Courtesy Family Features

The spate of chilly winter days seeming to drag on and on may have grandmothers and others tempted to burrow under a blanket and wait out the weather. But there are plenty of entertaining and affordable ways to enjoy quality time with grandkids despite chilly temperatures.

Kids who are cooped up indoors during the winter often get restless, but you can make the most of that boredom by gathering the grands and discovering new ways to create memories together.

Get Your Game On
Forget about screen play and instead show the younger generation how much fun it can be to take on family rivals with classic board games you have on hand. Or work in teams to complete age-appropriate puzzles. Such activities allow everyone to participate and practice problem-solving skills while having fun.

Explore What Surrounds You
Resist the temptation to huddle indoors and instead explore how your community transforms with the seasons. Look for the best sledding hills or check out seasonal attractions like ice rinks and festivals. Even taking a drive to marvel at the way snow transforms your surroundings gives you a way to break out of the house and enjoy some entertaining fun.

Encourage Artistic Expression
Once kids are bundled up properly, there’s little that tops good old-fashioned snow days. Snow angels, snow forts and snowmen are just the beginning. Inviting kids to create and design lets their imaginations run wild and, with a little luck, they’ll run off some of that pent-up energy, too. If you’re stuck inside, encourage creativity through arts and crafts.

Give Back to Others
It’s never too early to learn the intrinsic good of giving back, and cold winter months are an ideal time to instill a giving mindset. With Mom or Dad’s permission, arrange a time to volunteer at a local food bank. Or work together to assemble care kits with warm blankets and socks for the local homeless shelter. You could write letters to soldiers or make greeting cards for seniors at a local nursing home. Big or small, they’re gestures that make a lasting impression on young minds.

Make a Sweet Treat Together
Cooking together not only gives you something fun to do, it helps kids develop important life skills and healthy habits, exposes them to new food options, and allows them to practice reading and math when they follow recipes.

Kid-friendly foods such as the following flavorful frozen waffle concoctions make it easy for all ages to help with the prep. And starting with a base of PEBBLES Waffles — kids’ favorite cereal in waffle form, available in Fruity and Cocoa flavors — guarantees grins from the grands as they gobble them up.

Fruity Smiley Face Waffle

2 Fruity PEBBLES Waffles

1 container whipped cream

1 cup Fruity PEBBLES cereal

blueberries (optional)

rainbow sprinkles (optional)

maple syrup (optional)

Heat waffles until golden brown and place on plate. Use whipped cream to make smiley face eyes, nose and mouth.

Place cereal on top of whipped cream to make eyes, nose and mouth colorful. Add blueberries, rainbow sprinkles and syrup, if desired.

Cocoa Smiley Face Waffle

2 Cocoa PEBBLES waffles

1 cup Cocoa PEBBLES cereal

1 container whipped cream

chocolate chips (optional)

chocolate sprinkles (optional)

strawberries (optional)

chocolate syrup (optional)

Heat waffles until golden brown and place on plate. Use whipped cream to make smiley face eyes, nose and mouth.

Place cereal on top of whipped cream to make eyes, nose and mouth colorful. Add chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, strawberries and chocolate syrup, if desired.

Find more family-friendly ideas for winter fun at postpebblescereal.com.