During the winter, it can be tough to keep kids, especially active young kids, entertained. While it’s easy to let kids roam outside in the summer and play sports or simply enjoy nature, wintertime presents a challenge for parents. As temperatures drop, it’s harder for kids to go outside and play. Instead, children are confined to the indoors. Check out this list of 10 fun indoor activities for kids to do in the winter.
1. Play board games
While board games can seem old-fashioned, they can also be a fantastic indoor winter activity for kids. You probably have a few lying around the house somewhere or gathering dust in a closet. Break them out this winter and get the whole family involved in a fun family game night that’s sure to beat the winter blues.
2. Get crafty
If your kids are a little more creatively inclined, you can try making some crafts this winter. There are tons of fun winter craft ideas available online, from homemade Christmas tree ornaments to popsicle stick reindeers and Christmas trees. Even very young children will be able to make simple crafts with a little assistance from an adult. Older children can come up with their own unique ideas for winter crafts—just give them some art supplies and let them go wild!
3. Family movie night
Many of us are trying to cut back on screen time, but family movie night can be an exception. When you gather the whole family together for a movie and add in some popcorn or other kid-friendly snacks, it can be a great bonding experience. Favorite winter movies, like Disney’s Frozen, are perfect for an indoor winter family movie night that will keep kids and adults alike entertained.
4. Coloring books
Coloring books for adults have become extremely popular in the past few months. But that doesn’t mean the kids have to be left out of the fun. Get a few coloring books for everyone and some crayons, markers, or colored pencils and let the whole family indulge in the easy and creative fun of completing a coloring book. Younger kids who can’t quite stay in the lines will still have fun and adults or older kids can enjoy the challenged and create artistic masterpieces in no time.
5. Make a pillow fort
There’s nothing kids love more than making their very own fort out of pillows and blankets. Give the kids some of your spare pillows and linens and let them turn one room of the house into a pillow fort. This can keep kids entertained for hours, and they’ll love being able to snuggle up during the cold winter months.
6. Word searches and activity books
One of the easiest activities to let kids do on a cold winter day is to give them a word search or activity book. Check out your local supermarket or book store for options. There are many different activity books and word search books out there, and most are levelled based on the age they are appropriate for or grade level. Good activity books can not only keep kids entertained, but they can also help kids keep up with what they’ve learned in school, especially if your kids are out of school for a long winter break.
7. Playing with Play-dough
Play-dough is a classic kids’ toy that children have been playing with for generations. This fun, moldable dough-like substance provides hours of entertainment for children of all ages and allows them to explore their creativity. But you don’t have to run out to the store and buy Play-dough for your kids to play with on a cold winter day. There are tons of recipes available online for making your own Play-dough out of common household ingredients. You can add fun items like glitter to make your Play-dough even more fun.
8. Boats in the tub
Take bath time from a dreaded daily occurrence to a fun experience for your kids tonight. Get a few floating toys, or for even more fun, have kids make their own paper boats to play with in the tub. They’ll love folding up paper to make their vessels and have even more fun pretending they’re back at the swimming pool in the middle of winter. Add some bubbles to the bath and your kids will be looking forward to getting clean tonight.
9. Helping in the kitchen
Kids can not only stay busy and entertained, but also help out around the house by lending a hand in the kitchen. While it might make cooking a little more of a chore, letting the kids help out in the kitchen will be a great bonding experience, teach them an important life skill, and keep them happy all winter long. Baking something simple like cookies is a fun activity and will let kids get hands-on and make a tasty treat the whole family can enjoy.
10. Educational electronics
Again, most families try to stay away from electronics, but educational apps and games can be a good way to keep kids busy and entertained in the winter. There are nearly endless possibilities when it comes to fun and educational electronics that will have kids playing and learning during an otherwise long and dark winter. Choose something that relates to your kids interests and is appropriate for their age or grade level, then let your kids learn and play. Be sure to keep a limit on the amount of screen time for your kids, but remember, electronics can be fun and educational.
Entertaining your kids during the winter doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. All of the above activities are simple, fun, and sometimes educational for kids of all different ages. Remember, simple things can keep kids entertained for hours, so don’t stress out about creating the perfect indoor winter activities for your kids. Just let them play and be kids, even when it’s cold outside, and they’ll thank you for the wonderful childhood memories later!
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