Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is a happy talent to know how to play.”
Here are 31 new play ideas for a happy January!
Week 1: January 1 - 9:
1. Go snow tubing.
2. Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
3. Play pin the nose on the snowman.
- Put a Snowman cut out on the wall or front of the fridge.
- Blindfold the kids and give them carrots.
- Spin them around and see if they can put the nose where it goes.
4. Play a game of Twister.
5. Make a handprint craft.
6. Have a tea party.
7. Make paper dolls. Here is a WikiHow tutorial.
8. Have a drawing contest.
9. Make a marble run with paper towel rolls. Check out this tutorial from TinkerLab.
More days of play
10. Make cloud dough.
17. Dress up and take silly photos.
24. Make a New Year’s time capsule to open next year. Here’s a free printable.
10. Make cloud dough.
- Add 1 cup of baby oil to 8 cups of flour.
- Stir, stir, stir!
11. Go to your local skating rink.
12. Spend the morning at the library.
13. Make a handprint peace dove craft to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
14. Try snowboarding.
15. Using pans from the kitchen, mold castles in the snow. (Or sand if you live near the beach!)
16. Visit a petting farm.
More days of play continued...
Related Article: Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day
17. Dress up and take silly photos.
18. Make a snack together and watch your child’s favorite show.
19. Hike a local park hiking trail.
20. Have a snowball fight.
21. Make slime. Here are the instructions at Science Bob.
22. Pretend play knights and dragons.
23. Make a craft with Popsicle sticks. Here are 20 ideas from Babble.
On more week to play! Click on the next page for more great ideas...
24. Make a New Year’s time capsule to open next year. Here’s a free printable.
25. Play Simon Says.
26. Let the kids help you plan and cook dinner.
27. Read a children’s book about Martin Luther King, Jr. Here is a list to check out at the library.
28. Make Handprint Keepsake T-Shirts:
- Paint the kids’ hands.
- Stamp handprints on a t-shirt.
- Write their name and age.
- Dry overnight.
- Wear shirts and take keepsake photos!
29. Pretend play beauty salon or barber shop.
30. Look through family photo albums together.
31. Set aside one hour, distraction free, and let your child choose the activity.
Happy Playing!