Despite my last name I didn’t always love the winter (I married in! Haha!). Once the holiday activities are over the winter in New England can seem too long, dark and boring. Everyone loved the Five Fall Family Favorites! post so I wanted to do a winter edition and share a some local activities and fun things our family does during the colder months to ward off the cabin fever!
1. Indoor Trampoline Park- We love this activity. It gives the kids an opportunity to burn some energy and stay active when it’s too cold to play outdoors. There are a few in the area but the one we like to go to is Get Air in Swansea, MA. There is something for everyone from a simple trampoline to a Ninja Ninja Warrior style obstacle course. My 12 year old and 2 year old have equal amounts of fun there. I like that it’s clean and there’s ample seating for the parents who aren’t jumping. It can get pricey if you jump for more than an hour but, the kids are usually tired by then. If you do an hour here and there and hold onto the grippy socks you have to purchase it’s not so bad. They have different events and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings they have Toddler Time which lets parents jump free!
2. Local Library- What’s not to love about the library? It’s quiet and full of books! Every time we go I grab an event schedule. Whether it’s story time or crafts, there is always something fun and free going on. Even if there is nothing happening the Lakeville Public Library is a good escape for us on a boring winter day. They have clean facilities, a whole room dedicated to the Young Adult genres and a nice big kid’s area with toys and puzzles.
Libraries are great because they usually offer some free clubs as well. I took my preteen a couple of towns away over the summer for a monthly Anime Club. She had a great time watching movies, eating Pocky and learning about Japanese culture. And again, it was free!
3. Indoor Water Park- If you and your family could use a change of scenery a weekend getaway could be just what you need. Indoor water parks are a great way to beat the cold. It will feel good to dig out your flip flops and beach towels instead of gloves and scarves. If your kids are anything like mine they’ll be thrilled to swim again! If you really want to go all out there is always Great Wolf Lodge but, you may want to find a Groupon! They do have a lot of activities to offer and cute themed rooms but if Great Wolf is out of your price range a more economical option is The Cape Codder Family Resort in Hyannis, MA. My daughter visited The Cape Codder with her cousins one year and they had a blast. It’s not as fancy or kitschy as Great Wolf Lodge but, it does offer an indoor water park experience at about 1/3 of the price.
4. South Coast Music Together- I took this class 2 years ago with my youngest daughter when she was about 8 months old and we loved it! I knew it was a “baby music class” but the first day the teacher pulled out her tuner and blew into it and sung to the class “Let’s take a deep breath because we’re going to be singing for 40 minutes!” I was like huh? I thought this was just for her! But it was fun to participate, learn songs and watch her discover new instruments. They encourage children to express themselves freely and she had fun playing with the same kids each week. I found the class to be really informative as well. I enjoyed learning about how music can benefit early childhood development. To find out more visit their website here: South Coast Music Together
5. Hygge- When we’re hunkered down in 2 feet of snow after a Noreaster or stuck inside because it’s too cold to take the babies out I like to make our home a cozy oasis. I try to make the indoors inviting with fresh cut flowers, lit candles and baking with my girls. The chilly days are perfect for warm crock pot meals, hot tea and coffee and reading under fuzzy blankets. In Norway and Denmark this concept is called Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). HyggeHouse.com explains: “Danes created Hygge because they were trying to survive boredom, cold, dark and sameness and the undefinable feeling of Hygge was a way for them to find moments to celebrate or acknowledge and to break up the day, months or years. With so many cold, dark, days, the simple act of a candle glowing with a cup of coffee in the morning or a home cooked evening meal with friends can make a huge difference to one’s spirit.” Hygge is a great practice to adopt the whole year through.
When the season seems to drag and I find myself longing for the dog days of summer I’m trying to remember that each season has purpose. Winter is a beautiful womb-like season that draws us into reflection and quiet contemplation. It is a season that gathers our loved ones together in our homes for simple and necessary quality time. If you’re still not convinced, the good news is that seasons come and go. Spring is just around the corner!😘
What do do you and your family like to do in the winter to beat the cabin fever? Share some ideas in the comments!
❤️ Cait
Prayers Over The Kitchen Sink 
We love your ideas too! One extra thing we enjoy doing is going to the local greenhouses and soak in the warmth, greenery and tropical feeling.
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What a brilliant idea! That sounds so nice, Thanks for sharing!
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aww what a cozy post, Cait! Great Wolf Lodge is such a blast- how fun!! And Hygge sounds like such an innovative, great idea to survive the cold. xox
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Thumbs up for the library! I loved going there as a girl and still go 😀
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