27 Winter Activities for Kids

When the chilly winter days roll in, it’s easy for kids to feel cooped up indoors. But winter is the perfect season for creating unforgettable memories through fun, creative, and engaging activities.

Whether you’re looking to embrace the snow or stay cozy inside, there’s no shortage of ways to keep kids entertained and active during the colder months.

From festive crafts to outdoor adventures, these 27 winter activities will bring joy and excitement to your family, no matter the weather.

Winter Activities for Kids

1. Winter Sensory Bin

Transforming an ordinary storage bin into a winter wonderland is easier than ever, utilizing accessible items to craft a snowy sensory experience for kids.

Start with a base that mimics snow—use cotton balls, white rice, or artificial snow purchased from a craft store.

Add mini ornaments of glittering stars and red and green baubles to emulate the festive season.

Introducing small figurines can elevate the adventure; think tiny snowmen, ice skaters, or even miniature polar bears.

2. Pom-Pom Ice Play

Wintertime can be magical for kids, and Pom-Pom Ice Play is a perfect way to bring that wonder indoors.

Imagine a scene with colorful pom-poms nestled in ice cubes, each one glistening like a tiny, frozen jewel.

Children can use small scoops to dig and transport their frosty treasures, while buckets overflow with icy delights.

This playful scenario not only captures imaginations but also subtly enhances hand-eye coordination.

3. Marshmallow Structures

Building with marshmallows and pretzel sticks is a delightful activity that captivates kids’ imaginations and enhances their skills.

The softness and sticky nature of marshmallows make them perfect for connecting different parts, while the pretzel sticks serve as sturdy supports for any structure.

Together, these elements allow children to explore various designs, from intricate snowflake shapes to impressive towers.

The combination is not only lightweight but also easy to manipulate, encouraging little hands to create and innovate.

4. Snowflake Art Tray

In recent years, crafting snowflakes at home has become a delightful and engaging activity for kids stuck indoors during the chilly months.

This winter craft combines creativity with sensory exploration, using everyday items like playdough, blue gems, straws, and an assortment of decorative pieces.

The playdough acts as a canvas, providing a tactile base for children to mold and shape. Blue gems add a sparkling touch, reminiscent of icy wonders.

Straws can be cut and arranged to mimic the intricate lines of real snowflakes.

5. Twig and Snow Art

Imagining twigs as trees and cotton balls as snow opens a world of creativity.

As children gather small twigs, they’re connecting with nature, noticing each twig’s unique shape and size.

The glue becomes their tool of magic, fusing the sticks into art.

Cotton balls, soft and fluffy, mimic gentle snow resting atop branches, transforming their canvas into a winter wonderland.

6. Snow Painting Fun

Snow painting is a great way for kids to enjoy the winter while also getting creative.

With just a few simple materials like watercolors or food coloring mixed with water and some paintbrushes, children can transform snowy landscapes into colorful masterpieces.

The contrast of bright colors against the pure white snow brings a playful vibrancy to a winter day that kids love.

This activity encourages kids to get outside, use their imaginations, and create art in an unconventional setting.

7. Polar Bear Art

Creating polar bear art allows children to explore their creative potential while learning about winter wildlife.

The key elements include watercolor paints for the backdrop, which provide a soft, icy ambiance reminiscent of the polar bear’s natural habitat.

Outlining the bear is achieved with simple, bold strokes, giving the artwork a distinct shape and character.

Children have the chance to personalize their polar bears, perhaps by varying expressions or adding unique touches like scarves or hats, making each portrait unique.

8. Snowman Name Craft

Making snowman name crafts is a fun way to promote learning in winter. Picture kids sitting around a table, surrounded by colorful paper circles.

Each child starts with a large circle for the base, then carefully adds smaller circles on top.

These represent the snowman’s body sections and each circle holds a single letter from their name.

With every letter placed, the snowman grows taller—a delightful visual representation of their name.

9. Snowman Counting Game

A playful blend of creativity and learning, the Snowman Counting Game is perfect for those chilly indoor afternoons.

