How to Overcome Cabin Fever with Kids

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And even though week two of winter break might leave you searching for new activities, it's a great opportunity to create even more fun memories with your kiddos before school is back in session. But never fear, Vivvi is here. As the cold weather sets in, we checked in with Sheila Daniel, Vivvi Campus Success Manager, and asked her how to make sure your smallest students remain engaged and learning, while having fun, during winter school break and beyond.

Tell us about Vivvi. What is the philosophy behind it?

Vivvi was founded to offer families high-quality, dependable and flexible child care and early learning that works for the way parents work today. Our co-founders Charlie Bonello and Ben Newton—both dads to young children—designed our programs to account for the realities that parents face while trying to juggle parenting and a career. That means extended hours at most of our locations (we’re open 7 am -7 pm), warm and passionate teachers, and beautiful spaces that are purposefully designed for learning.

We know that early education is so important for young children—95% of brain development happens during early childhood education. And yet, in New York City, there isn’t a lot of early learning support for parents who return to work after parental leave. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of child care and early learning possible so that parents feel supported to pursue their own dreams knowing their child is in the best environment possible.

Vivvi currently has 11 locations around New York City and Westchester, and serves children ages 0-5.

Vivvi’s model is based on fostering children’s innate curiosity. During the long winter break, what are some examples of ways to do this at home?

The curriculum at Vivvi is based on an “inquiry-based” approach that allows teachers to build units based on children’s questions about the world around them. In our classrooms, students of all ages—from infants, toddlers and preschoolers—are pursuing their own interests, with child-initiated activities, and child-initiated artwork. And at the heart of all of this learning is play, which we know allows children to make sense of the world.

That doesn’t mean you need to be a teacher to foster your child’s curiosity! One of our favorite ways to encourage a few hours of play during those long days off from daycare or school is by using play invitations. Before you go to bed at night, set up a few simple, age-appropriate toys or materials where your child can discover them in the morning. This could include some stacking cups and rocks; or it could be magnetic tiles and a few toy cars. Let your child explore and come up with their own ways to play, and see what they do!

What are some good winter games to play with your child outside?

The winter months are such a great time to explore the great outdoors—and sneak in some learning too! The playground is usually much quieter than in the warmer months, which gives them more space to explore and build gross motor skills! One of our favorite activities in the winter is creating a “scavenger” hunt. Challenge your child to find things around the area. They can hunt for rocks, find a slide to go down, search for some stairs to climb, or find a curb to balance on. Here are a few other outdoor play activities for young children.

If you were going to buy just a handful of engaging/educational toys for your child (under 5), is there anything specific you’d recommend?

At Vivvi, we always recommend open-ended toys that have more than one purpose. A babydoll is usually just a babydoll, but a set of blocks can be anything: a castle, a pen for tiny animals, a parking garage for matchbox cars. A few of our favorites include:

Silk Scarves
Mandala Toys
Wooden Blocks
Flashlights (yes! Flashlights!)
Stepping Stones
Magnetic Tiles

We try to consider each of these things with our toys: 1) Imagine a few different ways a child could play with this toy. 2) Consider a toy’s longevity. Think about what a child will do with it now, in 6 months, or in a year. And 3) Will this toy help the child forge independence? If your toy requires an adult each time, it doesn’t work for this type of open-ended play.

After the winter break, it can be tough for children to transition back to school/daycare. Do you have any tips on easing this transition after families have been home together for the holidays?

Transitions can often be tough for children, but they’re also important for their growth and development. To ease your own back-to-school or daycare transition after the holidays, remember these three tips:

1. Talk to your child about the transition. Share what’s happening—and when it’s happening—in an age-appropriate way. Use simple, honest language.

2. Name things that will be the same. Yes, your child may be going back to daycare—but you’ll still be doing their bedtime routine.

3. Transitions take time. Be patient and understanding with your child as they go through this process.

Please share any other important tips for fostering curiosity in those early childhood years that parents can do with their children.

For young children, just about everything they experience is new, and learning is everywhere! From a trip to the grocery store to your walk to school, simply start a conversation and ask questions.

Here are a few other ways you can incorporate inquiry-based learning into your child’s world:

Following their interests (even if they seem silly at first)
Asking open-ended questions about what they’re doing
Adding simple materials to extend their play
Showing genuine interest in their discoveries

INDOOR PLAY IDEAS

If you can’t get outside on particularly cold days, Vivvi recommends the following easy-to-create winter-themed activities:

Infants: Winter in a bag. Play with cold “snow” without having to get bundled up!
You’ll need:

1. Gallon Ziplock bag

2. Cheap hair gel

3. Glitter

4. Marshmallows / cotton balls / Orbeez / tapioca pearls

Directions: Squeeze half the hair gel in the Ziplock bag, add other ingredients – and play! If you’re worried about leaks, cover the seam with duct tape.

Toddlers: Snowflake Balance. Clear out a big section of the floor to give your toddler lots of space to work on their gross motor exercise.

You’ll need:

1. Painters tape

2. Basket

3. Cotton balls

Directions: Tape out a big snowflake and show our toddlers how to tip-toe on the lines, walking back and forth across the tape to retrieve and place cotton balls. You can take turns or watch your child do it over and over on their own.

Preschoolers: Winter Sensory Bottles. These cool DIY toys offer so much learning, both while you’re making them and for hours to come.

You’ll need:

1. Empty bottle

2. Clear glue

3. Superglue

4. Glitter

5. Bottle theme decorations

Directions: Fill a see-through empty bottle with half clear glue and half water. Add a fine glitter and the decorations for the themed bottle you’re making. For a Winter Wonderland, add a drop of blue food coloring and shiny snowflake sequins. Check out more DIY Sensory Bottle ideas here!

Vivvi offers exceptional child care and early learning for today’s families. With warm, experienced teachers, full-day schedules, rolling admissions and a research-based curriculum, Vivvi meets you where you are. Find your nearest Vivvi location here.

The Related Life is written and produced by the Related Life Editorial Team. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest events, news, and announcements in your area, and tag us for a chance to be featured @therelatedlife and #therelatedlife.