Creative Indoor Activities for Kids To Do In The Winter

Alessandra | Posted on November 14, 2024 |

Winter time can get tough when you have kids and you’re stuck inside more often. In this blog I’m sharing some fun and creative indoor activities for kids that will keep everyone thriving! Oh, I’ll make it budget-friendly too, because we could all use that!

If you’re looking for some creative indoor activities for kids this winter, you’re in the right place! As a mom of 3 myself, I’ve lived through many long winters in New England with my kids. And while I’m not one to give my kids constant entertainment (being bored is good too!) I know that the days can get very long and sometimes we just need to pass the time with something a little more. So with that said, remember that finding balance and living in that in between is totally cool. Being bored and having a fun activity to do will not ruin your children. 🙂 Let’s dive in!

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Creative Indoor Activities for Kids

Winter months can bring a magical season of snowflakes and hot cocoa, but when temperatures drop, keeping kids entertained indoors can become a challenge. The great outdoors may be out of reach some days, but there are plenty of creative ways to bring the fun indoors! Whether you’re dealing with a snow day or simply trying to keep everyone occupied without breaking the bank, these budget-friendly and creative activities are bound to keep your little ones engaged and happy even when it’s too chilly to venture outside.

1. DIY Indoor Obstacle Course

Set up a simple obstacle course right in your living room or playroom. Use pillows, blankets, chairs, and other household items to create it. Challenge your kids to crawl under tables, hop over pillows, and balance on blankets. Time each run and let you kids compete to beat their previous times for added excitement! You could even have them create their own obstacle course. This is a great way to keep their gross motor muscles working when you can’t get outside!

2. Homemade Arts and Crafts Station

Gather leftover paper, crayons, markers, and old magazines, then let your kids make their own creations. You can also try making crafts out of recycled materials, like toilet paper rolls or egg cartons, for eco-friendly fun. From cutting up materials, to gluing papers together, this is a great fine motor activity for kids and it also will help them use their imagination!

3. Scavenger Hunt Around the House

If you want to back out of play a little bit, a scavenger hunt is a great way to get yourself some time! Create a list of household items or themes for your kids to find around your house. For example, ask them to find something blue, something soft, or a favorite book. You can make these as challenging or not as challenging as you want and depending on your children’s ages. You could even add a prize for completing the hunt to keep them motivated.

4. Indoor Camping Adventure

This is great if you need to relax a bit! Grab some sleeping bags, flashlights, and pillows then set up a tent (or make one with blankets and chairs) right in your living room. Make a pretend campfire and share stories, make s’mores in the microwave, and let your little campers enjoy a cozy adventure without the cold.

5. Cook-Off Challenge

Have some good old family fun with a cook-off challenge. Organize a mini cook-off using simple, kid-friendly ingredients. Your kids can make sandwiches, decorate cookies, or build their own mini pizzas. This is a fun way to let them be creative while learning about cooking and spending quality time together.

6. Sensory Bins with Household Items

Have a sensory seeking toddler? Create a sensory bin using rice, pasta, or dried beans as a base and then add small toys, spoons, and cups. Your kids can explore and play freely, practicing fine motor skills and letting their imaginations run wild. Quick Tip: An old or unused water table can make a great sensory bin if you don’t have one on hand. A large mixing bowl works great too!

7. Story Time and Puppet Show

Get creative with a puppet show! Gather some of your favorite storybooks and let your kids either read them aloud or act them out with stuffed animals or homemade sock puppets. Create a small puppet theater using a table or cardboard box for even more imaginative fun and put on a show.

8. Balloon Volleyball

If you’ve got athletic kids, this is a good one for you! Blow up a balloon and set up an area for “volleyball.” Use masking tape to create a “net” on the floor, and encourage your kids to keep the balloon off the ground. This game is great for burning off extra energy but you’ll want to make sure you have enough space and there’s nothing around that can be broken. 🙂

9. Home Movie Theater

Movie nights are always special in our family. Make it even more special by transforming your living room into a mini theater. Allow your kids to use their imagination first and make movie tickets and design a concession stand with snacks. Then get into pajamas, pop some popcorn, dim the lights, pick a family movie, and enjoy a cozy day in with a film screening!

10. Simple Science Experiments

For the kids who always ask why and are super curious, science experiments are for you! They may get messy, but they are fun too! Try easy science experiments together like making baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, creating homemade slime, or growing salt crystals. These activities will keep the kids engaged and learning even while indoors, plus you can find lots of fun science experiments by doing a quick Google search!

Final Thoughts

Winter may keep you inside, but it doesn’t have to limit your family’s fun! With a little creativity and a few household items, you can turn cold days into an adventure filled with memorable activities that engage, entertain, and even educate. The ideas above are just the start too! Let your imagination run wild and adapt these activities to suit your family’s interests and available materials. Here’s to making the most of wintertime indoors with warmth, laughter, and plenty of creative play! You’ve got this, mama!

Use the image below to save these indoor activities to your favorite Pinterest Board so you can come back to them later

Creative Indoor Activities for Kids - pin

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