Winter activity ideas for kids

70 Winter Activities For Kids And Families To Enjoy All Season

Family

From hosting a bonfire to a joke competition indoors, there is plenty of winter family fun.

Oct. 17, 2022, 8:45 PM UTC / Source: TODAY

By Kait Hanson

The winter season brings both the excitement of the upcoming holidays and — depending on where you live — cold temperatures that may have parents nervous about cabin fever.

Laura Linn Knight, author of "Break Free from Reactive Parenting" tells TODAY.com that winter activities for kids and families will be "very dependent" upon where you are located.

"I live in Arizona with my two children, (so) our winter activities are jam-packed with all the things we couldn’t do during the heat of the summer," Knight says. "Friends face long stretches of rain and snow during the winter months, and their winters are full of umbrellas, sleds and warm jackets. "

Knight says that because your family activities this winter will vary greatly from place to place, the best thing to do will be to create a list of activities together that work for where you live. 

"For many of you, that will be building snowmen and for others it will be morning hikes in the crisp air," Knight says.

Knight shares that whatever your winter activities are, create the list together with your children so that everyone can share their favorite things to do.

"This will invite greater enthusiasm and participation," she explains.

Knight says that there's good news for the days when you find yourself wanting to plop your children in front of devices for hours.

"My suggestion is to plan out your winter activities and crafts ahead of time," Knight says. "Keep going back to the list you created as a family of what winter activities you’d like to do and then prioritize your family activities as much as possible."

Whether you're seeking an outdoor winter activity for the whole family or something simple for the kids to do inside, here are 70 winter activities for kids.

• Bundle up and go for a walk.
• Build a snowman.
• Make snow angels.
• Walk through the neighborhood looking at holiday decor.
• Help adults shovel snow.
• Make frozen bubbles.
• Spend 15 minutes outside on the Winter Solstice.
• Build a snow fort.
• Play flashlight tag.
• Take a walk with hot chocolate.
• Go sledding.
• Paint with snow.
• Look for winter birds.
• Identify animal tracks.
• Make a snow maze.
• Go for a walk to admire holiday lights.
• Make snow ice cream.
• Shovel a neighbor's sidewalk.
• Plan a hike.
• Make garland for the birds.
• Go for a winter scavenger hunt.
• Skiing.
• Decorate an outdoor tree with twinkly lights.
• Play tic-tac-toe using items from nature.
• Host a neighborhood bonfire.
• Roast s'mores.
• Have a snowball fight.
• Explore a nearby National Park.
• Enjoy a New Year's Day parade in your town.
• Go ice skating.
• Have a winter picnic.
• Host an outdoor snow Olympics.
• Play pin the nose on the snowman.
• Go snowshoeing.
• Make an obstacle course.

35 Indoor Winter Activities For Kids

Knight says that indoor activities can be cozy, joyful and exciting.

"I love seasonal activities, because they provide extra family time and promote creativity," she says.

The former elementary school teacher also offered suggestions for celebrating winter traditions.

"I gear many of our indoor winter activities towards holidays around the world," Knight says.

Hanukkah activities

To celebrate Hanukkah: we can decorate dreidels, make veggie latkes and read stories about Hanukkah. 

Christmas activities

To celebrate Christmas: make gingerbread houses, decorate stockings, read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and watch "The Nutcracker" ballet.  

Kwanza activities

"For Kwanza you can read a picture book about the holiday, do an activity with corn as a component of Kwanza is celebrating the first harvest and corn is a big part of that, and make pasta necklaces using traditional Kwanza colors to paint penne pasta before stringing it," Knight says.

New Year's Eve activities for kids

New Year's activities can include: making gratitude books of the things that your children felt good about from the year, making decorations for the home and writing goals for the new year ahead.

