February Blahs? Bored Kids?

Well, we have arrived again at that ‘What now?’ time of year!

The Christmas holidays are long forgotten. Valentine’s Day and Family Day, not to mention Mardi Gras (!) are behind us. Spring Break, while it looms on the horizon, feels totally out of reach. This time of year is inevitably a bit of a letdown. It’s a time when many kids (not to mention parents) are seized by the dreaded ‘February blahs’ that precede ‘March madness.’

As a mom of 2 kids ages 7 and 10 I always find the kids grow restless at this time of year. They think there is nothing to do. They tell us (repeatedly!) they are bored! Hah, say I! Now is the time when I remind them of all those gifts they received at Christmas. I find that during the holiday rush they do not always make or take time to play with the new toys they have received. There are so many activities taking place at the time that the toys that were unwrapped in such a frenzy are set aside for ‘later.' Well, in my home ‘now’ is ‘later.’ 

Here is a great idea for beating the ‘February blahs’ staving off ‘March madness’ and paving a fun-filled path to Spring Break! Each weekend take one of the holiday gifts your kids received and make it an event. Try it out, play with it, build it, add it to a collection.

These are some of my favourites from the past holiday season, and hopefully, in the weeks to come, will become some of my kids favourites too!

P’Kolino Tabletop Easel with Chalk and White Board  — hours of fun and imagination to play with! Chalkboard on one side and whiteboard on the other. Solid construction and quality finishes (no unfinished legs here), and folds flat for simple storage. Paper roll and chalk included. $89.99

Fashion Angels Interior Design Light-Box Studio Kit — oh, the possibilities of creating the perfect room! Kids can design dream rooms with this set which includes a light-box, 10 ‘tree-free’ colored pencils (which are better for the environment!), 10 films that include 200+ furniture and room decor designs, 50 interior design sketch sheets, texture rubbing plates, and a design guide! Requires 3AA batteries which are not included. Best suited to kids 8+. $44.99

Smart Lab Amazing Squishy Brain — build it, learn how it works. I discovered a lot I did not know and I am sure the kids do too! It’s a 24-piece, anatomically correct model with moving mandible (jawbone) plus squishy brain and eyeballs. Kids 8+ learn all about the senses, movement, memory, emotion, decision-making and autonomic functions like breathing and digestion. $29.99

Katie MacKinnon is a mother of two and co-owner of Treasure Island Toys on the Danforth in Toronto, a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS).