February 2, 2022 – Indoor Games for Cabin Fever

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Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Staying Home Can be Fun!

Hey Mama,

Your kitchen may downright look like a hurricane hit it (mine does), but your kids wander in and out of it with laughter, chattering away, displaying confidence and a sense of freedom. You know why? You’ve instilled in them that they are so loved, so wanted, so WELCOME anywhere you are. There’s no doubt in their heart that you love them with all your heart. That you (and Dad) are their HOME.

Your bedroom might look like mine (where’s the bed again?), you cannot even see your chair because there’s so much unfolded, clean laundry covering it, but your kids race around the house, past all the rooms, cracking up, playing, and rolling around without a care in the world. Yes, they’re supposed to walk. Yes, you’ve told them a million times. But they forget, and yet there is a sense of grace for them always—always a second chance. You are the Mama who never stops shaping their heart, and they know you have their best interest at your own heart for them. You are their HOME.

And on these long winter days, it can be fun to play games to alleviate the cabin fever we can get when stuck indoors for too long. Card games often help with math skills and memory. My kids like it when Paul plays “No Thanks” with them. They forget it’s sharpening their math. It gets too loud—sometimes Paul is howling the loudest. I honestly love it. There’s something very peaceful and fun when Dad is being goofy and lighthearted. Board games like Monopoly can teach about money and how real estate works. Boggle and Scrabble and Scattergories are great word games to help stretch your kids’ vocabulary. Make the most of this cherished together time.

You’re making memories as you laugh, play and learn together as a family.

Here are some articles from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine that reinforce that.

Fun and Games: Unleashing the Power of Play by Patrick Lysaght
Military Strategy Games by Andy Harris

You may feel like a bit disheveled and frumpy on these long winter days, but when you play with your kids, they see your real beauty—your inner beauty—and know you’re the one woman in the world who would give her very life for them if necessary. The Mama who would go to the ends of the earth to make them feel loved, cherished, and that they belong. The Mommy who prays for them regularly and who even prays for their future spouse. The woman who will go to her grave praying, no matter how old those children get.

You are that woman. You are Mama. When your children think of HOME, they think of you. And His hand is on your head tonight.

gena

Visit www.cashcrunchgames.com to learn how to have more money through making smarter money decisions and find a career that best fits you.

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Raising Real Men

Hal & Melanie Young, RaisingRealMen.com

Fighting Cabin Fever with Fun

If you’ve been homeschooling a while, you know cabin fever is real, especially when the weather is bad, activities are cancelled, or sickness is keeping you all home. Playing games can be a great way to release that pent up energy if you can get past the idea of the mess and commotion.

Pillow forts are an amazing way to spend an afternoon.

Pull out all the sheets. Grab all the pillows and couch cushions. Throw a sheet over the kitchen or dining room table for starters. Challenge the kids to make the biggest fort they can. When they get tired, push a snack, a stack of books and a flashlight into the fort. They might even take a nap in there!

Board games are great.

We didn’t do them for a long time because I couldn’t figure out how to include young children, who just wanted to roll the dice and move the men with older ones who wanted a game of strategy. We finally figured out to team them up – the youngest with the oldest, the next oldest with the next youngest. It worked out great and built their relationships!

You can make learning a game, too.

A lesson in Saxon 54 takes about the same amount of time as one in Saxon 76. Our kids enjoyed racing to see who could finish first. Or, play Mother, May I?, asking appropriate questions of each child, “What does the letter R say (or what is the value of pi?)?” “RRRRR…” “Wonderful, take two bunny hops!” “Mother, may I?” “Yes, you may!” They have to answer the question right AND ask for permission to be able to move.

You could also pull out the dollar store plastic tablecloths (you have those, don’t you?) to cover everything and then paint, use play dough, or do something else messy you don’t usually get to. Then just gather up the corners and throw away the mess. Well worth a dollar!

We share our favorite board games in this post, for even more fun! Get rid of that cabin fever!

Your friends,
Hal & Melanie

Jodi Riddle

Pillar of Faith
Jodi Riddle – Occupying Their Time

How do your children occupy their idle time? No one really wants to be in a place where they have absolutely nothing to do, especially children. When this happens, many times, they find “something” to do.

We have probably all experienced the occasional mischievous activities that could have been prevented if our children hadn’t had idle time. James tells us in James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Some planning on our part can help children keep busy (and be patient) and also keep them from finding their own “things to do.” Set up some indoor activities that are special for those “go-to” times when they need something to do after their schoolwork is done, while you are making dinner, or when others in the home need some quiet time.

Have some books, puzzles, or craft items that are only available to them when they would otherwise have that idle time. Teach children that this could be a great opportunity for them to spend time doing devotions, praying, or creating something special to share with someone else. Occupying their time in these ways will almost always be better than them finding their own things to do. Count it all joy—God is teaching us patience!

About the author

Jodi started her journey with TOS in April 2016 and serves as the Operations Manager. She and her husband, Duane, have been married over 30 years and have spent over 20 years in the ministry. Along with being a pastor’s wife, she homeschooled her 3 (now grown) sons for 18 years and also taught in the private and public-school settings. Jodi enjoys teaching, playing the piano, and making cards. Her heart’s desire is to serve others and use her gifts to glorify the Lord.