Winter Blues? - Menifee,CA

Hi Robyn...I would suggest doing things that are special...Yesterday, we started the day out at 7 in raincoats and boots running thru the rain...mostly the kids...3 1/2 and 2. Then They had a warm shower, I made them biscuit doughnuts for breakfast, watched Christmas shows...Frosty and Roudolph, Then we made cookies in the afternoon...Then Hubby took them out again late afternoon for a few minutes...

We probably won't have any more rain before Christams, but print out some Christams color sheets off the net and make them into tree ornaments...or make dough ornaments...receipe is on the net...Just a few ideas...Take care...

You must suplement Vitamin D
you can get just get the plain vitamin D3 or get Cod Liver Oil in capsules!!! And add some St. John's Wort to bring up seratonin levels!!! and you will feel better!!! Trust me!!! Love, G.. :0)
P.S. Chocolate (dark Chocolate also helps with seratonin)Trader Joe's has a 73% one that is good!!!

Robyn,
Many people feel the same way you do. I LOVE fall and winter and the nostalgia of the colder weather and rain. Though when it does rain for days on end I too can get a little bummed out, especially with 2 small children to entertain. We make an effort to go outside anyway, bundle up, get the rain boots on and go for a walk to find puddles to jump in, whoever gets the wettest wins! We also have movie nights, make hot chocolate, do art projects or I have the kids help me cook. Get them involved and have a great time just being with them with no agenda other than to be with them. Good memories are a given!

When my kids were toddlers, we had one favorite activitiy that we saved for dreary days: Shaving Cream Baths!First, you need to collect all your supplies: shaving cream, finger paint, sponges, plastic pitcher, fingerpaint paper, camera, extra towels, excited toddlers, cup of tea, clean washclothes . . .

Then, strip down the toddlers and place them in the tub. Try to avoid getting the tub wet first -- makes it slippery.

Third, make big piles of shaving cream on the tub floor, on the rim and on the wall. Let your kids smoosh away.

After the cream is throughly smooshed around, add squirts of fingerpaint. I liked to use primary colors and space them far apart, then encourage the kids to mix the shaving cream and colors to see what happens (science!)

As they paint on the walls, they will temporarily make intersting designs. Before they smoosh over them, press the fingerpainting paper against the wall. This will transfer the design to the paper. Sheets are large enough to use as wrapping paper (art!)

Label all their activities: smooshing, mixing, rubbing, painting, drawing, standing, etc. Label the colors. Name the sensations. (English!)

Take photos of the kids and their creations. (Memories!)

When that starts to wind down, carefully wet the sponges. Show the kids how to start wiping down the walls. Use the pitcher to dump water on the high spots. The tub will get slippery, you might want to put an old towel (wet) in the bottom of the tub to provide some grip. (Home economics!)

Once the tub is clean, rinse off the kids. Then fill the tub up with warm water and give them a bubble bath (health!)

The cup of tea is for you to enjoy. The clean washcloths are to wipe off the kids faces.

I always used shaving cream first and then added the paint. This made clean up rather easy as the paint is either on top of a layer of soap or mixed with the soap.

Each kid sampled the shaving cream just one time. We had no major injuries from slippery tubs. But we do have pages of pictures and tons of memories.

One thing to think about -- if you use only red paint, the photos can look kinda grusome. Of course, my 15 year old now loves to show off pictures of his 'blood bath' so there is that!

Enjoy!

I.

I think that one of the more memorable pieces of advice I got was "kids don't melt!" Get on your rain gear, throw twigs in the rain gutters, stomp in the puddles, and have a grand time!

Do things like put out a rain gauge and check it, a min/max thermometer to track changes, and practice identifying the cloud types.

Note: Cotton *does not* work for these adventures. It soaks up water and gets clammy and cold. Wool is the classic for wet weather, and acrylic fleece also stays warm when wet. I've picked up a pretty good selection at thrift stores, so gear doesn't have to be expensive.

Then come home to a warm bath and hot cocoa.

Or, indulge in some of your nesting instincts when it rains. Make the cocoa and maybe some soup, pull out the board games, and enjoy yourself as the rain patters outside.

Why not go out in the rain anyways??? We do. Raincoat & boots and hit the puddles!! It's super fun to splash & get wet, and a warm bath afterwards is also fun! The wind is the only bummer, but we bundle up & go out sun or not. I find everyone is cranky if they didnt get outside, and naps are better if they got exhausted in fresh air.

PS. I grew up in WA (Seattle) so we learned not to let the bad wether stop us. Just get good clothing (Old Navy & Gap have padded pants, etc). Goodwill even has cheap snowgear for those cold days if you dont want to invest alot) GO FOR TI!

I love rainy days! It is a perfect time to stay indoors and bake cookies, cakes, or cupcakes. You can also try arts and crafts with your kids or just rent a good children's movie and have popcorn together on the couch.

