I always breathe a big sigh of relief when January hits. The insanity of the holiday season has finally passed and new presents have the kids entertained. This serenity lasts for a couple of weeks, but the magic of new fairy and princess paraphernalia soon wears off and we’re left staring at each other. While staring contests can be a fun way to pass 30 seconds, they make for a long winter.  Bozeman Winter weather can be relentless, almost as relentless as those kids begging to be entertained.

We have lots of options for keeping kids happy when the weather cooperates. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and ice skating are spectacular ways to enjoy the scenic beauty of our state. Occasionally, we get nice, moist snow just perfect for making snow forts and snowmen. However, ridiculously cold temperatures are common as well. Every Montanan knows what it feels like to have their scarf freeze to their face. Thermometers sometimes register well below zero degrees for days at a time, and it is these days that I find hardest to handle as a parent. My kids want out. They want to make snow angels and lick snow off their gloves, but I won’t let them. Instead of becoming the enemy, I have to become the cruise director, suggesting plans for fun and entertainment that don’t require snowpants.

Take a Dip
When I’m feeling particularly frustrated with winter, I attempt to forget it completely. This is best done at the Bozeman Hot Springs, where nine different pools, ranging in temperature from 59 degrees to 106 degrees, offer an escape from the cold temperatures outside. One of the warm pools is outside, so if your kids are looking for adventure, they will surely be entertained by swimming outside in the middle of the winter. If you just need a break, the Hot Springs provides day care facilities in the morning for parents using the gym and fitness center. Bozeman Hot Springs is located on Highway 191, just south of Four Corners. More information about its hours of operation and prices can be found at www.bozemanhotsprings.co. Bozeman’s Swim Center, at the High School, has recreational swim times on Friday nights and weekends. On Saturday afternoons, a new, enormous inflatable will be in the pool for those interested in what looks like a floating bouncy house. For more information, visit the Swim Center’s website.

Visit the Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum of Bozeman offers a thousand ways to while away a winter day. My family’s first stop is always the big bubble wall, but we quickly get lost in all of the hands-on exhibits. Beginning in January, the museum will open an exhibit that showcases what it was like to work and play in the “Olden Days.” There will be old-fashioned artifacts to explore and traditional games to play. Kids will also have the opportunity to pack their bag for a voyage overseas and write letters to loved ones back home. The CMOB staff does a great job of regularly introducing new exhibits, but some things will always stay the same, like the aquarium full of fish native to Montana, the stage perfectly suited to elaborate puppet shows, and the art station with a variety of project suggestions and supplies to inspire every budding artist. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, and more information about its programs and exhibits can be found at www.cmbozeman.org. On the second Friday night of each month, admission is free and pizza is typically available for sale.

But, what if it’s just too cold to leave the house?

Have a Snow Day
Why not celebrate that fluffy, white stuff that has you trapped indoors? If December’s deep freeze returns, it won’t be possible to bundle the kids up and send them out into the snow. Try bringing the snow inside instead. Gather some clean, fresh snow (this is tricky in Bozeman thanks to all of our four-legged friends, but not impossible). Put it in a big, plastic bin with a few measuring cups or shovels and the kids will have a blast. Melt some snow to drink at snack time. This is the perfect opportunity to get nerdy and talk about the way temperature causes matter to change from the solid to the liquid state. To make snack time even more exciting, turn clean snow into snow cones by adding concentrated Kool-Aid (use about half the water the package calls for). Hot cocoa mix is also quite delicious mixed into snow, and snow makes great slushies when put in the blender with some fruit.

Make a Game of It
Kids love to play, and as the old adage goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” I tire quickly of pretending to be various animals and mythical creatures, so I like to suggest a game of cards or Sorry! A cold, snowy day is the perfect time to see how many different games you can play. I like to disperse the crowd with a scavenger hunt once we’ve had enough togetherness, which usually occurs after one of the kids loses twice in a row. My favorite hunt involves hunting through the bookshelf; little ones can hunt for books based on a list of pictures you give them and older kids can hunt for books based on suggested words or themes. My kids usually discover a long-forgotten book and spend some time reading it, which means I have 20 minutes to make lunch and change a load of laundry.

During Montana’s bitter cold winters, it truly is the little things that count—the little things that can destroy a house beyond recognition when they have been forced to stay inside for more than 12 hours. Entertaining them can be a challenge, but like so many parenting situations, I’m sure I will one day look back fondly on these endless winter days inside the house. In the blink of an eye, they will be teenagers who are willing to brave subzero temperatures to avoid hanging out with their nerdy mom. Oh, how I will pine for these days.

Color Your World

It doesn’t have to be cold, and you don’t have to be a kid to color the Bozeman Magazine coloring page, you can do it anytime. The coloring page is illustrated by local illustrator Ted Rechlin and sometimes sponsored by a local business giving prizes for best page!

Sarah Cairoli has her fingers crossed for a mild winter. She can be reached at scairoli30@hotmail.com.