Have them help decorate the house and tree together

Prep time---none
Cost----free

Have your kids help you put up winter decorations. Once the tree is up with the lights on have them help put on the ornaments.

Snowman pictures

Prep time none
Cost--few dollars

On a piece of black construction paper draw 3 circles to make a snowman using a white crayon. Have your child glue on cotton balls to fill the circles.

Play dress up

prep time none
cost--free if you use what you have

Keep a dress up box. Fill it with old shoes or purses. Now is a great time to find costumes at Goodwill or hit the after Halloween sales. Dollar Tree also has hats and accessories to play pirate, fireman, police officer, cowboy and princess.

Popsicle stick people

-prep time few minutes to gather supplies
cost-less than $1.00

Have your child draw faces on popsicle sticks. They can make clothes by simply wrapping pipe cleaner around the stick.

Paint the snow

Prep time-few minutes
Cost less than $1.00

Use a clean empty ketchup bottle. Fill it with colored water. Let your kids squeeze it outside onto the snow. They can practice writing letters or just make designs.

Play charades

prep time-none
cost--free

Play Charades. It can be animal charades, occupation charades, or regular charades. They can also act out different characters from cartoons or movies.

Apple ilusion

prep time none
Cost less than $1.00

Put a big red apple on a piece of htie paper and stare at it for at least one minutes. Remove the apple and continue to look at the whtie paper. (A green apple should appear).

Make noise makers

Prep time few minutes to gather supplies
cost-a couple dollars

Fill film canisters or empty plastic bottles with whatever you have around. You can use beans, dry rice, sand, coins, etc. Put the lids back on and they have noise makers.

Homemade drum set

Prep time--few minutes to gather supplies
Cost--free, just use what you have

Gather different pots and pans and wooden spoons. You can also use oatmeal canisters. Let them drum away.

Decorate cookies

Prep time--long enough to make cookies
Cost less than $5.00

Make sugar cookies from scratch. Let them help with the pouring and mixing. When they are baked and cool enough for your child to work with help them decorate them with homemade frosting, and use colored sprinkles or red hots.