We, as parents, work very hard to establish a routine our kids can count on. ..Quite frankly it helps my kids function at our house. So what happens when the weather wreaks havoc and school is cancelled?

Here are some indoor activities that help kiddos stay focused, calm & entertained.

Salt Dough Creations

Recipe: 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of water, 1 cup of flour. Add the 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of flour to a bowl stir in the water adding it slowly – you may not need all of the water. You want the dough to be dry – if it gets sticky add more flour. Knead the dough and then roll out and use as you want.

Break out the cookie cutters! Or check out our Melissa and Doug Shape, Model & Mold kit. Its accessories are perfect for this craft! Once you have made the shapes you want then you need to dry them so you can paint. Traditionally you bake the salt dough which takes around 3 hours. But here’s a tip: swap your oven for a microwave and zap for 3 minutes. After that, just eyeball. If they aren’t quite set, add 15 seconds at a time until done. Leave to cool down and then paint.

Color Sorting Game

Choose a few pieces of color

ed construction paper& sit your kid in front of them and hand him an assortment of like colored objects. You could use anything you have on hand, and they don’t all have to match, either.

Bird Snacks

Indoor Race TrackTake pipe cleaners and thread with Cheerios. Then simply twist the treats to a tree branch. If you are looking for a quiet activity—this is it! My child sat in front of the window and watched the birds for over a half hour!!!!!!

Grab a roll of masking tape & create a complex of roadways on your floor. You can map out an entire interstate through your house. This is one of my favorites because it is a snap to clean up!

Need some more ideas? Be sure to check out our Arts & Crafts section!