By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh
Although Australian winters are quite short in comparison to the northern hemisphere, the colder winter months can prove to be a dreary time if you're the type that prefers spending time out in the sun with the kids.
However, with a little creative thinking, you can still make memories and have a fabulous time during the winter months.
Bundle up, put on the kids winter shoes and enjoy some outdoor fun with the kids in winter. Then head back inside for some hot chocolate and indoor activities.
From outdoors winter activities to easy winter crafts the whole family will want to get in on, check out this list of fun activities for kids to do when it's cold outside.
Here are some winter activities for kids to get the creative juices flowing:
1. Cook together. Grab a child-friendly cookbook and make something delicious together. Holiday or winter-themed cookies are always good. Baking and decorating can prove to be the perfect way to have hours of fun during the day, and you'll have some delicious food or treats to eat after dinner.
2. Have a craft day. Bring out a box of art supplies and try your hand at some winter crafts. Make snowflakes or snowmen and decorate the house.
3. Go ice-skating. If skating is available in your area, it can prove to be an engaging winter activity. Sometimes ice skating can be a little tough to learn at first, but once you have the hang of it, it can be so much fun.
4. Read. While reading should be a year-round activity, it can also provide some special winter memories. You might try reading stories to your children that take place in the winter season. Enjoy a good story together as a family and allow everyone a turn to read.
5. Painting. One way to get creative outside is to try some chalk paint. You can then let the kids go wild as they create special works of art. Get creative with your outdoor nature crafts this winter by making some snow paint for your kids. Combine food colouring or watercolour paints with some water and place them in a spray bottle.
6. Build an indoor fort. Every child enjoys a good fort building party. Get creative with your blankets and pillows and build a small home within a home for your children. Your kids will enjoy having a special hideout.
7. Enjoy some karaoke. You can buy or rent a karaoke machine for some indoor fun for the entire family and friends. Feel free to get wild and crazy and join in on the fun with them. While it's not for everyone, many parents will enjoy the chance to sing along to their favourite songs.
8. Play online. Spend time searching for some kid activities websites. You'll likely come across websites that allow you to download free printable templates for winter colouring or festive puzzles. You can also consider some kid-friendly online video games.
9. Take a trip to the shopping centre. Remember that you can always go to the local mall as a nice treat for the day. While you may not want to be spending money, it never hurts to look around and get some exercise. You might even want to treat the kids at the food court for good behaviour.
10. Go to a museum. Museums are the perfect destination and are great places to visit during the winter school holidays. If you've never gone before, it'll be an extra special treat. Inquire at the museum about special activities for those smaller patrons. Many museums have ongoing programs and activities for kids.
Remember that the possibilities are endless, even if it is winter! There's no reason to stay cooped up in the colder months dreaming of the summer months. There are lots of super easy fun ways that will get everyone out for some fresh air and still keep the kids or whole family active while having some family fun.
The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.
Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard.
Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.
Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!
While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking. And the evidence is clear.
Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.
Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”
“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.”
Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.
Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.
At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.
In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.
Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.
“We bought these baby shoes for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria
We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA. They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.
Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.