30 Winter Activities for Kids (2024)

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

Updated December 2023

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

Here’s more than 30 ideas for winter activities for kids to keep you busy all month long. This list includes both outdoor ideas and indoor ideas. These are great ways to keep the whole family 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.

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.

6. Paint winter scenes with this fun winter painting technique

7. Make glue resist snowman paintings

8. Microwave puffy paint snowflakes and snowmen

9. Use bleeding tissue paper to make snowflake prints

10. Make a stained-glass bunting using blues and whites.

5 Art Activities with Snow and Ice

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. Create a nature ice wreath

5 Snow Crafts for Kids

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

16. Make some snow ice cream!

17. Use contact paper and yarn to make sticky snowflakes

18. Paint with ice (on Easy Peasy and Fun)

19. Cut and paint coffee filter snowflakes

20. 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.

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

22. Build snowmen out of playdough and decorate with beads or buttons

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

24. Try one of these winter-themed sensory play ideas!

25. Have a game night

5 Building Ideas

Kids love to build things, and if it’s too cold to build a snow fort, try one of these indoor building ideas!

26. Build with toothpicks and grapes, cranberries, marshmallows, or gumdrops

27. Build and play with a lighted cardboard dollhouse

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

29. Build an indoor fort or igloo

30. Create a cardboard art forest for pretend play.

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

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

Want even more creative ideas?

Check out our Winter Fun Creativity pack!

Cozy up with some of our favorite wintertime activities for creative kids! This pack has 40 pages of winter-themed art activities that will keep your kids busy even on the snowiest day!

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