In the Bay Area, we have so many things to do on rainy days that these can be special days for you AND your kids.

Go to a museum!
Have a picnic on the rug - use any/all unused birthday paper plates, etc. to make it special.
Library Story Times - always awesome, or set up your own reading nest at the library.
Bake cookies
Make your own playdough or hot chocolate from scratch
Go to STACKS or a special local restaurant for brunch
Create and have available for winter rainy days - a rainy day box with special games, puzzles, toys, sparkly glitter paint, etc. that ONLY gets to be opened on a rainy day.
Check out the open to public sessions at Pump it Up, The Junior Gym, The Little Gym, Safari Run
Sock puppets -
Play in the rain!

In door playgrounds worked wonders for me and my little ones. Sometimes, especially after school and on the weekend, the indoor playgrounds can get a little wild, but I found that during school hours when most of the bigger children are not around the little ones really have a lot of fun. Some libraries and shopping centers (pearl ridge is one) have children days; story times and activities for little ones. I also invested in a yearly membership to the museum worked wonders.

I am in California too, and it is raining today like mad. I suggest baking, crafts, board games, movies and hot tea or hot cocoa. My kids made a Gingerbread house from a kit. I have been sewing, drawing, making Xmas cards, and have been online. Soon we will all start scrapbooking together.

My kids have roped me into several games such as monopoly, life, Harry Potter, Chutes & Ladders, Candyland... We have also enjoyed cuddling and watching movies!!!

We actually like to go out shopping in the rain too.

How old are your kids? My parents use to have "rainy day toys" that they would only bring out if it was raining. Things like special board games, slinkies, puzzles, arts & crafts, playdough, easy-bake-oven etc. (My personal favorite was lite bright!) You could also have a "Summer party" where you decorate the inside of the house to look like summer, play with beach balls, etc. Artificial light will make you feel better. I don't usually advocate tanning booths, but those rays do make you feel much better, plus you get to keep your summer tan up. There is an actual disorder called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). If you have mood swings, depression, want to sleep a lot, and carbohydrate cravings, and these feelings all intensify over the winter months, then you could have SAD. Or, you could just plain be "sad" that it's not summertime. Just some thoughts to keep in mind. Some people aren't aware of the SAD disorder and it affects more people than we know.

Hi Robyn,

When I lived in NJ and Chicago (now bay area) i had a light box that I would read under in the mornings. Of course, that was before I had kids, so i had 15-30 minutes in the morning. I think SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is very real & i get a mild form of it in Oct/Nov in Bay Area (and then as of ~ mid Dec as the days start getting longer it's not so much of an issue, b/c psychologically I know the spring's not far away). Maybe google light boxes, or light bulbs for Seasonal Affective Disorder. There was also a book I read awhile back, "Winter Blues" that was just helpful in making me realize it's not just me - there's a chemical reason for the "winter blues". I'd just say, get outside on walks as much as possible!! Good luck! L.

our family loves to bake christmas cookies -- with cookie cutters, icing and the whole setup. it is great fun for everyone, the family gets a nice snack, and you can also put them in little holiday bags to give to teachers, friends, etc. as little gifts.

also, there is nothing like the scent of baking cookies to warm up the house and make it feel cheery. :-)

good luck!

Robyn,

I don't want to assume that you live here in LA, but yesterday was gloomy and rainy and not too cold... the perfect weather for puddle stomping!!!! I took my 18 month old outside and we found every puddle possible... one of them around 4 inches deep. We had a lot of fun! It was really interesting that I had to teach her how to do it- her instincts told her to stay away but I could hardly pass on the opportunity for a true kid activity!

And although a sunny day is more ideal, pine cone hunting and leaf collecting is always fun. Take a "special" collecting bag with you and have a basket ready for when you get home. Each time they find some nature on their journeys they can transfer them to the collection basket back home. Ours has really filled up fast!

Also, how about finger painting in the bath tub. Although they do make paints specifically for bath time, I just use the crayola finger paint, make a palette and let them go to town. Be careful though, it can get very slippery so sitting is a must!

I don't know how old your toddlers are but perhaps some baking.... they could help spoon the flour, hold the mixer and best of all, eat the results.

I know it is SOOO tough to entertain them at this age. They don't yet understand the concept of Candyland so board games are out and one can only watch so much Noggin!

Hope this helps. I'm curious to read other suggestions!
Good luck,
K.

My daughters and I take advantage of the rainy season and stay inside. We make cookies together and usually get a new movie to watch. The thing that keeps my girls from going too stir crazy is an indoor jumper and a ball pit that we put up in their playroom. I even get on the jumper with them! This allows us to get out all our energy and stay warm and dry inside.

