Winter can be tough when you live in colder weather. Kids are inside more and it's easy to let cold, snowy days get you into a rut of, "I don't feel like doing anything." Anyone else have this issue? Over the years, I've collected enough activities, games, and crafts to keep the kids busy until the snow melts (thirteen years as a daycare provider makes that happen). Here are some of our favorites that are kid tested and daycare provider approved:
1.) Snow painting. This one is easy if you live in a place where there's snow. Literally go outside, fill up a paint cup, add whatever color of paint you wish, hand kids a paint brush and paper, and let them paint. The papers end up looking like water colors when they dry. If you don't live in a place where you get snow (and at this point in the winter, I'm jealous if this is you), a simple way to "snow" paint is mixing baking soda, water, and a drop of paint. This will have a similar texture to snow and papers come out the same water color (if you wipe off the excess baking soda kids are sure to smear on their papers).
2.) Snow ice cream. Unfortunately, this can only be done if you live in a place where it snows. I like to put large bowls out on our deck and let the snow fall into it. This is our favorite recipe for it. Otherwise, try making ice cream in a bag. Not the same at all, but kids get a kick out of it.
4.) Can you build a snowman? This one is fun! I recommend using white clay, but homemade salt dough (1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1/3 cup water) or white Play Doh works too. I give each kid one large ball of dough/clay and set out buttons, beads, fabric, pipe cleaners, etc. and let kids create a snowman. I love watching them problem solve, from how to form the balls for their snowman to what materials they should use for eyes, buttons, arms. We recently did this one at daycare for ages 2 - 4 and it kept them busy for 45 minutes.
5.) Polar ice table. Much like the winter habitat, not only are the kids playing (and probably happily playing since it's in water), but they're learning which animals live where. I've done an Arctic ice table and a South Pole ice table, each with whatever animals and life they would find on those continents.
6.) Fizzy "snow." Baking soda + a little bit of vinegar makes some fizzy fun! I like to hide figurines, Hot Wheels, or other small toys in "snowballs" (your baking soda and water mixture) and give kids small cups of vinegar with droppers. Kids get to free the toys from the snowballs.
7.) Snowflake making. For the older kids, get scissors and coffee filters and let them get creative with their snowflakes. If they're younger, cut snowflakes out or purchase premade snowflake shapes (that is my go to) and let kids decorate them any way they choose.
10.) Frozen water beads. Not as in the Let It Go one, but actual water beads that are frozen (we just happened to play with our Frozen figurines in the frozen water beads). This isn't as messy as regular water beads, but just as fun. Have the kids wear mitten, so their fingers don't get frost!
11.) Fake snow. Also known as Insta-Snow, this one is always a hit. Sometimes the kids pretend to cook with it, or play with animal figurines in it, or sometimes they build caves with it. No matter how they play with it, Insta-Snow always provides hours (sometimes days) of fun. Also, it vacuums up easily.
12.) The mittens. There's so many things to do with this one. For the toddler and preschool crowd, the book The Mitten is a great read read. Kids love to decorate mitten cut outs, foam mittens, mitten scratch art, or my favorite, hand prints and cut them into mittens (and then always have those sweet little hand prints).
13.) Bubble wrap snow print. Bubble wrap is always fun to pop, but it's fun to paint with too. I like to use construction paper, white paint, and small pieces of bubble wrap cut into squares. When the kids use the bubble wrap as a stamp, their pictures look like it's snowing. Get ideas for it here.
14.) Build a den. This is a great challenge and fun for the older elementary kids too. You can use a variety of things: marshmallows, toothpicks, popsicle sticks (this works great for younger kids working on hand eye coordination), Dots, pipe cleaners, etc. The goal is for kids to build a structure (a den in this case) that holds a winter animal. Break out animal figurines so kids can get an idea of sizing and for playing after the dens are built. Get ideas here.
15.) Frozen oobleck. Oobleck is cornstarch and water mixed together. Many elementary teachers use it for a lesson on is it a solid or a liquid? However, it also makes a great sensory activity. It's even more fun to play with when it's frozen! Find a recipe here.
16.) Ice building blocks. All you need is food coloring, pots, pans, muffin tins, etc., and cold weather (or a freezer). You can read about how I made ours. Grab some gloves and challenge kids to build with the slippery ice.
17.) Indoor snowball fight. Living in a warm climate? Don't want to go out in the cold for an actual snowball fight? No worries! Buy these fake snowballs and have an indoor snowball fight.
18.) Build a blanket fort. A classic winter or snow day activity. I like to lay out all of the available sheets, large blankets, pillows, chairs, etc. and let the kids get creative. They've built full room forts and spent the day playing in them. There's also plenty of fort building kits you can buy that take up considerably less room too.
19.) Hot chocolate board. Think charcuterie board, but with hot chocolate. Grab whatever hot chocolate and toppings you'd like, put them on a board. Kids have a blast deciding what hot chocolate they should make and it makes for easy grabbing (which means less work for the adult in the room).
Surprise Bonus: Bring snow indoors. If you don't have time (or just plainly don't want to mess with) all of the gear; I'm talking snow pants, boots, the whole deal, just break out some gloves and let the kids play. Once the snow melts you have a water activity. This can bring an entire day of fun for kids.