• Host a kid jokes competition. 
• Make a bird feeder.
• Watch holiday movies.
• Play hopscotch with masking tape.
• Read a new book.
• Plan a festive scavenger hunt.
• Host an indoor picnic.
• Color seasonal coloring pages.
• Decorate dreidels.
• Learn a dreidel game.
• Read stories about Hanukkah.
• Make latkes.
• Watch a local performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet.
• Make gingerbread houses.
• Read "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."
• Host a kid-friendly trivia night.
• Do a Kwanza craft.
• Read stories about Kwanza.
• Make a gratitude book on New Year's Eve.
• Write New Year goals.
• Practice typing skills.
• Create an indoor tent or fort.
• Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
• Host a kid jokes competition.
• Craft your own puppets.
• Make a puppet theater.
• Play dress-up with old Halloween costumes.
• Try a new recipe.
• Have a game night.
• Make and send cards to relatives and friends.
• Have a play-dough building challenge.
• Build a cardboard fort.
• Learn a classic game like chess or checkers.
• Decorate the windows with cling-on gel shapes.
• Host a DIY pizza night.

Kait Hanson

Kait Hanson is a lifestyle reporter for TODAY.com. A graduate of Penn State University, she began her career in sports and happily wakes up at 6 a. m. for games thanks to the time change at her home in Hawaii. An island transplant originally from the Northeast, she has called Oahu home for nearly 10 years with her husband and two chocolate Labs. Follow her on Instagram or Twitter.

31+ Winter Activities for Kids

Looking for winter activities for kids? Here’s our printable list with winter crafts, outdoor snow ideas, winter art projects & book list!

Updated December 2022

It’s winter here in the northern hemisphere which means it’s time for sledding, ice skating, building snowmen, hot chocolate, and, perhaps, more indoor activities than usual.

Here’s more than 31 ideas for winter activities for kids to keep busy all month long. This list includes both outdoor ideas and indoor ideas. It’s a mix of snow play, art activities, crafts, construction, and, of course, a winter book list for kids. These are great ways to keep occupied during the winter months!

For a printable version of the list, scroll down to the bottom of this post to get a handy PDF version!

5 Outdoor Snow Play Ideas

First up is outdoor play! These are probably going to be any kids’ favorite winter activities because they truly capture the special nature of this season. It’s a winter wonderland out there, so go enjoy it!

1) Make Swedish snowball lanterns

2) Send the kids on a winter scavenger hunt with colored ice sculptures

3) Build a snowman!

4) Host a backyard winter Olympics (on Rain or Shine Mama)

5) Go on a winter nature walk (on How Wee Learn)

5 Winter Art Activities

Now for some indoor activities. But just because you are warm inside doesn’t mean you can’t draw inspiration from the season. Here’s a bunch of fun art projects that your kids will enjoy:

6) Make glue resist snowman paintings

7) Paint winter scenes with this easy snow painting technique

8) Microwave puffy paint snowflakes and snowmen

9) Try a Jan Brett inspired winter art activity

10) Make a stained-glass bunting (with words & wishes for the new year)

7 Art Activities with Snow and Ice

Or combine the art & play outdoors. Take art projects outside for some truly unique activities that you couldn’t make any other time of year!

11) Build colored ice sculptures

12) Paint snow with spray bottles (on The Resourceful Mama)

13) Make painted ice lanterns (on Willowday)

14) Experiment with ice, salt, and food coloring

15) Make glowing snow paint (on Growing a Jeweled Rose)

16) Try this snowy day tissue paper art (on Fireflies and Mudpies)

17) Create a nature ice wreath

5 Winter Crafts for Kids

And here are 5 fun and unique winter art projects that are suitable for all skill levels.

18) Use bleeding tissue paper to make snowflake prints

19) Use contact paper and yarn to make sticky snowflakes

20) Paint with ice (on Easy Peasy and Fun)

21) Cut and paint coffee filter snowflakes

22) Sew paper plate snowflake yarn art (on I Heart Crafty Things)

5 Indoor Winter Play Ideas

And for times when everyone prefers to stay warm here are some ideas for winter play indoors.

23) Try small world pretend play with fake snow (or real snow)

24) Build snowmen out of playdough and decorate with beads or buttons

25) Build and play with a lighted cardboard dollhouse

26) Try one of these winter-themed sensory play ideas!