Imagine snowmen crafted from rice-filled socks or bags, each carefully stitched and smiling with painted faces.

These adorable snow characters come in sets, each sporting a number tag on their hat or belly.

Accompanying the snowmen are vibrant number cards that match the figures, providing a colorful, eye-catching way for kids to connect numbers to objects.

10. Glittery Snowflakes

Winter days often bring a unique sparkle, especially when children create glittery snowflakes.

Imagine using silver pipe cleaners that twist and turn, forming the foundation of these icy wonders.

Add a pop of shimmering blue with tiny, glistening beads that mimic droplets of freshly melted snow.

For a final touch, decorative gems catch the light like fragments of frost.

11. Snowman Craft Boards

A snowman craft board is a wonderful way for kids to express their creativity during the winter months.

Using vibrant, everyday materials, children can bring a simple paper snowman to life.

Buttons of various sizes and colors can be used to mimic the eyes and mouth, while felt provides a soft, textured finish for the snowman’s scarf.

Craft sticks can form the perfect arms, sturdy enough to hold up this playful character.

12. Pom-Pom Sorting

Transforming a snowy day indoors into a colorful learning experience is both simple and rewarding.

Gather an assortment of bright pom-poms and some creatively crafted cardboard snowmen to capture children’s imaginations.

These pom-poms are not just pretty—they’re tools that aid in developing sorting skills by color.

Imagine a snowy wonderland where kids eagerly match vibrant reds, blues, and greens to their frosty friends.

13. Animal Masks

Creating animal masks is a fantastic, creative activity that brings endless joy during the chilly winter days.

Using simple paper plates, children can let their imaginations run wild as they transform these basic items into adorable bunny and chick masks.

With a splash of paint and a snip or two with the scissors, the humble plate becomes a canvas for artistic expression.

Add glue, googly eyes, and some playful craft feathers or cotton balls for texture, and you have a delightful animal face ready for some role-playing fun.

14. Frosted Tree Art

For a charming and serene winter project, gather twigs from the backyard to transform them into beautiful frosted tree art.

Pair these natural materials with white paint to mimic shimmering, snowy landscapes.

This activity will not only inspire kids but also deepen their understanding of different textures and techniques in art.

Using glue to bind the twigs onto a sturdy base adds an extra element of creativity, where kids can experiment with various arrangements.

15. Fork Polar Bear

Creating fork polar bears is a delightful winter activity that sparks creativity and hones fine motor skills in children.

Using everyday forks and white paint, kids can explore a fun painting technique that mimics the texture of a polar bear’s fur.

The simple act of dipping a fork’s tines into paint and then dragging it across paper provides a surprisingly effective and artistic representation of the fluffy creatures.

This activity is not just about painting; it’s an imaginative exercise that allows children to experiment with textures and forms.

16. Bear Face Masks

Creating bear face masks can transform an ordinary day into an imaginative adventure for kids.

Using simple materials like paper or cardboard, the masks become a canvas for creativity.

Encouraging children to add fun elements like bows or rosy cheeks gives each mask a unique personality.

Consider incorporating soft materials like felt or cotton for ears to add a tactile dimension.

17. Snowy Scene Paintings

Snowy scenes alight with wonder can spark joy and creativity in children.

Imagine a frosty landscape illuminated with sleek ice-blue tones coupled with vibrant glitters that emulate the twinkle of freshly fallen snow.

Snowflake embellishments, with their intricate patterns, add an authentic touch, livening up the canvas and stirring imaginative play.

Shades of white and silver paint capture the essence of winter’s chill, while dashes of warm colors can evoke cozy reflections of a cabin hearth.

18. Salt Snowflakes

Salt snowflakes provide a fun twist on traditional winter crafts.

Using just a few simple supplies like glue, salt, and watercolors, kids can create beautiful, textured designs that resemble frosty snowflakes.

The salt absorbs the watercolor, creating stunning patterns that mimic icy landscapes.

