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How do you cure cabin fever? Parenting mag's boredom-beating tips

With snow reported in 49 of the 50 states (yes, even Hawaii!), if you have kids, chances are cabin fever has set in.Before you respond to a chorus of “Mo-ooom! I’m boooooored!” with a snarling “go build another $%*#! snowman and get out of my kitchen,” check out these ideas from the editors of Parenting magazine for beating cabin fever, available in their new iPad app. Here are some ins
Parenting Seasons iPad app, available now
Parenting Seasons iPad app, available nowToday
By Parents

With snow reported in 49 of the 50 states (yes, even Hawaii!), if you have kids, chances are cabin fever has set in.

Before you respond to a chorus of “Mo-ooom! I’m boooooored!” with a snarling “go build another $%*#! snowman and get out of my kitchen,” check out these ideas from the editors of Parenting magazine for beating cabin fever, available in their new iPad app.

 Here are some instructions for kid-friendly winter crafts from Parenting’s iPad app, Parenting Seasons:

Sparkling ice jewels: Great way to use up leftover holly and pine needles from holiday decorations. And you can send kids outside to search the yard for new add-ins.

Parenting Seasons iPad app, available now
Parenting Seasons iPad app, available nowToday

Supplies:

Cold water

Baking molds

Pine needles and other add-ins

Food coloring (optional)

Drinking straws

Ribbon or yarn

  1. Pour water into baking molds and add flowers, leaves and, if you like, a drop of food coloring.
  2. Place molds in the freezer or outside to firm up.
  3. Once the water gets slushy, stand a straw up in each mold. Continue freezing.
  4. When solid, pop decorations out of molds, remove straws and add ribbons for hanging.
  5. Trim the trees outside with beautiful ice art!

(Bonus tip from TODAY Moms: Fill one mold with vodka or chardonnay and keep it for yourself. Just kidding! Sort of!)

Bird feeder: This one is a classic that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Afterwards, give your child an Audubon guide and he’ll be busy spotting birds all day! (OK, maybe five minutes.)

Supplies:

Pinecone or sugar cone

Peanut butter

Plastic knife

Birdseed

Thick needle

Twine or string

  1. Spread creamy peanut butter on pinecone with plastic knife, then roll in birdseed. (Substitute a small sugar cone if you’re fresh out of pine cones.)
  2. With needle, poke two holes across from each other, just below the top of the cone rim. Thread twine or sturdy string through holes and knot firmly.
  3. Tie up your feeder outside a window and enjoy the show.

You can find more Parenting-approved crafts and games to beat cabin fever at these web sites:

Fairy Houses, fairyhouses.com

Bendaroos Creativity Center, bendaroos.com

Make ‘N’ Break Challenge, ravensburger.com

Hide and Eeek! gamewright.com

Magician's Apprentice Coin Tricks Unrolled, melissaanddoug.com

Now it’s your turn… what’s your go-to cure for cabin fever? Share in the comments!