The winter months can get pretty harsh, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your family is ready for them. It’s not as hard to weather the cold nowadays, though a few tweaks here and there will go a long way to feeling nice and cozy when the snow comes. Plus, making the extra effort to hunker down for winter will help fight off any sicknesses that may come knocking. After all, who wants to spend a couple weeks sick and freezing? (Not me that’s for sure.)
Nice and Toasty
The first thing you’ll want to address when preparing for the cold months is your heating system at home. Every home needs one, and you need to have it serviced at least once a year. If yours isn’t doing too well, that means that it’s time to get it checked out to make sure that the system is free of any harmful things such as mold that could mess with your air quality and cause health issues.
If the pipes are all working fine and the system isn’t performing as well as you’d expect it to, then that means that it’s time to invest in a new heater for your home. It might be a bit on the pricey side, but think of it as an investment for your family’s comfort. After all, it would be hard to enjoy quality time with your favorite people if you’re all uncomfortable because the heating doesn’t work!
Bundle Up
If you’ve made sure that the house’s heating system is up to snuff, now you just have to take care of your own body heat. Unfortunately, humans didn’t evolve to grow fur for warmth, so you’re going to have to settle for a nice sweater. If you’ve got the knack for working with your hands or you enjoy adding that personal touch, you could even make your own! Matching sweaters often make for some of the most adorable, if wonderfully awkward, family photos.
There are other kinds of comfy cold-weather wear aside from sweaters and sweatpants, but what you choose really depends on how much you expect to be moving around. If you’re the kind of person who likes to use the extra time doing something productive, go with something easy to move around in. But if you plan to just plant yourself on the sofa with your family to watch movies, then you may even want to consider something like a blanket with sleeves. (Yes, those exist and they are delightful!)
If you’ve got kids, you may even want to try tickling their imaginations by building them a pillow fort. Playing pretend with them and hanging out in a little plush castle has all the makings of some great childhood memories you and your kids will remember fondly for a lifetime. You don’t need to spend a lot to make kids happy. As long as they’re having fun with you, they’ll appreciate everything you do for them.
Game On!
If you and your family begin to feel antsy from being stuck indoors for so long and need a way to blow off some steam, there are plenty of fun ways to pass the time. You can try playing a board game or two if you’re into a more tactile kind of fun. There are lots of different options when it comes to board games nowadays if you aren’t into the classics. So it won’t be too difficult to pick something you and your family will enjoy. But if your kids are into video games, letting them teach you how to play a game they love can make for a fun bonding experience.
If you’re looking for something more physical to tire the kids out, you may want to set up your living room to play Floor Is Lava. Put some cushions on the floor, set up some sturdy furniture as a course, put on some exciting music, and you’re all set for a fun afternoon! You could even make it so that the winner gets a prize such as an extra mug of hot chocolate or maybe even a special treat.
The winter months are a great time to bond with your family. It’s easy to ignore the cold when you’ve got a warm home with the people you love. Sure, there are more opportunities available during the warmer months, but winter always has that festive magic to it that lends itself to making happy memories for both you and your family.
