Old-Fashioned Fun

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Yes, laughter is medicine, and it doesn’t taste nasty going down either. Here are just a few of the benefits of laughter:
• Releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, into the body
• Relaxes the body
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow.

Are you suffering with cabin fever? Snowstorms and arctic air present a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to spend time together having fun. Take a step back in time this weekend. Turn the cell phones off for a few hours, unplug the TV and game systems and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Here are some suggestions.
• Play board games (My sons always beat me at Monopoly.)
• Learn a new card game like hearts, pinochle, spades, Liverpool rummy. Visit BicycleCards.com for ideas and rules.
• Put together a 500-1000 piece puzzle
• Play hide and seek (Hide and seek in the dark always appealed to my teenagers.)
• Read a book out loud
• Make and bake cookies together
• Make turtle pancakes for dinner instead of breakfast.

For those who want to brave the outdoors:
• Play Fox and Goose (a wintertime version of tag that is a family favorite). Feel free to vary the shape of your play area! We wound our paths all through the back and front yards.
• Go sledding
• Ice skate
• Have a snowball fight
• Build a snowman

Most of all, just have fun no matter what you do.
Photo used with permission VanHookFamily.com.     Debra L. Butterfield ©2010