The north wind howls, blowing arctic snow into waist-high drifts. For adults, that announcement is a dreaded one: "School is closed." As your children cheer, an icy chill not only forms on your windows but in the pit of your stomach as well.

When the kids’ initial excitement finally diminishes, a chorus of "Mom, I’m bored" drones throughout the house. Cabin fever has struck.

Most kids need physical and mental activities to keep them occupied while they’re housebound. With careful planning, parents and caregivers can use this as an important time of bonding.

Here are a few suggestions of things to make to initiate that closeness:

Materials needed: vegetable shortening, peanut butter, sugar, birdseed, cracker crumbs, bread crumbs, flour, large bowl, rubber spatula, plastic wrap, mesh bag, twist tie.

Directions: Put 1 cup shortening in the bowl. Add 1 cup peanut butter. Stir in 1/3 cup sugar, 1 cup cracker crumbs, 1 cup breadcrumbs and 1 cup birdseed. Add enough flour to thicken (approximately 1/2 cup.) Form into a solid ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze overnight. Place unwrapped ball into mesh bag. Secure mesh bag at the top of the ball and twist with tie. Cut off all but one inch excess mesh at the top. Hang bag outside within view of the window.

Materials needed: saucepan, wooden spoon, large airtight container or zip-top plastic bag, salt vegetable oil, flour, cream of tartar, water, food coloring, cinnamon.

Directions: Combine the following into saucepan: 1 cup salt, 4 tablespoons oil, 2 cups flour, 4 tablespoons cream of tartar, 2 cups water, food coloring and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture becomes stiff and pulls away from sides of pan. Cool and store in airtight container.

Materials needed: 1 quart jar with tight fitting lid, 1 pint heavy whipping cream, room temperature, pinch of salt, strainer, bowl.

Directions: Pour cream into jar. Take turns shaking container until solid mass forms. Strain and place butter into bowl. Add pinch of salt and blend. Can be put into candy molds if desired. Refrigerate.

Materials needed: refrigerated pie dough, waxed paper, cookie cutters, butter knife, cookie sheet, rolling pin, pancake turner, cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Directions: Preheat oven according to pie dough instructions. Place dough on waxed paper and press with cookie cutters. Using knife, lift shaped dough from waxed paper onto cookie sheet. Gather unused dough, roll out and cut out more shapes. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake until lightly browned. Cool. Remove with pancake turner.