Even when it’s cold and wet outside, you and your child can still be active around your home and neighbourhood. Here are some local tips for keeping the children busy in winter:

• Put on coats, hats and gloves and head outside. Take your child to see how the flow of rivers, creeks and streams changes after rain. A great local spot to show them this is at Cruickshank Park.
• While you’re outside, look for some big puddles to jump in. An umbrella can be fun to take along too. Your child might have fun opening and closing it a few times.
• One of our favourite little kid’s café’s, Cheeky Chewies in Werribee has a special under five’s corner at the front! It is bound to be a hit for families with their cheeky monkeys. PLENTY of high chairs too and the kids amazing little meal ‘deal’ comes with fresh chopped fruit and your choice of beverage – cute! Located at Shop 2/167-179 Shaws Rd, Werribee VIC 3030
• If it’s darker, let your child play with a torch when you go out for a walk.
• Gather leaves, sticks, shells and stones from outside. You can take them inside and use them for sorting, painting or building.
• On a windy day, you can try flying kites, chasing leaves – or helping them ‘fly’ – and trying to find places to hide from the wind outside.
• Kingdom Party and Play Centre has just had an awesome REVAMP and is open for play! Featuring a gated toddler area with slide-in ball pit, brick building cubby, seesaws, mini padded merry-go-round and lots of slides, you under 4’s will be thoroughly entertained! Located at 61-69 Dohertys Rd, Altona North.
• Paper plate penguin – Quick and easy and lots of fun, this is a good activity for younger children. Find the instructions here 

• Taste Safe Finger Paint Recipe – A recipe to make at home
  
  Ingredients

  3 cups of boiling water
  ½ cup of cornstarch
  food colouring

  
  Method
  Put the cornstarch into a large, heat-proof bowl with a little cold water. Mix into a smooth paste with a whisk or fork. Slowly add the boiling water while whisking continuously. You can add more or less water to get the consistency you prefer. Let the paint cool, then add a few drops of food colouring and mix (your child might like to do this part).

  If you want to make more than one colour, divide the mixture among containers first, and then add colouring to each container.

  This paint is best used on the day it’s made.
  
  

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