Kicking it old school

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/05/2022 (952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stormy nights at the cabin can be just as enjoyable as days spent outside in the sun, especially when you put away the technology and get back to basics. Here, we’ve got some old-school, rainy-weather activities to keep kids busy when they’re cooped up indoors.

Set up camp

Push a couple chairs together, throw a blanket over top and voilà—you’ve got a blanket fort. Fill it with pillows and sleeping bags, and kids can pretend they’re camping under the stars.

Have fun with flashlights

A simple flashlight is the best toy you can have on a stormy night, especially if you’re without electricity. Make shadow puppets, play flashlight tag, have a flashlight scavenger hunt, or read under the covers. Scout Winnipeg carries story torches, a twist on the traditional flashlight—they come with interchangeable discs that shine bright illustrations against a dark surface.

Bring on the comfort food

Clear some space for a living room picnic, complete with DIY sandwiches and s’mores for dessert. Handcrafted wood charcuterie boards make food easy to serve and they look just as good displayed on the counter as they do filled with your kids’ favourite comfort foods. You can find them in various shapes and sizes on GoodLocal.ca.

Have a classic games night

Dust off those classic board games and playing cards for an evening of nostalgic family entertainment. Locally made wood games and puzzles are other quality pieces to add to your collection, to be enjoyed by generations to come. Check out the handcrafted cribbage boards made by Igorcus Woodwork and the Manitoba wildlife children’s puzzles by Erlenmeyer Designs, available at GoodLocal.ca.

Games like 21 Questions, Simon Says, and Hide and Seek are other great options that have stood the test of time.

Tell spooky stories

Get cozy around the fireplace or candlelight (Coal and Canary, a Manitoba favourite, even has a cabin collection) and share some spooky stories. Haunted Manitoba: Ghost Stories from the Prairies is a local option by Matthew Komus that’s best suited to older kids. For younger kids, try a round of group storytelling—each person tells part of a story and leaves a cliff-hanger for the next person to continue from. This way, the story can be as silly or as spooky as your kids are comfortable with.

Take in the show

No need to turn on the TV for this show—just open the blinds and look to the sky. Don’t forget the popcorn.