As the winter months approach, the days get shorter and colder. Kids are spending more time in the warmer indoors and it can be hard to keep them occupied and entertained while stuck inside. It can quickly start to feel like a prison for both, children and adults!
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep kids entertained during the winter months, without ever having to leave the house. It just takes a bit of thought and imagination. This article outlines 30 of the best indoor winter activities and things to do that I came across, while seeking my own inspiration for combatting the winter blues that are inevitable.
Most of these fun activities can be done right at home with just a few supplies. If getting out of the house is your main priority, I have listed some indoor ideas for that too! Check them out and see what kind of inspiration you can draw from this list!
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1. Have a movie night
These days, renting movies couldn’t be easier. With just a few clicks of a button, you can quickly have a new release on your tv through any number of streaming platforms. Why not make some hot chocolate, set out some delicious snacks and cuddle for a small movie marathon? What’s even better? With the holidays upon us, there is no shortage of fuzzy Christmas movie classics to entertain the whole family!
2. Organize a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are always fun and kids love them! Put together some personalized clues to hold a scavenger hunt inside your home and offer a small treat at the end. If you need a bit inspiration for clues, there are many different scavenger hunt checklists online that you can print, some even for free…like this one here.
3. Bake or cook together
Baking cookies or cupcakes is always fun and is certainly a motivating factor to draw the kids away from technology. Why not even allow them to help you prepare lunch or dinner? They feel useful and important. You get an extra hand with a meal, and it’s a learning moment at the same time for them. Win/Win!
4. Tour a virtual museum
Since Covid-19 came about, virtual tours have become even more common than they were before, in many different areas of interest. One such area is that of museums. Many well known museums have a virtual tour or collection of tours you can view right from your computer or device. Some of those tours are quite impressive.
Do you want to introduce your child to a bit of fascinating history? Check out the virtual tours offered by the Smithsonian National Museum Of Natural History. Is art more your speed? Check out this list of 20 best art museums. There are virtual tours for various types of museums, right at your fingertips!
5. Science experiment
Science experiments are always fun, and educational at the same time! Even if your child isn’t normally a science junkie, they will still find some of these experiments fascinating and entertaining. They all involve typical household items you probably already have in your home. Our favorite Science experiment of all time, has been the Seven Layer Density Column. You can also grab a Science Kit here, if you want materials to be included. Super fun way to spend an afternoon!
6. Play Freeze Dance
If you’ve ever played Freeze Tag or musical chairs, then you can imagine Freeze Dance is just as fun. It works the same way as musical chairs, only with dancing instead of sitting. Get the complete list of rules (4) here.
7. Play a board game or card game
Board games are always fun and a wonderful way to trap your kid into some much needed family time without devices! Grab a few snacks, turn on a bit of background music and settle in for a challenging round of your favorite game. I don’t know about you, but laughter and chaos always comes along with any board game time in my house. Great way to spend an afternoon or evening keeping warm at home!
8. Make a decoder wheel
I use to love decoding secret messages and solving word scrambles as a kid. I think all kids probably love that sort of thing! It’s easy to make a decoder wheel for your kids and then create secret messages for them to figure out. Why not even use it for scavenger hunt clues? Two fun activities rolled into one. The possibilities are endless! You can find various types of printable decoder wheels online, such as this spy decoder or even this one here.
9. Make friendship bracelets
This is yet another activity I use to love as a kid. It teaches patience and strategy, while allowing your child to explore their creative side. It’s the perfect activity for a cold day indoors. Make a bit of hot chocolate, throw on a funny family movie, and have a friendship bracelet making party! You can find various sets of instructions online, for a variety of different bracelets. All you need besides that, is colorful string! Check out these bracelet designs for inspiration!
10. Make homemade ice cream
Making homemade ice cream doesn’t have to be difficult or very time consuming. In fact, there are a couple of different ways to make ice cream quite easily. Check out these kid friendly ice cream recipes. The kids can satisfy their sweet tooth and be proud of their creation at the same time! We’ve even just thrown a container of eggnog into the freezer before and believe me, it makes for really delicious ice cream!
11. DIY bath bombs
DIY bath bombs have become quite popular with kids, in recent years. They are easy to make and the kids can enjoy them later at bath time. You can grab the ingredients at your local grocery store and follow these instructions or you can make it super easy and purchase a kit like this one. There was one year I purchased one of the kits for my niece and she was making her bath bombs within 30 minutes of receiving the gift! Auntie scored with her that year 🙂
12. Tie-Dye shirts
Tie-Dye clothing is one of the few things that has maintained it’s popularity through the generations and doesn’t seem to be loosing appeal anytime soon. It’s no surprise, then, that kids enjoy making their own tie-dye clothes and accessories. That’s an easy thing to accommodate and makes for a super fun afternoon. Grab a tie-dye kit here, a few white garments, and let the kids go to town! Easy Peasy.
13. Indoor picnic
An indoor picnic is always fun just because it’s different, if nothing else. Throw a blanket on the floor, pack a tray or basket with lunch, as you would for a trip to the park, and sprawl out on the living room floor. Maybe even put on a nature based channel or show, to make it a bit more realistic! The best part is you’re already at home if you forget to add something to the basket!
14. Build an obstacle course
You’d be surprised by how many different obstacle courses you can create with just a few well placed household items and pieces of furniture. While searching for a bit of inspiration, I came across this post that has several really neat ideas. This one is also loaded with imaginative courses. Check them out!
15. Make a blanket fort
This is a super easy no brainer…I’ve never met a kid that doesn’t enjoy blanket forts! Grab a few large blankets and drape them over pieces of furniture to create a super cool secret hide away. From princess tea parties, to miniature Lego cities, there are any number of activities to keep the kids busy while enjoying their own little secluded spot in the warm house. Fun for hours!
