Winter Weekends with Kids

Winter weekends. Rain lashes sideways, the park is a swamp, and your children decide the lounge room is both a jungle gym and a WWE ring.

Gone are the sunny days of “Let’s go outside and burn off some energy.” Now it's more like, “Let’s not destroy the house before lunch.” So, how do you survive (and maybe even enjoy) the cold, muddy madness of winter weekends with little ones? Here’s your survival guide.

Lower Your Standards. No, Lower. Even Lower.

First things first: you're not hosting a Pinterest-perfect craft day or baking gluten-free sourdough with hand-churned butter. You're trying to keep tiny humans entertained while avoiding frostbite and a nervous breakdown.

Popcorn for breakfast? Acceptable. Pyjamas until 3pm? Absolutely. Screen time? If it buys you time to drink a coffee while it’s still warm, bless it.

Indoor Activities That Tire Them Out

Let’s be honest—most “energy-burning indoor activities” last about six minutes before descending into chaos. But here are a few worth trying:

-       Obstacle course: Sofa cushions, laundry baskets, and whatever random items you trip over. Bonus points if you time them.

-       Dance party: Blast their favourites or your nostalgic 90s playlist and let them go wild.

-       Hide and Seek: Great until someone hides too well and you have a mini heart attack.

Worst case? Let them “clean” something with a spray bottle and a sponge. You’ll get 10 minutes of peace and a streaky mirror. Win-win.

Leave the House… Maybe

Yes, it’s cold. Yes, there’s mud. But if the kids are bouncing off the walls and you've run out of Bluey episodes, it's time to brave the outdoors.

-       Library visits: Warm, quiet, and full of books you don’t have to buy. Heaven.

-       Indoor play centres: Loud, sticky, slightly terrifying – but they nap afterwards.

-       Woollies or Bunnings: Not technically a kid activity, but with a babycino and a free sausage sizzle, who’s complaining?

Food is a Whole Activity Now

Cooking with kids is chaotic, messy, and… actually kind of fun when you lean into it. Bake something simple like muffins or make-your-own pizzas. Just mentally prepare for flour in every crevice of your kitchen and the “help” of a toddler who eats more cheese than they sprinkle.

Take Turns Tagging Out

If you’ve got a partner, divide and conquer. One takes the kids, the other gets 30 minutes to hide in bed with a book or scroll in peace. If you’re solo parenting? Bribery + screens = self-care.

Winter weekends aren’t about perfection. They’re about survival, snacks, and small bursts of joy between the chaos. So, pour yourself another cuppa, chuck on a movie, and remember – summer is only... oh, about five tantrum-filled months away.

You’ve got this.