27) Have a game night

5 Construction Ideas

Kids love to build things, and winter provides its own fair share of building materials right on the ground! You can build indoors or outdoors, and we’ve provided both options below:

28) Build with toothpicks and grapes, cranberries, marshmallows, or gumdrops

29) Make an igloo out of sugar cubes (on Dixie Crystals)

30) Build an indoor fort or igloo

31) Use these brick molds to build the perfect snow fort

32) Build the perfect snowman (from the Spruce)

Read Winter Books for Kids

33) Head to the library and check out some books about winter.

Need some suggestions? Ask your children’s librarian or try some of these:

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal
• The Mitten by Jan Brett
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
• Red Sled by Lita Judge
• Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Richard B. Smith, Felix Bernard, and Tim Hopgood

Would you like a printable version of 31 Winter Activities for Kids to hang on your fridge? 

Enter your name and email in the pop-up and receive a PDF delivered straight to your inbox!

We hope our winter activities provide your family with inspiration and ideas for embracing creativity with your family through the winter months.

How about you? What are your favorite winter activities for kids? 

More Winter Activities for Kids

• 12 Winter Sensory Activities and Creative Play Ideas for Kids
• How to Make Swedish Snowball Lanterns
• 13 Winter Crafts for Kids
• How to Do a Winter Scavenger Hunt for Kids
• How to Paint Snow with This Winter Painting Idea
• DIY Snowflake Decorations: How to Make a Wintry Window

Pin It for Later

10 winter activities for kids with and without snow

What would you like to do outside in winter if there is no snow? No weather will prevent children from having fun and having fun! The main thing is to know what to do. Ksenia Buksha suggests recalling a dozen familiar and unusual winter activities.

1. Decorate trees and bushes in the yard

At plus three degrees bushes in yards, squares and parks look dull: no leaves, no flowers, not even snow. This can be helped. The Christmas trees are over, but the desire for beauty is eternal. We take colored paper, strings, small Christmas decorations - we decorate a familiar bush, take pictures against its background and post pictures on Instagram! If they decorated it not only with paper, after some time it would be good to remove it all and collect it so that there is no garbage left.

2. Feeding the birds

Birds have a hard time even in a snowless winter. You can feed pigeons with millet, ducks with oatmeal or pearl barley. Just not bread: it is harmful to birds. And if you want, try to make the right feeder (there are a lot of ideas, including those not made of wood).

3. Launch LED helicopters

It's still getting dark early, but it's getting late. On a walk in a snowless winter, you can play with the darkness. Buy LED helicopters with slingshots for kids and launch colorful lights into the overcast sky of the era of global warming. It’s definitely impossible to freeze even in a very fierce wind: a gambling, joyful and festive activity, no worse than playing snowballs.

4. Break the ice in the puddles and make an ice mosaic

Suppose it got a little colder, there is no snow, but ice appeared on the puddles. It is very fun to break it by jumping from all over. Children love to test the strength of the ice in shallow and deep puddles. It is at a temperature of about zero that you can get "puddle" ice floes and lay out an ice mosaic from them. Well, yes, of course, the ice in the city is dirty, but this usually does not bother children, and then you can wash your hands.

5. Watch the weather and daylight hours

The most interesting thing is to start doing it in winter. After all, whatever one may say, it’s coming to spring. And even if the weather does not indulge us, then the daylight hours increase a little all the time and give reasons for joy. It may be difficult to track the movements of the sun itself in the city, but we can tell for sure when the lanterns are turned on and off. And write down the results of observations. You can also note other indicators - air temperature, precipitation and wind. Many younger students and even older preschoolers love this.

6. Leave footprints in the snow

Oh, and here comes the snow! True, there is very little of it: a thin layer covered the asphalt and the ground in the squares. But even this amount is enough to draw footprints in the snow. Draw a Christmas tree and a sun from the footprints, alternating small and large footprints, make a battlement wall - in general, fantasize yourself.

