Moms Talk Q&A: Best Ways to Beat Cabin Fever

Moms Talk is a new feature on Hauppauge Patch that is part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families.

 Hauppauge Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Hauppauge and the larger Hauppauge school district area. 

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Our panel includes : 

Cindy A: Hi! I'm Cindy, mother of three very active girls in the Hauppauge School District.  I have a seventh-grader and two third-graders.  My husband and I have lived here for almost 20 years. I am a Girl Scout leader and Red Cross Instructor and I work for a Human Services Agency part-time.

June 

 Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do you know of local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

 So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a question: 

"What activities can you do with children around Hauppauge to prevent cabin fever?" 

Cindy A. : My favorite cures for cabin fever are simple - I try harder to arrange playdates, even if the time is constrained.  The children have no outdoor recess and their whole day is structured.  They love to have a new friend visit and do something frivolous and fun. 

Last week, our Brownie Troop had a "Monkey Party" where we baked Monkey Bread and played silly versions of traditional party games.  "Smelly, Itchy Monkey" was a great substitute for Hot Potato with a stuffed toy monkey.  The banana smoothies let everyone forget what the landscape looked like outside.  Perhaps you can try an indoor camp-out or picnic in the family room.

Have a question or something to add to the topic? Write a comment below and our Moms Council will respond.