Winter Fun for Kids – Indoors and Outdoors
It’s common for kids to get a bit lazy or less active during the colder months. Fewer opportunities for outdoor play can lead to more time spent indoors, often in front of screens.
However, keeping them engaged with fun winter activities—both indoors and outdoors—can help counteract that and keep their energy levels up.
From exciting outdoor challenges to warm indoor projects, these 15 winter activities are sure to make cold days fly by.
Indoor Obstacle Course Adventure
When kids can’t go outside, set your living room into their playground. Make an action-packed obstacle course.
There are no rules to follow. Add whatever objects you can get your hands on. Use pillows, blankets, and furniture to create tunnels, balance beams, and hurdles for kids to climb, crawl, and jump over.
Add fun challenges like hopping on one foot or doing a silly dance at each station to make it even more exciting.
It’s a perfect way to burn energy and spend quality time while staying warm indoors.
Snow Painting in the Yard
Does your kid love to play with the colors? Turn the snow in the yard into their winter canvas.
Fill spray bottles with water and add a few drops of food coloring, then let the kids go wild creating colorful masterpieces on the snow. You can encourage them to create snow rainbows, patterns, or even snow art portraits.
Ensure to bundle them up in their warmest gear before heading out. And don’t worry about the mess as it is easy to clean since it melts away naturally. So let them be creative.
DIY Snow Globe Crafting
The little hands love to make seasonal craft projects. And it boasts creativity as well. Why not encourage them to create magical DIY snow globes?
They can easily create one at home with mason jars, water, glitter, and small figurines. You can provide them with materials like faux snow, toy animals, mini trees, or even holiday-themed figures and just let them be creative.
The best part is, that you can use their final masterpiece as home decor. It’s a cozy craft that keeps little hands busy while sparking their creativity.
Scavenger Hunt
Winter crafts projects are a good idea, but you need more active play ideas that allow them to move and burn energy instead of sitting in one place.
Set an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt. Kids also love the thrill and it’s easy to set up indoors or in the backyard. This will be a great winter activity for stimulating their minds and keeping them entertained for hours.
Hide winter-themed items like mittens, snowflakes, or holiday ornaments around the house. Make the fun double by hiding things in the backyard snow.
Create clues for your little ones to follow. Additionally, you can create a winter-themed treasure map to make the hunt feel extra special.
Ice Skating in the Backyard
Ice skating is another fun and must-try winter activity. If you have access to a frozen pond then it’s perfect. But if not, no worries, you can create a small rink in your backyard.
Lace up the skates and let your kids glide across the ice, practicing their spins and twirls. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the crisp winter air while working on balance and coordination.
Even if your kid has never done skating before, this will be a chance to learn something new while spending quality time with family.
Don’t forget to warm up afterward with a cup of hot cocoa.
Hot Cocoa and Movie Night
Hot cocoa and movie night, have you heard a better combination for winter? There’s nothing cozier than snuggling up with a blanket and some hot cocoa for a family movie night.
Pick out winter-themed movies like Home Alone or Harry Potter (even if they have watched these 100 times already, trust me, they will still enjoy).
To make the movie night into an engaging activity, ask the kids to create a “concession stand” with popcorn, candy, and cocoa.
This indoor activity is perfect for winding down after a busy day, bringing everyone together for some relaxing family time in the warmth of home.
Snowball Target Practice
Don’t keep all the fun inside, make the most of a snowy day with some fun snowball target practice.
Set up targets around the yard using buckets, and boxes, or even create snowmen and see who can hit the targets with their snowballs. This game adds a competitive twist to the classic snowball fight without the chaos.
It’s a good activity for improving aim and agility, and kids of all ages can participate. Plus, it gets them running around outside, making the cold weather feel more like an adventure.
Indoor Winter-Themed Bowling
If your kids want to play some bowling, ditch the ride to the bowling center and transform your hallway or living room into a winter bowling alley.
Use white plastic cups or soda bottles and decorate them as snowmen for the pins. Then, roll a soft ball (like a small soccer ball or foam ball) to knock them down. It’s an easy setup that keeps kids entertained for hours.
You can also get creative and make it a “snowstorm” by adding pillows or blankets as obstacles. It’s a fantastic way to keep kids moving indoors on chilly days.
Indoor Winter Wonderland Dance Party
Host a winter dance party and invite your kid’s friends over to make them super happy. You can decorate the room with snowflake cutouts, use fairy lights to add a magical touch, and even encourage kids to dress up in winter costumes.
Play upbeat songs that get everyone moving, or make a playlist of holiday tunes for a festive feel. Dance parties are a great way to stay active indoors when it’s too cold to play outside.
The best part? There’s no wrong way to dance when it’s all about having fun.
Snow Sledding
Snow sledding is a classic winter activity that never gets old. Grab a sled and head to the nearest snowy hill for some high-speed fun.
Kids and adults alike will love the thrill of racing down the slopes, feeling the cold air rush past.
Or create an indoor sledding activity using the stairs. All you need is a large piece of cardboard, thick blankets, or even a soft mattress to create the stair sledding,
This indoor twist on a classic winter activity is sure to be a hit. Make sure the area is clear of obstacles and create a cushioned landing at the bottom.
Ice Fishing Game
Go for ice fishing with your little ones to a frozen lake, and experience the excitement of dropping a line through the ice.
You know what? There is no need to brave the cold for ice fishing if kids don’t want to go. Just create your version indoors. Fill a large plastic bin with paper “fish” and give kids toy fishing rods with magnets attached to catch them.
Teach patience and fine motor skills to little ones, all while having a blast in the comfort of home. Plus, you can make it a friendly competition to see who catches the most fish.
Snow-Themed Science Experiments
Turn your home into a winter science lab with snow-themed experiments. Try freezing bubbles outside and watching them crystalize or bring a bucket of snow indoors and see how long it takes to melt in different temperatures.
You can even create snow volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar. These simple science experiments make winter learning fun. It’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment, keeping curious minds busy on those chilly days.
S’mores by the Firepit
For a cozy outdoor winter activity, gather the family around the firepit to make s’mores.
There’s something magical about toasting marshmallows over an open fire while bundled up in winter gear. If you don’t have a fire pit, you can always make indoor s’mores using the oven.
Either way, the gooey goodness of s’mores is sure to be a hit with the kids. Pair it with storytelling or some stargazing for a perfect winter evening activity that warms both hearts and hands.
Building a Snow Fort
Who doesn’t love a good snow fort? If you’ve got plenty of snow outside, and don’t feel like cleaning it alone then gather the kids for a snow fort-building challenge on a corner of your yard.
Once the forts are built, the fun doesn’t stop, use them as the base for snowball fights or as cozy outdoor hangout spots.
The kids will enjoy some fun while you get the clean front walkway. Additionally, this activity will help them build fine and gross motor skills.
Skim through this piece STEM-Inspired Playroom to learn how you can make indoor learning fun for little ones.
Snowy Day Cycling
Winter afternoons are the perfect times for a refreshing walk or cycling with kids. Bundle up and head out on a snowy day nature outing.
Winter changes the landscape in fascinating ways, and it’s the perfect time for kids to observe how animals and plants adapt to the cold. It’s a calming and educational outdoor activity that gives everyone a breath of fresh air.
Set up a winter wardrobe with smart ways to prep kids’ closets for winter, ensuring they can grab their jackets quickly before heading out.