Winter Inspired Activities

Winter is a social season;

Then we gather round the fire;

Books and pictures then delight us;

Fun and feasting mirth inspire.

~ Excerpt from "Seasons" by Sara Coleridge

The wonderful part of winter is that it keeps you closer to your home and loved ones. Who wants to galavant and freeze? Cuddle up with your family and enjoy this season with these wholesome activities by welcoming winter...

• Go ice skating.
• Make some hot chocolate (while enjoying some of the activities listed below).
• Listen to the inspirational audio drama "Buried in the Snow" by Lamplighter Theatre.
• Make some cinnamon rolls with thick, creamed cheese frosting (yum!).
• Do some puzzles together.
• Read a winter themed chapter book aloud to your family each night such as:
• Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John  (An excellent choice and will melt everyone's heart along with teaching some wonderful lessons!)
• Or, prepare some popcorn and watch the movie:
• Treasures of the Snow - A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness DVD

• Visit the elderly that are shut in their homes and bring the warmth and cheer of the family with you. If you have children, create some encouraging cards to give as gifts.
• Make some paper snowflakes and run some yarn or ribbon through the holes and make a snowflake garland for your fireplace mantle or any other place in the house to give some winter flavor to your home. 
• Play some board games together.
• Sing songs in rounds (this can be really fun).
• Light your fireplace (if you have one) and snuggle together telling stories of life when you were growing up or share some stories about your ancestors.

• Go on a family field trip to the snow and have fun sledding and/or making snowmen.

• Read some winter inspired picture books together such as:

 Winter Days in the Big Woods (My First Little House Picture Book)

Winter on the Farm (My First Little House Picture Book)

Dance at Grandpa's (My First Little House Picture Book)

Going West (My First Little House Picture Book) 

Reuben and the Blizzard by Merle Good 

The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott (Geared toward girls) 

• Read some winter inspired poems to your family:

Winter-Time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;

Blinks but an hour or two; and then,

A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,

At morning in the dark I rise;

And shivering in my nakedness,

By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit

To warm my frozen bones a bit;

Or with a reindeer-sled, explore

The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap

Me in my comforter and cap;

The cold wind burns my face, and blows

Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;

And tree and house, and hill and lake,

Are frosted like a wedding cake.

By ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Picture Books in Winter

Summer fading, winter comes--

Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,

Window robins, winter rooks,

And the picture story-books.

Water now is turned to stone

Nurse and I can walk upon;

Still we find the flowing brooks

In the picture story-books.

All the pretty things put by,

Wait upon the children's eye,

Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,

In the picture story-books.

We may see how all things are

Seas and cities, near and far,

And the flying fairies' looks,

In the picture story-books.

How am I to sing your praise,

Happy chimney-corner days,

Sitting safe in nursery nooks,

Reading picture story-books?

By ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Winter Blanket

The snow is like a blanket that

     God spreads across the land,

Where wheat and oats and barley sleep,

     Awaiting God's command.

It covers all the pasture fields,

     And hides the grasses brown:

It gives the bare, gray willow tree

     A clinging, wooly gown.

It wraps around a fencepost tall,

    And covers up its head,

Then drifts along the meadow banks

     To tuck the creek in bed.

by Ada L. Wine

(Photo Sources)