Updated on Sunday, January 5, 2025
(Originally Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2023)
Living in Minnesota can be pretty gray
during the first few months of a new year!
When winter first arrives, usually in early December,
most everyone welcomes the changing weather!
The excitement of holidays and celebrations
are enhanced by the snowfall and the winter scenery!
Then the reality of our looooong winter
with its short and often gloomy days sinks in,
leading to some serious winter blues!
Do you ever feel like this as the month of January seems to inch along?
If so, help is on the way!
We’ve got a few ideas to get you through the coldest and darkest days of the year!
In today’s blog post,
Laurie shares her "Minute to Win It" games,
a special way that she and her family beat the winter blues!
Then Laura will offer some inspiration for getting the party started
with a seasonally cute appetizer!
I have always been a person who feels a huge let down after the holidays are over. To give me something to look forward to each year, I would plan a mid-January party (a “Winter Blues Party”) for a close group of friends. These families had children of varying ages so the parties changed over the years. Some past examples included a Color Party, a Bingo Party, a Scavenger Hunt, a Puzzle Party, a Casino Party and a Game Night. There was special themed food, prizes and sometimes even costumes involved for each. Those children, our Middles, are all grown up now and living their own lives in the world, and even though the parents are still getting together, I will always cherish those evenings spent with all those Littles and the laughter and fun we shared. These parties helped brighten up those cold winter nights!!
Some of these parties will be featured in future posts, but let’s start with a
Little-favorite, easy-to-pull-together winner...
OUR MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES!
WINTER STYLE!
These are simple games - whoever wins, gets a point. Or - just play for lots of fun! They are easy to adjust for all ages. For more details on set-up and scoring, check out our Christmas Minute to Win It! games!
SNOWBLOWER!
This one may sound familiar from a former post!
All you need is a straw and a cotton ball. Players line up at the edge of a table. At the word “go”, have a race to see who can blow a cotton ball across the table and off the opposite edge of the table first!
SNOWBALL BASKETBALL!
This game is played by two players who stand a designated distance from each other (Consider the age of the players) One holds an empty plastic cup and the other a cup full of marshmallows and attempts to make as many “baskets” as possible in one minute!
DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN?
Using only one hand, players build a mini marshmallow snowman on a craft stick held in their mouths. (Depending on their age, the other hand must stay behind their back.) The highest snowman in one minute wins!
SNOW SHOVELING!
You will need two bowls. Fill one with cotton balls (or pompoms). Players holds a spoon in their mouths and try to move the snowballs from one bowl to the other. (Scoop them up in the spoon, that is – no using hands!)
ICE CASTLES!
Give each player a bowl of ice cubes. Players have one minute to stack as many ice cubes as they can. The ice cubes must stay for at least three seconds to be considered. The player who stacks the most, wins! If this is too hard to stack straight up, build a structure that is at least 2 cubes high, but could spread out more – kind of like a wall.
Tip: ice tray cubes will work better than ice machine cubes!
Want to take your Winter Minute To Win It games to the next level??
Click here for outdoor challenges from Family Game Shelf!
If you are hosting a Beat the Winter Blues party
with other Grands, your Middles and/or especially your Littles,
we’ve got a fun appetizer for you to add to your plans!
I’ve made this cute Snowman Cheeseball for multiple winter gatherings over the years - for school events, family gatherings and dinner with friends. It’s a simple recipe and with a few easy ingredients you’ve got an adorable addition to your menu!
Imagine how much fun your Littles would have helping you
make this indoor and edible snowman!
If you, too, like to beat the winter blues by planning a fun gathering for family and/or friends, check out this post that highlights Laurie's Puzzle Party (another past favorite)!
Please come back to see us again! And, if you are looking for more winter fun, search our site by entering the word "winter" or "snow" next to the search button on our home page. We've got favorite winter children's books and songs for you to enjoy with your Littles, winter art and fun for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and “schoolagers” and more! In the meantime, feel free to subscribe to our blog so that you are notified when a new post has been published, (scroll to the bottom of the page to do so) and remember, you can also find us on Instagram - we’d love to have you follow us there as we update content regularly!!
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Busy Monday from A Pinch of Joy
Senior Salon Pit Stop from Scratchmade Food for Hungry People
A Morning Cup of Joe from A Cottage Market
Will Blog for Comments from Lifetalesbooks Blogspot
Thank you for featuring this post on your sites!
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Stopping in again with congratulations! :) This post was one of the most popular at the Will Blog for Comments #53 linkup, so it will be in the spotlight for the next 2 weeks (starting today) and has been Pinned to Pinterest, too. There's a "This Blog Post Was a Featured Favorite" image there that you can save to share here with your readers to celebrate, if you like. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful post with the readers at WBFC. We'd love to see you again next week, too!
Enjoyed this post! Thank you for sharing with us at the Crazy Little Lovebirds Link Party #71.
I love this so much. I need to have a Winter Blues Party. And the snacks are so darling, and the games are simple and sweet. Thank you for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #53 linkup--we hope to see you next week at #54, too! :)
What cute ideas! Thanks for sharing with us on the Homestead Blog Hop!
Great ideas! One of my features for this week's SSPS, thank you for sharing with us! Melynda @scratchmadefood!