider this idea for a group of children or just your own. It will bring laughter to all who participate. This fun, inexpensive game is great for those days when the weather is bone-chilling or even for those warmer climates where snow rarely falls, if ever.

To start:
Crumble sheets of white paper (scrap) — or old newspaper will do— into balls to make pretend snowballs. Or, if you prefer, you can use rolled-up socks. You need about 20-30 snowballs to start, depending upon how many players you have and how long you want the game to last.

To play:
Divide players into two teams. Use chairs, a piece of yarn, or tape to divide the room in half. (Be sure this is a room that doesn’t have a lot of breakables or collectibles.) The team members must not cross the line. Place half of the snowballs on one side of the room and the remainder on the opponent’s side of the room. At the signal, toss the snowballs onto the other side. At the end of a designated time allotment (three minutes or so), whichever team has the least amount of snowballs in their half of the room wins.

Tips:
No running.
Emphasize that the game’s objective is to toss snowballs to the other side, not at siblings or other opposing team members.

Snowball Treats

Keep a basket of these treats handy for young visitors or to stash in bag brown lunches.

Ingredients for one:
1/4 cup of white jelly beans

Supplies:
clear cellophane
6-inch piece of white string or yarn

To Make:
Cut a 4-inch square of cellophane. Place white jelly beans inside the square. Pull the ends of the cellophane together to form a tight ball. Tie with string and knot. Cut off excess cellophane.

Tip: Change the white jelly beans to pastel ones and tuck them into Easter baskets.

Mary Jo Rulnick is the author of The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends and The Frantic Woman's Guide to Life.

To find out more about Mary Jo, click here.

Click to join
Mary Jo's Greetings, a FREE monthly newsletter.

Home || Monthly Tips || Biography || Q & A About Mary Jo || Book Information || Published Writing
Coming Soon || Monthly Newsletter || Favorite Links || Contact Mary Jo