This activity not only sparks creativity but also introduces basic scientific concepts such as absorption and color mixing.

19. Beaded Snowflakes

Beaded snowflakes are a delightful winter craft, where creativity meets hands-on fun.

Kids will enjoy threading colorful beads onto shiny pipe cleaners, aiming to create stunning snowflake patterns.

The vibrant beads not only provide a splash of color but also add a unique touch to each snowflake, making each design as unique as a real one.

The pipe cleaners, flexible and easy to handle, allow little hands to shape their imaginative creations with ease.

20. Heart Art Painting

When it comes to winter activities for kids, Heart Art Painting is a brilliant way to let their imaginations flourish indoors.

Picture this: vibrant reds, blues, and yellows pooling together as little hands guide brushes across heart-shaped canvases.

The simplicity of the shapes lets children focus on color and design, choosing bold strokes or gentle patterns based on what inspires them.

You don’t need much—a few kid-friendly brushes, a palette of vibrant, non-toxic paints, and some sturdy paper or canvas cut into heart shapes.

21. Winter Sensory Play

Winter sensory bins are a fantastic way to bring the thrill of snow indoors for kids.

Filled with faux snow, these bins create a tactile wonderland, sparking curiosity and creativity.

Nestle some pinecones among the soft, white granules, and watch as children explore their varying textures.

The addition of animal figurines, perhaps polar bears or winter birds, enhances the scene, introducing elements of storytelling and imaginative play.

22. Snowman Play Dough

Elaborate the idea above in in a conversational and jouWhether it’s chilly and snowy outside or you’re just imagining a winter wonderland indoors, snowman play dough offers delightful fun.

The play dough is the blank canvas—a safe, durable substance perfect for molding into tiny winter figurines.

Adding small twigs transforms these doughy forms into recognizable snowmen, creating definition and structure.

Beads or buttons add character to the design, standing in as eyes and decorative buttons.

23. Winter-Themed Tray

Creating a winter-themed tray for kids can transform an ordinary afternoon into an engrossing play session.

Imagine a tray filled with soft salt or fine flour that mimics the texture of snow, inviting little fingers to draw and mold.

Include tubs of pliable play dough in icy blues and whites for crafting imaginative winter shapes.

Rolling tools add an extra layer of fun, letting children press patterns into their dough.

24. Snowman Balloons

For those looking to make winter days more fun for kids, snowman balloons offer a creative twist.

Using white balloons and markers, children can create adorable snowman figures that spark their imagination.

These homemade snowmen become the centerpiece of a wintery world when complemented by a sensory bin filled with faux snow.

The combination encourages tactile exploration and creativity, allowing kids to craft their mini winter wonderlands indoors.

25. Popsicle Stick Snowmen

Winter crafts have an enduring charm, especially when they involve popsicle sticks.

These simple wooden sticks transform into delightful snowmen with just a splash of creativity.

With a coat of white paint, googly eyes to bring them to life, and a miniature carrot for the nose, they take on a personality of their own.

Black paint mimics their signature top hats, while small scraps of fabric serve as snug scarves to add a touch of color.

26. Cotton Snow Painting

Transforming a simple cotton ball into a tool for snow painting can ignite a child’s creativity and excitement about winter.

The key elements in this activity include cotton balls, representing fluffy snowflakes, which are dipped in white paint to mimic the snowy landscape.

The blue paper acts as a canvas, illustrating a clear winter sky or cold icy backdrop.

This artistic endeavor not only brings a snowy scene to life but also provides a tactile experience for kids.

27. Colorful Snow Painting

There’s something magical about transforming a snowy landscape into a vibrant canvas, and colorful snow painting does just that.

Picture a sensory bin filled with freshly fallen or faux snow, soft to the touch and inviting little hands to explore its chilly textures.

Alongside, a variety of cups filled with bright, colorful water capture attention with their rainbow hues, sparking creativity and curiosity.

As the colors mix and cascade over the blank white surface, children are entranced by the evolving patterns, watching as the snow absorbs each stroke.