Beat the Winter Blues: Have an Indoor Beach Party

The gray skies, frigid weather, and snowed-in cabin fever of a winter like this one is enough to give anyone the winter blues. Shake off the blahs by inviting the kids to a beach party — in your living room. These ideas will transform your space from a dreary hibernation den into a festive tropical paradise.

Bring your summer gear out of storage and bring back your summer outlook, too. Big beach towels turn into slipcovers, and an ordinary sofa or chair becomes a comfy chaise longue. Fill the room with light, put on your sunglasses, and prop beach umbrellas in the corners to create shady spots. Use grass skirts (available at most dollar stores) as table liners and decorate with scattered seashells on the tabletops. Blow up beach balls and let them roll around the floor — they double as decorations and entertainment.

Enhance the mood with the scent of the shore. Light some fresh-air candles like Yankee Candle’s Beach Walk or have the kids put on a little suntan lotion. That signature coconut fragrance is pure summer. Turn up the Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet and pop in a Frankie and Annette movie to play in the background.

You wouldn’t wear jeans and a sweater to the shore, so don’t wear them to the party! Dress your grandkids in bathing suits and put on your own beach attire. Don’t forget sunglasses, a straw hat, and a stripe of white sunblock on the ridge of your nose. And no socks allowed — just bare feet or flip-flops.

Plan a menu of summer-vacation favorites, like hot dogs, hamburgers, or barbecued chicken. Add sides and treats: corn on the cob, potato salad, chips and salsa, and watermelon. Wash it all down with smoothies made from their favorite fruits — and top off each drink with a decorative umbrella.

No beach day is complete without games. Play a few rounds of limbo and see who can go lowest. Try out some beach volleyball, adapted for indoor play: Serve a beach ball or balloon and challenge everyone to keep the ball in the air. Next up: A game of Marco Polo, without the pool. Blindfold your grandkids and have them search for you by calling out "Marco." Reimagine other water games you can play indoors.

Take a break from eating and playing to create a few works of art. Here, three projects that will be fun for all. Sand Paintings You may not be able to draw in the sand but you can still draw with sand. Use a pencil to sketch a simple design (think stripes and patterns). Then, working one small section at a time, apply an even layer of glue to the places you want to fill — use a fingertip to spread it around. Pour sand over the glue, making sure to cover the entire area. Repeat until your paper is covered and then shake off the excess sand over a trash can. Once the glue is dry, seal your masterpiece with hairspray.

Many beachgoers show their creativity by building sand castles. You and the kids can do the same — only these will be edible. Take small, clean sandcastle molds and fill them with Rice Krispie treats mix. Once they have hardened and cooled, remove the treats and let the kids decorate them with small candies and frosting.

Give new life to old seashells. Pick up an inexpensive assortment at a craft store or at seashellworld.com. Spread out a variety of shells on the table, plus googly eyes, pipe-cleaners, pompoms, glitter, and anything else from your crafting pantry. Then glue the pieces onto a shell to create a freaky monster. Give your creations names and make up silly stories about them.