February 21, 2025
Moira
It’s no secret that winter can be a challenging time. The weather is often cooler, spending extended time outdoors is more difficult, and many people may find themselves in a midwinter slump. But there are lots of ways to embrace this slower, cozy season. Days inside are wonderful opportunities to create connections and spend quality time with all your favorite people.
Here are some creative ideas for bringing the fun indoors:
Set up a game night with friends or family. It can consist of whatever you’d like, whether you test your acting skills with charades or get competitive over your favorite board games. You can also use this time to deepen your bond with loved ones using conversation starters from our Tell Me More activity deck or Tell Me More: Family Edition. Families with kids may also enjoy our Open Up a Conversation card deck, with discussion prompts geared toward little ones.
Make any get-together a little comfier and a lot more delicious with a hot cocoa bar. Include different flavors of hot chocolate and fun toppings such as whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, praline cookies, or crushed peppermints. A warm cup of hot cocoa a day might just keep the winter blues away!
Pop some popcorn, get comfortable in pajamas and slippers, and watch all your favorite flicks. If you’re having a family movie night with little ones, set up a blanket fort or pitch a tent in the middle of the living room to add even more fun.
Create more community within your own neighborhood by baking your favorite cookie recipes for your neighbors. Add one of our ThoughtFulls pop-open cards to the top of the plate for a personalized touch. Sharing a tasty treat can be a great way to show your appreciation for neighbors you know well and serve as a great starting point to meet neighbors you don’t. No matter who you bake for, this little act of goodwill will create meaningful memories with those around you.
Gather your favorite greeting cards and stationery and host a card-writing party with your friends and family. Add a little flair to your cards with colorful gel pens, stickers, silly stamps, and more. Kids will love decorating cards with their own words and pictures. Use the time to write to faraway friends or relatives you haven’t seen in a while. A handwritten card is sure to be a delightful surprise and bring a smile to someone’s face.
Tell tall tales full of imagination! Using The Storyteller’s Handbook as your guide, gather around in a circle with a blank notebook and a timer. Invite the first person to choose a page from The Storyteller’s Handbook and for exactly 3 minutes write what they think is happening in the scene. Once the timer goes off, the next person will begin writing what they think is happening. Continue until the last person has gotten a chance to write and completes the story. At the end, ask each person to read their section out loud. This twist on the telephone game is sure to bring laughs and is a fun way to spark imagination and creativity.
Grab the fuzzy blankets, pillows, and all your favorite snacks and host a read-a-thon. Invite friends or family to come over and ask everyone to bring a large stack of books or magazines to read. Set a timer for the number of hours you want your read-a-thon to last. The goal is to read as much as possible. At the end, reward the person who reads the most with a special treat.
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We hope these ideas inspire you to add joy to your winter and make the most of this season. Finding ways to connect with the people in your life will give you something to look forward to and create memories to look back on for years to come. And, before you know it, spring will be here!
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