Keeping kids entertained indoors during Montana’s winter

BILLINGS, Mont. – As winter weather keeps children indoors, many parents face the challenge of combating boredom. Experts suggest that while handing a child a tablet might be tempting, there are more beneficial ways to keep them entertained.

Dr. Kate Eshleman, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, recommends activities that foster creativity, independence, and imagination. She emphasizes that it’s not necessary for parents to keep their children busy all the time, but offering ideas can be helpful.

“There is the academic or cognitive value of that, you know, developing those reading skills because you know even for ‘I’m a kid that likes math,’ well eventually your math problems are going to become story problems. So, reading is really important, and there is a lot of creativity and imagination that goes with that, you kind of have to visualize the characters or kind of imagine the scenarios,” said Dr. Eshleman.

Carrie Goe Nettleton, Education Art Director with the Yellowstone Art Museum, also highlights the benefits of creative outlets for children. She believes that art can help develop problem-solving skills, which are valuable throughout life.

“A big part of art is developing problem-solving skills, like with our younger students they aren’t afraid to try something and if it doesn’t work they try something else, and it’s always great to see what they come up with, but I think that skills are really important as you continue to grow. It helps not only in art making but other aspects of life. It can teach that if something doesn’t work you can pivot and try something different instead, so those types of activities and learning how to do that, especially at a young age can help carry you through,” said Nettleton.

Both Dr. Eshleman and Nettleton encourage parents to participate in creative activities with their children, allowing everyone to learn and grow together.