T’is the season to cozy up and go on an adventure indoors! I decided to share some of my favorite indoor adventures. #StayHomeSafe for the Holidays and rediscover the joy of indoor play without antagonizing the cat (or the dog. Or the neighborhood Scrooge. You know who I’m talking about.). 

Amazon Jungle Adventure

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight…Bring your binoculars because we’re turning the living room into the Amazon Jungle! Build a fort from chairs, tables, and blankets, or set up your tent. Add pillows, sleeping bags, and lots of plush animals. Did you see that monkey? Go fishing, read an adventure book, or visit the waterfall with crocodile-Croc, and flamingo-Odile. Enjoy caramel popcorn with a cuppa of pirate tea underneath the imaginary starry summer night sky. Just beware of those Chocolate Chippo hippos. They have a big sweet-tooth and are always on the hunt for sweets!

Roman Holiday

Ah, la Dolce Vita! Hop on your Vespa scooter, shout, “Arriverderci!” and go on a Roman Holiday! Getting hungry? Decorate your own mini-pizza or make your own Italian ice cream in a bag.

Monte Carlo

Life is a highway and you’re gonna ride it all night long! Who needs to go to Monte Carlo when you can bring the Grand Prix to your own hallway? Take turns traveling from point A to point B and back again. Hop on a race car ride-on or balance bike. Ready, set, go! The one who needs the shortest amount of time to make it back to the finish line will win a Lightning McQueen cupcake (or two…)! Can we mix it up? Yes, we can! Add a colorful item that racers must pass to each other. Increase the challenge of the game by giving them an item that will change or limit the movements they can use. A tennis ball on a spoon sounds exactly like the fun-filled (and spill-proof) challenge you’re looking for.

Journey to the center of the Living Room

Follow Jules Verne on a journey to the center of the living room.. Where do these dinosaur fossils come from? Put on your dinosaur paper hat and investigate! Did you hear that RAWWRR? It seems to come from the dinner table turned Ice Age cave! It’s a dino-discovery! Hack the dinosaurs out of the ice, say hello to a woolly mammoth, befriend a sabre tooth tiger and join forces to battle snowdrifts and volcanoes! Best thing about this journey? The Dinosaur print cookies…. 

Gingerbread Adventures

“Run, run, run as fast as you can / You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” Tired of running after your freshly baked gingerbread men? Here is a Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread who don’t want to run away. Instead, they want you to decorate them! When they look their best, they can’t wait to go on a kitchen adventure! Fight Al Dente, the evil wizard! To break his spell you must decorate cookies…blindfolded!

Or, turn today into a family game day! Some of the best adventures are the ones where that start with a board game story (If you don’t believe me, you must watch Jumanji….)! Just add popcorn and hot chocolate milk.

Happy Adventures! And don’t forget to draw lots of postcards to send to friends and family!

Illustration: Maya E Shakur for FREDERICK & SOPHIE / Illustration Styling: Priscilla Obermeier