There are all sorts of fun things to do during the summer season and many of us take advantage of this warm weather. When I was a kid we knew if we even mentioned that we were bored we would get a list of chores so we kept pretty busy. When winter comes knocking, fighting off the boredom can get a little difficult. We tend to hibernate, holing ourselves up in our heated homes and waiting for that warm season to pop up again. Winter boredom is tough on all of us but it’s particularly tough on those kids who love the outdoors and physical activities. Check out this list of 10 things to do with kids in the winter.
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10 Fun Things To Do With Kids In The Winter
Outdoor Activities
1. Visit a zoo or nature center. Zoos and nature centers are usually open year-round and many take advantage of the smaller crowds to increase their educational program offerings. Our favorite local places include the Forrest L Wood Nature Center in Jonesboro and the Witt Stephens Nature Center in Little Rock. The Little Rock Zoo is also a fun place to visit all year round.
2. Go for a winter walk. Getting outside in the winter, even if it’s just for a walk around the neighborhood, is a great way to boost your energy and your spirit. Read more about why you should take your kids for a winter walk here.
3. Build a Snowman. Get out there and build a snowman with your kids. This will be a really engaging and very satisfying activity you can do together as a family. We don’t get snow very often but I keep a snowman building kit in our closet with our winter gear so we are prepared when the situation presents itself! To make out snowman kit we gathered up an old winter hat, a pair of gloves, and a scarf. We also glued some oversized buttons to some wooden skewers and made a “carrot” out of orange fabric which we stuffed with fiberfill and glued to a skewer. We keep it all in a rectangular plastic container so we can grab it and go when the snow falls. The plastic container also makes the perfect brick mold for snow igloos.
4. Go ice skating. Growing up in Vermont meant we had ample opportunities to go outside and skate. We learned to skate almost as soon as we could walk and out back yard had a pond that was perfect for family outings. Here in Arkansas, we have to be a little more creative. There is an indoor ice skating rink in Little Rock, but in recent years, we have also had an influx of synthetic skating rinks pop up in small communities around the holiday season.
5. Make Sugar On Snow. Across the south snow cream seems to be all the rage but I grew up making sugar on snow. You can learn more about it and find my recipe and instructions here.
Indoor Activities
6. Go camping in the living room! This year it was in the 70s on Christmas day so winter camping isn’t too far fetched in Arkansas. Where you live, it might be too cold to think of going camping out in the wild but that does not have to limit the fun. You can easily re-imagine the camping scene by re-creating everything right there in your living room. Set up a tent, pull out the sleeping bags and flashlights and play a video of a campfire on the TV. Maybe even try roasting marshmallows indoor!
7. Binge-watch movies. If your kids love watching movies, this would be an ideal time to bring out those classics they’ve been wanting to watch. We don’t watch a lot of TV in our house so when we bring out the movies it’s a special treat!
8. Try out delicious recipes. I am lucky that my little guy loves to cook. He learned how to crack an egg when he was about 18 months and has been my sous chef ever since. He’s not quite old enough to pick out his own recipes yet, but he’s happy to join me whether I’ve got cookies planned or a casserole for dinner. Here are a few recipes you might want to try with your kids:
- Dark Chocolate Maple Hot Cocoa
- National Popcorn Day Recipes
- 10 Delicious Soups to Keep You Warm and Well-fed This Winter
- Edible Color Wheels
- Independence Day Marshmallow Pops
- Christmas Crafting – Super Easy One-Minute Fudge
9. Create arts and crafts. Kids love to make things. Whether they are folding, cutting or gluing, painting or drawing – kids enjoy getting messy and being creative. Here are a few fun arts and craft projects you may want to try with your kids:
- Christmas Crafting – Recycled Book Pages Heart Ornament
- Christmas Crafting – Handmade Paper Ornaments
- Sand and Seashells in a Bottle Beach Souvenir TUTORIAL {Arts and Crafts}
10. Read a good book. Some days, it’s just nice to stay inside. This would be a great time to whip out that great book you have always wanted to read with your kids. If they love reading, let them read out aloud and keep encouraging them. Time flies when you have a great book. Check out our list of great books to read with your kids in winter.
What kind of fun things to do with kids in the winter do you enjoy?
Read Next
- 10 Great Adventure Books to Read With Your Kids This Winter
- Take Your Kids For A Winter Walk
- First Day Hikes – 6 Tips for Cold Weather Hiking
- 6 Natural State Outdoor Activities to do this Winter
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