It's that time of year again. Time to put the outdoor toys away, dig the scarves and parkas out of the depths of your closet and put the storm windows down. Winter. It seems to come to a climax at Christmastime, as emotions swell in anticipation of family gatherings and a warm, hearty fireside meal with all the trimmings. The kids are euphoric as they open gift after gift and everyone eats their weight in cookies and treats. Then New Year's follows to top off the festivities with one last burst of excitement, and it's over. We hunker in to our claustrophobic houses like hibernating bears and wait longingly for spring.
Many people dread those excruciatingly long winter months when outdoor activity is anything but appealing, gaining weight is par for the course and many succumb to seasonal affective disorder. The lack of sunlight reduces our serotonin levels, depressing our mood and leaving us feel unmotivated. The kids feel it, too. Staying cooped up in the house makes them restless and ornery. They watch more TV, gobble up snackfood at twice the normal rate, spend hours playing brain-numbing video games and seem always to be fighting amongst each other. They constantly complain they're bored and after a few weeks of the same you're so exasperated you could tear your hair out.
Don't panic: there are ways you can retain your sanity and keep the kids happy in the winter without risking frostbite. Consider making a visit to a nearby indoor children's play centre. Kids need a chance to romp around in the wintertime, and when the weather outside doesn't allow for outdoor play they need a place indoors where they can run around and burn off all that post-holiday energy. You don't want them running marathons around the house, climbing on top of the furniture or sledding down the stairs, so make the afternoon into a fun outing. A change of scene is refreshing, and for once they'll stop complaining of how terribly bored they are. Physical activity is essential in the winter, just as much for kids as it is for adults, in order to avoid weight gain and maintain good overall health. In fact, keeping physically fit is also a powerful tool for improving mood and self-esteem. And don't forget that exercise helps children sleep more soundly. Even if your child isn't overweight, exercise is important to their physical and mental health.
At an indoor children's play centre it's easy to supervise your kids as they play, and you can rest easy that they're in a safe, contained environment where they'll never run out of sight. Unlike at home, they'll have a chance to meet and interact with other children and use equipment they wouldn't otherwise have access to. Climbing nets, sliding down slides and jumping in ball ponds is their idea of a good time, and it's true that happy kids make happy parents. So the next time the kids come to you whining that they're bored out of their minds, buckle them into the car and take them to a place where they can really have fun.
David Wilkie is the owner of the New Palace and Adventureland, a leading children's indoor play centre