16. Nerf war
Oh yeah! If your children own any nerf, you’ve got a safe go to every time! Over the years, we have accumulated quite the arsenal of nerf guns, swords, axes, and other kid safe pretend weapons. This one here is my personal favorite.
If boredom creeps in, there is nothing better than a throw down nerf war! My son even had his 76 year old grandmother in a battle one year, during Easter! Super fun activity that has no age restrictions and brings entertainment for years to come.
17. Make a time capsule
This is always a great activity that requires just a few household items and a bit of imagination. You can make a time capsule with a coffee can, any kind of jar, old lunchbox or other type of box (for short term capsules). The kids can place a few of their personal items in the capsule and hide or bury it for a year or so, and come back to it later. It’s a great way for kids to see what they’ve learned and how they have changed over the course of time. Why not even make a family time capsule, so everyone is involved?
18. Finger paint project
Kids love finger paint, but parents are often apprehensive about such messy projects. Fortunately, there are a few different ways to create a mess-free finger paint activity. If your child is a toddler, these finger paint ideas are ideal for them. For older kids, check out these fun finger paint projects!
19. Bowling
You don’t have to leave the house for this activity either! Use a piece of masking tape to mark a line at one end of a hallway (or side of room) and arrange your “pins” accordingly, at the other end of the hallway or room. Empty water or soda bottles or empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls make great “pins”. Grab a ball and let the games begin! If you would prefer a more authentic feel, take a peek at these indoor bowling games online.
20. Make a bird house or bird feeder
This is always a fun idea that brings continuous joy to kids! Grab a DIY kit here or use materials you might have around the house, to create a bird house or feeder. Position it somewhere in the yard that the kids can see, and they will love keeping an eye open for their winged guests to arrive! It’s something so simple, yet so rewarding 🙂
21. Build a city with Legos
Build a city or anything else! Sometimes, my son and I would create vehicles from Legos, or make shift dinosaurs, towns, and whatever else came to mind at that moment. The possibilities are endless! So, grab the Legos and help the kids with their next creation!
22. Kid friendly trivia game
Kids love proving how smart they are and trivia is a great way to build their confidence in that area! Make a list of questions and answers pertaining to little facts and pieces of information about movies, characters, tv shows, games, and whatever other topics you know are within their knowledge vault. Check out these suggestions here or even purchase one like this.
23. Superhero science activities: Test your powers!
I stumbled across this gem while looking for ideas and I think these are all super cool activities for an afternoon at home. If your child is into super heroes, this is an excellent collection of scientific projects they will fall in love with! Most of these activities require materials most likely already in your home. They are the perfect combinations of education and fun!
24. Indoor active game: Land, Sea And Air
This is an awesome game for kids, especially when they are full of energy! If you are the leader in the game, you only need to be close enough for the kids to hear your commands and to supervise. Everything else is just pretend play and a great way to tire them out! Check it out!
25. Play “Would You Rather?”
I hear my son play this game often with his friends. It only requires verbal communication, so it can be done anywhere. It gives kids the opportunity to ask silly questions of their friends and it creates a whole lot of laughter. Good fun anytime!
26. Take turns asking Alexa things
I can’t tell you how many times Alexa has provided laughter and entertainment in my house. It only requires thought and a silly sense of humor. We’ve taken turns asking Alexa to tell us jokes involving animals, people, things, and anything else that has the potential to be funny. Sometimes, we involve trivia and learn something along the way. Whatever you decide to ask your trusty Alexa device, it is sure to bring giggles and a good time, every time!
27. Visit a virtual zoo
Virtual zoos are another thing we discovered through Covid. My son’s class had a field trip to a big nearby city zoo, Spring of 2020. Because everything shut down, the field trip obviously had to be cancelled. The teachers weren’t having it completely, though. They were able to provide virtual access links to numerous live camera feeds for that zoo, so the kids could still enjoy their trip from a safe distance. If you google “live zoo feeds”, you will see an extensive list of various zoos that can be observed live. Just take your pick!
28. “Minute To Win It” games
I bookmarked this list of games, before I was halfway through reading. There are just so many good ideas, I can’t wait to try them! They are all more challenging than you would think and they are all certain to bring tons of laughter. They require very few materials and they can all of course, be played in short periods of time. Need more inspiration? Check out these minute to win it kits. Always good fun!
29. Chicken nugget and french fry party
We have done this on more than one occasion and it’s always a fun way to eat a meal together. Who doesn’t like chicken nuggets and french fries, right? Most kids certainly do! Either grab the necessary food items from Burger King down the road or pick them up at your local grocery store and pop them in the oven when you get home. Either way, food the kids love and a family movie sounds like an easy plan to me anytime!
30. Two truths and a tale
This game is similar to “Would you rather?” in the way that it only involves verbal communication and well…a poker face. It’s a game for all ages and can be played with 2 people or 10! The first person to go, makes 3 statements about him or herself – 2 of them being true and the 3rd statement being a lie. The other players have to guess which of the statements is false and whoever wins, goes next. If no one guesses the correct statement, that player goes again until someone guesses correctly. Click here for tips and ideas for your next game of “Two truths and a tale”!
Final Thoughts…
While these are all great home based activities, there always comes a time when you just need to leave the house for a change of scenery. Those days tend to be days we go out for lunch. We might add a game of bowling along the way or even plan to see a movie at the local theatre. If you have museums nearby, take your tour on site instead of virtual! Visiting a craft store for project supplies is always a nice way to spend the afternoon. Maybe even hit the local library for a book on crafts or science projects. The point is there are plenty of things to keep the kids entertained through the colder winter months until Spring comes around and we’re back outside again. Hopefully, this list will give you a few ideas to start with 🙂
We’d love to hear any ideas you might have for warm indoor activities…leave a comment below!
