Winter Activities for Kids: 10 Fun Ways to Explore, Discover, and Learn This Season
Winter Activities for Kids: 10 Fun Ways to Explore, Discover, and Learn This Season
Winter is a magical time for kids, with snowflakes swirling, frost on windows, and a chill in the air. But it can also be a challenging time for parents and caregivers in cold climates, as kids are often cooped up indoors. However, winter offers endless opportunities for fun, exploration, and learning—both indoors and outdoors. Here are 10 engaging winter activities that encourage inquiry, discovery, and creativity.
Outdoor Winter Activities
- Snow Painting Bring out your child’s inner artist by filling spray bottles with colored water (just a few drops of food coloring mixed with water) and letting them paint the snow. This activity is not only fun but also encourages creativity and fine motor skills.
- Frozen Nature Hunt Head outside with a basket and search for natural items like pinecones, twigs, and leaves. Bring them home and place them in a shallow tray filled with water. Leave the tray outside to freeze overnight, creating a nature-themed ice sculpture. This is a great way to spark curiosity about the changing seasons. Take out a small hammer and a spray bottle with warm water and have your child try to get the items out of the ice!
- Bird Feeder Craft Make a simple bird feeder using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Hang the feeders outside and watch as winter birds come to visit. This activity promotes an interest in wildlife and nature.
Indoor Winter Activities
- DIY Snow Globes Help your child make their own snow globe using a clear jar, water, glitter, and small figurines. This craft activity enhances creativity while also teaching basic science concepts about liquids and solids.
- Snowflake Symmetry Art Cut out paper snowflakes and use them to teach kids about symmetry. Once the snowflakes are cut, let them decorate each half with different colors or patterns to highlight their symmetrical design.
- Winter-Themed Story Time Cozy up with a blanket and read winter-themed books together. Follow up the reading session with a creative storytelling activity where kids make up their own winter adventure. Storytelling helps develop language skills and imagination.
Sensory Winter Play
- Indoor Snow Play Bring the snow indoors by filling a large bin with clean snow. Add small toys, scoops, and containers for sensory play. If you don’t have snow, you can create fake snow using baking soda and water and freeze it until it is the consistency of snow.
- Frozen Treasure Hunt Freeze small toys or objects in a block of ice, then let your child “excavate” them using warm water, droppers, and small tools. This is a fun way to build fine motor skills and introduce basic science concepts like melting and temperature.
- Winter Sensory Bin Create a sensory bin with cotton balls, white pom-poms, and small winter-themed toys. Add scoops, tongs, and containers for kids to explore textures and practice their fine motor skills.
Winter STEM Challenges
- Marshmallow Igloo Building Provide mini marshmallows and toothpicks for kids to construct their own igloos. This hands-on activity encourages engineering skills and spatial thinking.
Winter is a season full of possibilities for learning through play. By encouraging kids to explore the world around them—even when it’s cold outside—you nurture their natural curiosity and creativity. Whether it’s experimenting with snow, exploring nature or crafting unique snowflakes, these activities create lasting memories while supporting your child’s development.
So bundle up, gather some supplies, and let the winter fun begin!
For more winter activities, subscribe to Susie Beghin’s YouTube channel or follow on Instagram or Facebook.
Winter Activities for Kids: Keeping Kids Active and Engaged
Winter Activities for Kids: Keeping Kids Active and Engaged
by Susie Beghin, RECE, Founder of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
As a mother and early childhood educator, I have witnessed the transformative influence that offering children a well-rounded educational journey can have. And at Alpha’s Discovery Kids, our commitment to giving children the best start in life is embodied in our 4 Pillars of Learning. These pillars, including Language & Literacy, STEAM, Physical Activity & Nutrition, and Mindful Awareness, form the foundation for providing children with the best start in life.
Among these pillars, Physical Activity & Nutrition hold a special place. It’s not merely about keeping young bodies in motion; it’s a holistic approach that nurtures the mind and promotes overall well-being. Even during the winter months, when the cold might tempt us to stay indoors, incorporating physical activity remains key.
Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a halt to outdoor play. At Alpha’s Discovery Kids, we recognize the importance of engaging children in physical activities, even when the temperature drops. The benefits of physical activity extend far beyond the obvious physical advantages. While it undoubtedly promotes physical health by enhancing bodily functions, building strength, and supporting the development of bones and muscles, its impact on mental and emotional health is equally significant. Physical activity has been shown to elevate mood, reduce stress, and foster a positive mindset from an early age.
And although, as adults, we don’t always enjoy heading out into the cold, most children tend to love it! Winter provides unique opportunities for physical activities that are not only enjoyable for children but also contribute to their development. Sledding, snowball fights, and building snowmen are not just recreational; they enhance gross motor skills, encourage teamwork, and promote creativity. These activities keep kids active and contribute to their social and emotional growth.
In addition to outdoor play, indoor physical activities are equally important during the winter. Parents play a pivotal role in encouraging physical activity at home, especially when outdoor play might be limited. On days when heading outdoors is challenging, there are numerous indoor activities that you and your child can enjoy, all with household items you likely already have. Here are a few ideas:
- Magical boxes – Provide your child with a large box and witness its transformation into fire trucks, tunnels, or a fantastic canvas for painting.
- Pillow paradise – Pillows can be more than just for resting. Try crafting an obstacle course or a cozy pillow fort for endless fun.
- Dance party extravaganza – Discover music the whole family enjoys and let loose with a dance party. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone moving and grooving.
- Scavenger hunt quest – Get creative with hiding spots and organize an entertaining scavenger hunt.
- Family flex– Engage in easy stretching exercises suitable for the entire family. It’s a great way to stay active and flexible.
These indoor activities not only keep your children physically active but also incorporate elements from the STEAM pillar (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Building a pillow or blanket fortress enhances engineering skills, and using a box as a canvas introduces artistic elements. Beyond the physical benefits, these activities stimulate young minds and foster a love for learning.
As winter sets in, don’t let it dull the sparkle of your kids’ activity. Integrating physical activity into their routine, even during the colder months, has a profound positive impact. The key is to make it fun and seamlessly woven into daily life. So, let’s embrace the winter wonderland and ensure that, even in the cold, our children are active and engaged.
For more early childhood education tips , check out my YouTube videos.