101 fun winter activities for kids

Unlike spring, summer and fall, when the weather is almost always ripe for open-ended outdoor activities, winter takes a little more planning. While snowy days offer their own magical brand of play, frankly speaking, little ones can only build so many snowmen. And to that point, parents can only spend a third of their day dressing and undressing their kids in snow gear so many times.

On the hunt for winter activities for kids that go beyond movies and hot cocoa? Say no more. From outdoor winter activities for toddlers to easy winter crafts the whole family will want to get in on, here are 101 winter activities for kids of all ages. Bring on the cold!

Crafty winter activities for kids

1. Make snowmen out of unwanted socks.
2. Make an igloo out of pillows.
3. Make Swedish snowball lanterns.
4. Do a craft using only things found in nature.
5. Make penguins from empty toilet paper rolls.
6. Make a snowy sensory bin.
7. Start an indoor garden.
8. Practice tracing with cookie cutters.
9. Write a bucket list for the warmer months ahead.
10. Make slime. 
11. Use masking tape to make an indoor maze.
12. Get out the crayons and coloring books.
13. Make frozen suncatchers.
14. Make a snowstorm in a jar.
15. Make frozen water balloons.
16. Make paper snowflakes.
17. Make paper bag animals.
18. Create a paper mache snowman indoors.
19. Make a snow globe.
20. Make a winter wreath out of paper.
21. Learn to make soap.
22. Make something from all those empty boxes after the holidays.
23. Learn to knit.
24. Make snowflake stamp art.
25. Make a cave of stars.
26. Make a winter photo album.
27. Make crazy crayons.
28. Make nature confetti.
29. Look online for free printables.
30. Use rubber gloves to make finger puppets.
31. Start a scrapbook.
32. Take up punch needling.
33. Make your own playdough.
34. Make a structure out of marshmallows and toothpicks.
35. Make your own board game.

Snowy winter activities for kids

36. Try bowling outside with snowballs.
37. Shovel a snow maze.
38. Have an indoor snowball fight.
39. Put colored water in a spray bottle and write in the snow.
40. Bury small toys outside for a snowy treasure hunt.
41. Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
42. Make a snow volcano.
43. Make your own snow.
44. Build a snowman.
45. Try I Spy when everything is covered with snow.
46. Build a snow fort out of a snowbank.
47. Go snow-shoeing.
48. Use differently shaped containers to mold snow.
49. Paint the snow.
50. Find the biggest hill near you and go sledding.

Food-based winter activities for kids

51. Make s’mores.
52. Make penguin snacks.
53. Make frozen hot chocolate.
54. Remember it’s never too cold for ice cream!
55. Have an indoor picnic.
56. Take a virtual cooking class.
57. Have a proper tea party.
58. Make a batch of fluffy cloud dough.
59. Forget the cold and make Popsicles!
60. Make cinnamon sugar snowflakes.
61. Make a batch of salt dough and preserve their creations.

Winter games and physical activities for kids

62. Play a game of finger spelling.
63. Do a puzzle together.
64. Play dress-up.
65. Turn off the lights for a game of flashlight tag.
66. Put on some music and have a dance party with glow sticks.
67. One of the best winter activities for kids? A scavenger hunt!
68. See who can collect the most loose change around the house.
69. Make a stop-motion video.
70. Dress up and act like your favorite characters.
71. Make your own weather station.
72. Have a paper airplane air show.
73. Play freeze tag inside.
74. Try minute-to-win-it games.
75. Ignore the blizzard outside and enjoy a beach-themed party inside.

Other fun winter activities for kids

76. Come up with a winter tale using story stones.
77. Have a winter campout indoors.
78. Read a book.
79. Have a DIY spa day.
80. Bundle up and go for a walk.
81. Learn a magic trick.
82. Go on a virtual vacation.
83. Have a family sleepover in the living room.
84. Have a family talent show.
85. Use only flashlights after the sun goes down.
86. Construct a backyard ice rink for skating.
87. Do random acts of kindness.
88. Fight the winter blues by making a list of your favorite things.
89. Set up an indoor obstacle course.
90. Share old photos with the kids.
91. Have a pillow fight.
92. Enjoy free ebooks.
93. Have a movie marathon.
94. Add extra bubbles to a warm bath.
95. Try to recreate your favorite winter memories.
96. Donate unwanted coats and toys.
97. Visit an outdoor museum or sculpture garden.
98. Repurpose old or broken toys.
99. Drive through a car wash.
100. Get cozy and listen to audiobooks together. 
101. Make some feeders for the hungry animals outside.