7. Making small colored snowmen

Miracle: a little more snow (well, let's say). Of course, it is wet - at zero degrees, how else? We also take advantage of this whim of the weather and make tiny colored snowmen out of wet snow. The body is the size of three snowballs, eyes and a mouth made of berries or sticks. Let's take a sprayer with us for a walk and prepare water strongly tinted with gouache (recipe: a teaspoon of gouache well mixed in a half-liter bottle). And now let's paint our snowmen and rejoice at how unusual they are! If you bring a little more snow, you can build a whole tower.

8. Throwing snow and playing snowballs

It all depends on how much snow we have and what kind it is. Everyone knows that you can really play snowballs only in moderately frosty weather. If the frost is strong, you can throw fluffy loose snow. If there is little snow, we collect it from different surfaces (preferably not from the ground) and throw armfuls at each other! Only with very young children it is better to be careful: they may cry out of habit. It is better to accustom them to snow gradually. As for strong, well-made snowballs, try not to hit anyone in the eye: you can leave a black eye and harm your health.

9. Snow romance

Romance needs quite a bit of snow. It is enough to powder your hair with it a little or collect snow in your palm and breathe on it, watching how the crystals melt. You can watch snowflakes on a sleeve or mitten. And if there is a little more snow, make a “snow angel” (lie down in the snow and wave your arms so that a trace remains like from wings) or throw snow at each other like sand. In general, you can meditate on snow, and this is not only children's entertainment. A familiar mathematician admitted that his interest in the subject began with the contemplation of three snowflakes through which the only possible plane passed endlessly.

10. Rolling downhill

For children under three years old, it is most useful to go downhill not on a cheesecake or sled, but on their own buttocks, stomach or back. The ice track allows them to feel their body better, control traffic safely, and they won’t develop high speed like that. Needless to say, the hill for this should not be too steep and long, but also not too gentle. Teach your child to immediately get up and go to the side so that no one runs over them.

Older children master ice-sleds and sleds, and it is very harmless for teenagers to learn to squat and ride on their feet. But the cheesecake is not quite what you need. On small hills, it rides slower than a sled, and on large and steep ones it loses control: the speed is often still less than on a sledge or on an ice rink, but at the same time it is almost impossible to turn to the side. If a child rides on a cheesecake with a parent, he has almost no contact with the surface of the mountain, which means he does not get the pleasure that “rolling and wallowing” gives him (tactile sensations, in smart words).

However, no matter what you ride, this entertainment still needs winter weather - at least a little, at least not for long. What we all wish for.

Winter fun, children's games and outdoor activities for children

One of the most important problems of mankind is boredom. Sometimes it makes us suffer incredibly, but often it is she who becomes the source of new grandiose discoveries. And yet the main task is not to accomplish great things, but simply to entertain yourself and others.
This question is relevant at any time of the year, but most of all in winter. Outside, it gets colder, big snowdrifts appear, and the roads are covered with ice. That and look: you will slip, you will fall and you will freeze. It makes you want to stay at home, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, make hot tea and spend time reading a book or TV shows, only occasionally looking at the bad weather outside.
But traditionally it is believed that fun at this time of the year is not only possible, but also interesting. Such games will help not only to have a good time, but also to earn yourself a sound sleep and even improve immunity.
And most importantly, it is not adults who are most bored, but children. In this article, we will look at how to make a winter walk with a child enjoyable and useful by turning it into a game.
Usually the problem of what to do with yourself is not so great. Adults work all day, and children go to school. Only a couple of hours in the evenings remain for joint fun. But is it possible to do at least something interesting during this time? In such cases, weekends come to the rescue, when it becomes possible to throw out all the accumulated emotions and realize the most daring ideas. But what if it's not just another weekend, but the winter holidays?

Children's entertainment during the winter holidays

The vacation period in the middle of winter can be safely distinguished as a separate season. And let the weather conditions at this time remain the same, but the world around takes on completely different colors. Crowds of boys and girls, despite the severe frost, ask their parents for a walk on the street, while promising to study perfectly and clean the room. And this all happens for a reason. Winter opens up a lot of new games and fun for kids of all ages. It is no secret that many adults are very sympathetic to this time of year.