Me too, but it doesn't affect me as bad here because I did live in a colder state and to me the winters here are great. I'm surprised, but we handled the rainy day well (Izzy LOVES to go outside all day long). We snuggled a lot and read books, and we did brave the storm to run to the store. I would say find something super special that you normally wouldn't do, like painting if you don't mind the mess (paiting with toddlers is tons of fun) or a big yet safe toy that you would normally use outside, like one of those plastic slides or whatever you house will fit, and bring it inside, but only on super cloudy days and put limits on it. But you know your children best, what would get them excited?

Winter can be so hard, especially with a toddler who is like a ball of energy! We try to do a lot of fun stuff in the house:
Building forts
Art (TONS of art!) - xmas ornaments, cards, homemade presents, making her own wrapping paper...
We play with goop (cornstarch and water)- it feels so cool!
I let her take all the pillows off the sofa and she crawls across them.
We do try to get out of the house, too. Just bundle up and go for a walk, rake the leaves....

I hope this helps. Good luck.

if it's just cold and not wet, i bundle them up and take them outside to a park or the backyard. i have twins so i can't take them to any parks where there is water and feel comfortable. but, i have heard of other mom's taking their toddlers to the duck pond to feed ducks in the fall. i also take them to an indoor play area at our local mall. hope that helps.

I bundle up my boys and take them to the zoo! My 4-year-old had his own umbrella that he gets to hold - while wearing his raincoat with the hood on. He loves jumping in the puddles. I push the baby around in the stroller. I line my trunk with plastic so that when I put the stroller and wet shoes in the trunk it'll stay dry. I also pack an extra pair of shoes and socks for the oldest. When we get home I have tea, my oldest gets hot chocolate (with milk and a teaspoon - yes teaspoon of chocolate), the baby gets to nurse. The bonus is very few people to to the zoo during wet days!

BUnddle him up warm and go outside... It won't hurt him or you t get a little wet. As soon as my kids were walking we had rain days. I would fill the tub up with hot water and then we would get dressed in our boots and rain coats and go out in it. Talk about how the world is getting washed and how it helps the plants grow, how cool and wet ect the rain is, jump in a puddle. The when you two are all done it's into the house, strip out of your cloths and go set into that bath that is now cooled off enough and is just perfect for both play time and getting a chilly boy warm again.

My kids are 5 and 3 and they live for rainy days, as long as you don't let them get too cold there isn't a health risk, my kids actually only get sick about once every 2 years and we are outside every time it rains...

So don''t feel sad and gloomy, take your lemons and make lemon aid (so to speak)

H.

I live in San Diego and you just explained our weather yesterday. I have a feeling you might live in SO CAL ^_~
I am thinking this is the year I'm going to buy a light box. I couldn't drag myself off the chair to save my life yesterday. They are a little pricey but I have been told they work wonders and worth their weight in gold. I have a friend who also suffers from seasonal depression as well and she swore by hers until the light bulb burned out and she can't find a replacement. She also takes St John's Wort. I don't know it's safety if you are breastfeeding or wanting to get pregnant though which is why I avoid it (both are an issue here ^_~)
I have all these brilliant ideas that I should make the day fun for my boys and then I can't drag myself off the chair which is what makes me realize it's more than just lack of ideas on a rainy day.

Sounds like you have S.A.D(Seasonal Affective disorder)like me.
I take St.John's wort from Trader Joe's and I have been known to go to the tanning salon when visiting reletives in the winter in Philly.
I also like the full-spectrum light bulbs but they are a wee bit costly but I have found them to help too.
Also exercising helps too.
P.S I take one st,john's wort in the morning and one at night.
Good luck.

Wow, consider yourself so lucky. I just moved here 1 year ago from the east, where we had 4 seasons. I talk to my mom everyday and all i hear from her is how cold it is, its in the 20's and how they wish it would snow, so the weather can warm up a little. My only thoughts are that i wish i were there with my family, especially in the winter, cause having your family is everything. I think you should be thankful for that. We are so spoiled here, you dont know how bad it used to be having to get 3 kids up and to school in freezing weather. I guess, if you have your family, and are thankful for that everyday, then that should take the winter blues away. Oh, back to your question, homemade popcorn, hot choclate and a movie always works for us.
A.!

If you hate winter so much then you should look into full-spectrum lighting. It is supposed to help with the winter blahs by providing your body with more sunlight exposure. Google it and check it out. Playdoh, baking, soaking in the tub, hide and seek, rotating toys so you can bring forth "new" ones on gloomy days, fingerpainting, take pictures, singing, dancing, go to the mall, get bundled up and go feed the ducks somewhere. Have fun!

My kids and I still love the cold days. When they were young, we would sit on my bed and I would read to them for a while, then we would turn on some music, and we would read or color on my bed for an hour or two, just enjoying each others company. It was quiet and the feeling of closeness lasted all day. Even though they are in their early twenties now, we still enjoy sitting together on my bed once in a while just to feel close again.