15 Fun Things to do with Kids When it's Cold Outside

Jan 5th 2023

father and child making a snowman in snow-covered grassy area

Winter weather can be frightful. But not every winter day has to be spent indoors. Winter is a great time to introduce your children to some of the simple pleasures of snow and ice. (Yes, there are a few!)

Some of these winter activities are classics that you probably enjoyed as a kid; others may be new.

There are just a few precautions:

Dress properly for the conditions
If venturing away from home, bring water to drink, plus portable snacks if you’ll be gone more than a few hours
Watch the weather reports to make sure you aren’t caught unprepared

And when the weather really is too nasty to venture outdoors, we have a few suggestions for those days, too!

Outdoor Activities to Enjoy with Kids

Take a walk. During a nature walk in the woods or local nature trail, your kids might be surprised how different everything looks in winter. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see. Challenge your kids to find and identify animal footprints, or conduct a winter scavenger hunt. Look for pinecones, acorns, animal tracks, icicles, feathers, evergreens and specific types of over-wintering birds.
Try snowshoeing! Snowshoeing is a form of hiking using specialized footwear called snowshoes. The special design of a snowshoe distributes body weight so your feet don’t sink far into deep snow. It’s good exercise and a great way to burn your kids’ pent-up energy. Start your adventure by searching the internet to find out “Where to snowshoe near me” or “Where to rent snowshoes near me.” A growing number of parks offer snowshoes for rent, and some public libraries even loan children's snowshoes.
Build snow structures. Most kids don’t need an excuse to play in the snow, but these ideas can help direct their energy. Have them build a good old-fashioned snowman or snow fort, or work together to construct an igloo. Get out the sand toys and make a snow castle or challenge your kids to a snow sculpting contest.
Add some color. While they’re out in the snow, add some color with snow paint. Fill a dollar store squirt bottle (or several) with water and stir in a few drops of food coloring. The snow is your canvas! Adjust the spray bottle nozzle to make narrower or wider lines. Use your snow paint to spray pictures or color your snow sculptures. Be aware that food coloring can stain clothing and other items - so no squirting each other, the house, fence or car. You may want the children to wear older or waterproof gloves while snow painting.
Go to the zoo. You might be surprised how rewarding a winter visit to the zoo can be! The park won’t be nearly as crowded as it is in the summer - and the animals seem to enjoy the attention. (Polar bears and seals, in particular, can be real show-offs when they have an audience.) After viewing the animals outdoors, warm up in a tropical rainforest exhibit, aviary or gorilla house. Check to see if your zoo offers special winter rates.
Sightsee in your own town. When was the last time you visited one of those attractions other people come to your neck of the woods to see? Art, science and history museums can top the list. So can historical buildings, zoos (see above), market places and botanical gardens. Winter is also prime theater season, so look for performances geared toward school-aged kids and go see a show! Check local publications and social media sites for lesser-known “hidden treasures,” especially any that cater to your children’s particular interests.
Have a bonfire. Winter nights are long, cold and dark. Warm up and light up the night with a winter bonfire. Dress for the weather and bring extra blankets or sleeping bags, then gather cozily around the firepit. At a winter bonfire party, you can enjoy hot drinks and toast s’mores, sing songs and stargaze, just like you do during the summer. Plus, a bonfire in winter means no bugs to bother you!
Attend a winter festival. Embrace the season by attending a winter festival. Look for events that feature activities for the whole family to enjoy, like ice skating, sledding, tobogganing, sleigh rides and hot chocolate bars. There may be ice or snow sculpting competitions, 5K Runs and ice wine or beer tastings for the grown-ups. And families lucky enough to explore an ice castle will enjoy a beautiful and unforgettable experience.
Take a sleigh ride. You’ve sung about “dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh,” but have you ever actually been on a sleigh ride? Maybe now’s the time! A sleigh is a wagon fitted with ski-like runners, rather than wheels. Of course, this adventure might be difficult to cross off your bucket list if there’s no snow where you live. But for those who live in chillier climes, now’s the perfect time of year (actually, the only time of year!) to enjoy the winter scenery from the back of a bona fide horse-drawn sleigh.
Conduct winter science experiments. Nurture young scientists with experiments meant to be conducted outdoors in winter. Show them how to build a snow volcano, with colorful “lava” flowing from a mound of snow. If it’s super cold outside, bundle up tight, grab some bubble mix and try making frozen soap bubbles. Experiment with colorful icicles. Even simpler, the next time it snows, go outside and study the structure of snowflakes.
Indoor Winter Activities for Kids
Make cards for people in nursing homes. At the height of the pandemic, nursing home residents could only see visitors from a distance or through a window. Even now, stricter visitation policies make it difficult for school groups to visit senior care facilities as they once did. But older people love interacting with children and they’ll be tickled to receive a card or drawing from your kids. Contact the activities director at your local nursing home for details.
Try your hand at origami. The ancient Japanese art of folding paper into shapes and figures is an absorbing activity for children with well-developed fine motor skills. Most origami designs use sheets of paper that are perfectly square. You can find these at craft stores or make them yourself from gift wrapping paper (not tissue paper) or computer paper trimmed to size. (Note: Construction paper is too thick and rips too easily.) Check the craft store or your local library for simple step-by-step folding instructions. Websites like Origami Guide also offer easy instructions for kids. With a little practice, kids can create origami bugs, turtles, frogs, whales, birds, boxes and more!
Make kindness rocks. You’ve seen them on social media - rocks painted with inspirational words and messages. Painting rocks is a great way to keep kids busy on a cold winter’s day! Find instructions at The Kindness Rocks Project. When you’re ready to go outdoors again, “share” your messages by placing your rocks along park pathways, trails and (with permission) in the gardens of friends, family and senior care facilities.
Feed the birds. Bird watching is a great winter activity; so is making a bird feeder. Not only will your DIY bird feeder attract more feathered friends to your yard, the treats provide much-needed nourishment to help the birds survive the winter. Easy bird feeder ideas include pine cones spread with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed, and popcorn and cranberries threaded on string. Hang your bird seed pine cones and popcorn garland on a tree or pole visible from your windows. You’ll find many other easy DIY bird feeder projects online. Visit the Audubon website to help identify common backyard birds. Check out bird identification books at your local library or download one of many bird ID apps to your smartphone.
Plan your garden! When you’ve really had enough of winter and dream of warmer days, plan your garden! Current catalogs from Burpee, Gurney's, Baker Creek and other seed companies are available (many free of charge) and their beautiful color photos provide loads of inspiration. You and your kids may just discover plants you didn’t even know existed. Kid-friendly garden ideas include a vegetable garden, pollinator garden or pizza garden. Surprisingly, early spring is the right time to start many seedlings indoors, including tomatoes and some flowers. Refer to your seed catalog or contact your local cooperative extension office for planting guidelines specific to your area.

Winter’s unique weather conditions and landscape provides loads of opportunities for new games, activities and experiences to enjoy with your children. And we haven’t even mentioned fun winter holidays like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. Stock up on the hot chocolate and warm mittens and take some time to enjoy a little child-like winter fun!

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The History of Valentine's Day

The History of St. Patrick's Day

The History of Easter