Apps to Cure the Winter Blues & A Teen Cell Phone Contract

I realize we aren’t technically all that far into the winter season yet, but I’m already over it. Okay, I guess I should be honest and say I was probably over it before it began because living here in the Northeast means that winter is usually quite cold (it’s currently 16 degrees outside), includes a great deal of snow, and offers a lot less sunshine than the summer months. I like to exercise and try to remember to take my Vitamin D supplement daily, but some days require a bit more creativity in order to get through these sometimes brutal winter days. On stormy days we like to watch movies and stream our favorite television shows, but I also love using my Samsung Galaxy S5 to keep me entertained every now and then. Fortunately, everyone in my family has their own smartphone and/or tablet so regardless of what each of us prefers we can all keep busy when the weather starts to get us down.

I mean, seriously, do you have any idea just how many great apps there are to help melt away the winter blues?? For example, we are all huge board games in our family and while I prefer to sit down at the table and play them as a family, it’s also fun to know I can just grab my phone and enjoy a game (or three) of some of my favorite classics. From Yahtzee to Monopoly, and even The Game of Life, there is literally something for everyone to download and play, either in iTunes or Google Play.

Now Cody is a huge game show fan (okay, I’ll admit that I am too, which is probably where he gets it from), so I know that he could literally spend hours playing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which is one of his absolute favorites! Luckily he has his own iPad mini, so he doesn’t have to use mine and we can both enjoy our favorite games at the same time! Another great game I hear a lot about is Trivia Crack, but I have to admit I haven’t downloaded it myself for fear that I’d spend way too much time playing and not get much else done, you know like washing dishes and feeding my family. But you should totally download it and tell me what you think!

Do you need some more app recommendations to keep you and the kids from going stir crazy this winter, especially when the weather is too harsh for them to play outside? If so, I have a few more ideas to keep everyone busy and entertained, possibly all the way until the last bit of snow thaws and the first Spring flowers begin to bloom.

• Check out the Make a Snowman app for days like today when there’s a blizzard wreaking havoc in some parts of the country and it’s just too yucky for the kids to go outside and play. Another option is the Snowman Maker Plus app, which a fun way to create a snowman even when you can’t get outside to build the real thing.
• For the foodies in the family the Food Network on the Road and Just Recipes apps are both great ways to find something fun to prepare in the kitchen while the weather outside is frightful and keeping everyone cooped up inside. How cool is it that you can literally look up recipes from your favorite cooking shows and recreate them in your own kitchen?
• After you’ve prepared something delicious in the kitchen, how about a guilt-free, mess-free way to enjoy a milkshake?? The kids will especially love the Drink Maker: Frozen Milkshake app, which allows you to choose ingredients, toss them into a blender, and watch it all come together right before your eyes on your smartphone screen. All the fun without the calories. I’d say that’s a win for both kids and grown-ups alike!
• Personally, I love to challenge my brain to (hopefully) keep my mind sharp, so I love to see apps like Elevate and Fit Brains Trainer for a little more focused fun to help balance out all the less challenging things I like to do and games I like to play. I should probably do these on a daily basis, especially since I’m getting (ahem) older and could use all the help I can get when it comes to exercising my brain.

One final thing I’d like to mention is how important it is to have some sort of agreement in place with your kids, especially your teenager, when it comes to cell phone usage, regardless of whether they are enjoying some of these fun apps or connecting with friends via social media. I highly recommend downloading this Parent Child Contract, which is easy to customize, so that everyone in the family can be on the same page when it comes to rules and expectations!

Disclosure: I’m a compensated member of the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade, but thoughts are always my own.