Cozy & Creative: 10 Fun Indoor Winter Activities for Young Children
Winter can be a magical time of year, but cold temperatures and unpredictable weather often mean spending more time indoors. If you’re looking for engaging ways to keep your little ones entertained while staying warm, we’ve got you covered! Here are some fun and simple, fun indoor winter activities perfect for young children during the winter months.
1. Indoor Obstacle Course
Turn your living room into a mini adventure zone! Use pillows, blankets, chairs, and tunnels to create an obstacle course that encourages movement and creativity. Have your child jump over pillows, crawl under tables, or balance on a tape line. This is a great way to get their energy out while developing gross motor skills.
2. Sensory Play with Snow (or Fake Snow!)
Bring the magic of winter inside by filling a bin with real snow (if available) or making homemade “snow” using baking soda and shaving cream. Provide scoops, spoons, and small toys for your child to explore different textures and temperatures.
3. DIY Indoor Snowball Fight
Use soft socks or cotton balls to create “snowballs” and have a fun, mess-free snowball fight. Set up targets or simply toss them back and forth for a game full of giggles and movement.
4. Winter-Themed Arts & Crafts
Encourage creativity with simple winter crafts like:
- Making paper snowflakes
- Creating cotton ball snowmen
- Painting with ice cubes colored with food dye
- Crafting snow globes using jars and glitter
5. Storytime & Cozy Reading Nook
Set up a special reading spot with blankets, pillows, and twinkle lights. Pick out winter-themed books like The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats or Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson for a cozy storytelling session.
6. Baking Together
Get your little ones involved in the kitchen with simple baking activities like decorating sugar cookies, making hot chocolate with marshmallows, or baking banana muffins. It’s a fun way to teach basic cooking skills and enjoy a tasty treat together.
7. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt using winter-themed items around the house (e.g., a mitten, snowflake decoration, or a stuffed animal wearing a hat). Give your child picture or word clues to make it a fun and educational game.
8. Dance Party & Freeze Game
Play upbeat winter-themed songs like Let It Go from Frozen or Frosty the Snowman and have a dance party. Add a fun twist by playing “freeze dance,” where children stop moving when the music pauses.
9. Puppet Show or Indoor Theater
Encourage imaginative play by creating a puppet show with stuffed animals or socks. You can also help your child put on a mini winter-themed play using costumes and props from around the house.
10. DIY Fort Building
Use blankets, chairs, and cushions to build a cozy indoor fort. Once it’s complete, bring in books, toys, or even have a mini picnic inside.
Winter days indoors don’t have to be dull! These fun indoor winter activities will help keep your young children entertained, engaged, and making warm memories all season long. Which activity are you excited to try first?
For many more activity ideas, check out this post https://justaskjennp.com/toddler-activities-in-minutes/
Here’s another resource for ideas https://weecarepediatrics.com/winter-survival-guide-15-indoor-activities-for-kids-of-all-ages/
