By Trisha Novotny for Ideas That Spark

There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than being cooped up inside during bad winter weather -- unless it’s being cooped up with kids who complain that they have nothing to do. When “I’m bored” syndrome strikes, try one of these fun-but-simple winter projects for kids to cure them.

Trash Art
Collect throwaway items -- such as recyclables, string, ribbon, clothes hangers and scraps of old clothing -- in reuseable shopping totes. Once you have a good assortment, get out the glue, tape (Scotch, masking or duct) and scissors and let your kids begin creating “trash art.” You’ll be amazed at what they come up with -- from robots to doll houses to 3-D collages.

Kool-aid Clay Dough
Between making the dough (with your help!) and then using it to create brilliant works of art, this one activity works double-time keeping kids occupied.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
2 cups boiling hot water
2 tablespoons oil

• Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Bring water and oil to a boil.
• Pour boiling liquid mixture over dry ingredients and continue mixing until it forms a ball.
• Let cool. Remove from bowl, place on a hard surface and knead until smooth.
• Store in food-storage bags.

NOTE: This is not edible dough -- it only smells yummy!

Snow Cream
When your kids are done playing with the snow outside, they can bring some of it inside for a real treat!

Ingredients:
1/2 gallon clean snow (fill gallon-size storage bag halfway)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Leave your snow in the food-storage bag or dump it into a large bowl.
• Add all other ingredients and knead the bag (wear gloves to protect hands) or mix in bowl with a spoon.
• Once mixed, it’s time to dig in!

Snow Painting

Ingredients:
Food coloring, various colors
Empty, plastic squirtable bottles (shampoo, ketchup or store-bought) -- one for each color you’d like to make
Water
Snow

• Fill each squirtable bottle with water.
• Add 3 to 4 drops of food coloring.
• Close bottle and shake to create your colorful snow-paint.
• Bundle up and head outdoors to your snow-filled yard. Begin creating snow art, drawing and coloring by squirting your paint into the snow!

Snowman Party
Celebrate winter with a snowman party of frosty treats, games, crafts and fun. For more winter projects for kids, go to 24/7 MOMS.

How do you keep your kids from the “I’m bored” syndrome in the winter?

Trisha Novotny is the creator of 24/7 Moms, a blog that offers fun, keeping-it-simple ideas to make every moment as a mom count.