With the winter typically comes colder weather, darker nights, and festive holidays! We’ve compiled some of our favorite budget-friendly and free winter activities to keep your little one entertained and engaged this winter. Don’t forget to join in on the fun and embrace being a kid at heart!
For more activities we love, check out our Celebrating Childhood series.
Board Games and Puzzles
Appropriate for all ages, board games and puzzles are great indoor activities to fill the winter. You can adjust the difficulty of the board game you play or the number of pieces in the puzzle to make it fun for your kiddo. They’re a great way to spend time together as a family, and as a bonus, they can help kids improve their strategy and problem-solving skills.
Crafting Gifts
With the cold months come a plethora of winter holidays, with many featuring gift-giving. Regardless of what you celebrate, you can involve your child by making extra special gifts for friends and family. Tiny pinch pots, friendship bracelets, and handpainted bookmarks make for cute gifts and a fun way to pass an afternoon.
Look at Holiday Lights
Take a walk or a drive around your neighborhood and enjoy the holiday and light displays they see. You can play your fave festive tunes and even have a sing-a-long. Have them rank or vote on their favorite houses to engage them further.
Sensory Snow Play
Easy to contain, quick to clean, and guaranteed to keep your kids busy for hours–sensory snow play is always a hit! You can fill a tub with snow from outside if you have real snow. If you don’t (or just don’t want to haul in the snow from the outdoors), you can DIY your own fake snow by combining baking soda and white hair conditioner. Add plastic cups, utensils, and small toys such as cars or figurines. Best of all, fake snow can be stored in an airtight container for future reuse!
Spend Time Outside (With Snow)
If you live in an area that regularly receives snowfall, there’s no end to the winter activities you can participate in. Sledding, snow forts, snowball fights, and building snowmen (or a combination of all of the above!) are all wonderful ways to spend a day. Don’t forget to wrap things up with a cup of hot cocoa!
Spend Time Outside (Without Snow)
If you live in a warmer climate where snow is rare, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in the winter months! Go to the playground or take a walk through town. If it’s too warm for outdoor ice skating, try an indoor skating rink to keep your kids active and entertained.
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