Outdoor activities, games and fun for children in winter

As mentioned earlier, most plans and ideas can be easily implemented in a couple of days. But what if the vacation lasted for a week or even two? Remember what impressions have been preserved in your memory from childhood and think about what you can offer your child? Or maybe you can draw something for yourself? Let's take a closer look at what you can do with children on a snowy day.

Sledding

The first thing worth mentioning in a conversation about winter is, of course, skiing. Take a sled and go to the nearest mountain. Believe me, the trip will bring great pleasure not only to your child, but also to you. But it’s worth being patient, because after each descent you will have to not only climb back, but also drag transport along with you.

Ride on the ice skating

Great alternative to sleds. Glaciers are much lighter and more compact, which will allow you to save energy on the ascent. Also, ice slides are much more common than good sledges. Do not miss this opportunity and enjoy the process with the children.

Have a snowball fight

A logical continuation of the summer game of knights and superheroes. Only now wooden swords have replaced balls of snow. You can play alone or with a large group. In any case, it will bring you a whole bunch of positive emotions and impressions.
In addition, such a pastime will help your children become more accurate and dexterous. After all, it will be necessary not only to hit the opponent, but also to evade his attacks.

Have a photo shoot

Another reason to once again take a walk in the winter with children. Here, photographs with colorful leaves have been replaced by photographs of the kingdom of the snow. Such entertainment will give you more than a dozen beautiful pictures with bright and genuine emotions. So you can not only have fun, but also save this episode as a keepsake.

Build a fortress

What is a game without its own headquarters? Help your children build their fortress. With the help of snow you can make a real castle. Remember that your result will be limited only by your imagination.
In addition to the usual tower or wall that protects, for example, from snowballs, you can even build your own, your own slide for skiing.

Make a snowman

But how to spend the winter without its faithful symbol and companion - a snowman? Usually they do this at the first snow, but you can build your hero at any opportunity.
You can also try yourself as a sculptor and replace your snowy friend with any other creation. By the way, after completion of work, it can even be painted. To do this, take gouache diluted with water and create.

Skate

In winter, many ice rinks open throughout the city. There are open and closed, paid and free. But only one thing remains unchanged - a large number of happy people and a good mood.

Go skiing

Better than a winter walk in the forest can only be the same skiing. Your movement will become easier and more enjoyable. Therefore, you will have more energy to enjoy the scenery.
In addition, it is a great option to combine entertainment with sports.

Play tracker with the children

Fun should bring not only laughter and joy, but also benefit. So, for example, snowballs develop accuracy, and skating increases coordination of movements. Another good example is the game of trackers. Show the children footprints in the snow and tell them who left them. So you can better study the traces of birds and animals. And also play a real detective and watch the traces of specific people.
In addition to just watching the animals, you can also take care of them. Finding food becomes more difficult at this time of the year, so instill a love of nature in your children and set up bird feeders with them.

Blow soap bubbles in the bitter cold

Another very creative way to surprise a child is bubbles. If they are allowed in the winter, then their effect increases significantly. With their help, you can show the children how the ice crust appears. It will be not only interesting, but also very beautiful.
Just get ready for the fact that the performance will be followed by questions about how it all happens. This will give you the opportunity to introduce your child to physics. At the same time, take some snow home and show how it turns into water.

Decorate the trees in the garden

On the eve of the New Year, you should not only hope for a miracle, but also create it yourself. After decorating the Christmas tree and rooms in the house, go outside. Collect the remaining toys, garlands and tinsel. Make more snowflakes and start decorating the plants in the yard. Around will become much more beautiful, and the atmosphere will be filled with magic.

Gather a big party

All the games and fun presented are interesting in their own way, but everything can quickly get boring if you do it alone or together. Gather more friends and ordinary slides or snowball fights will become a big event. So you will have not only more emotions and impressions, but also topics for conversation with friends.

Stay indoors

Winter activities and fun with kids are great. But not always the weather outside the window allows you to have fun carefree no matter what. At such moments, it is still worth staying warm at home. Here you will find countless entertainment from board games to all sorts of creative processes.
If you still want to go outside, then dress warmly and enjoy a walk along the way to the theater, cinema or cafe.

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