That post-Christmas, pre-New Year stretch can feel like a blur—and winter is just getting started. When the cold keeps everyone indoors, having a few go-to activities makes all the difference. Here are five fun ideas to help you get through winter break and the colder months ahead!
1. Arctic Animal Homes Play Invitation
This is a wonderful time of year to explore the habits of cold weather animals. One of our favorite ways to get kids interested and curious in topics like these is with books and play invitations! Read a snowy animal book with your child. This one could not be more perfect for toddlers and preschoolers and this one will appeal to older kids. Then gather the materials for this simple play invitation/sensory bin and let them explore. Dump these ice crystals, faux ice cubes, pom poms and some arctic animals like these into a sensory table or even just a large plastic container (it doesn’t have to be fancy!) Pop in a couple blue magnetic tiles, or a fun set like this and invite your child to explore and build homes for the arctic animals! We promise they will love it!
2. Indoor Water Play
In the winter when we aren’t running and jumping and playing at the playground, it’s hard for kids to get the sensory input that they need. Water play is a great way to satisfy these needs and we have plenty of exciting ideas for bringing water play indoors:
Play Sink – This play sink has gotten hours of use in our house and I have heard the same from other families I have suggested it to! With running water, dishwashing tools and some plastic play food you might have around the house, your child will stay busy dumping and washing!
Glo Pals – Another huge hit in our house, these water activated glow cubes can be added to a bin of water or a bath!
Johnny Pops Popsicles – Grab some of these delicious popsicles (without all the yucky stuff others have in them) and run a bath! Your child will think a popsicle bath is the coolest thing!
Oxo Measuring Beakers – There is something so appealing to kids about these measuring beakers! Put them in a container with some colored water and let kids color mix, or simply add them to the bath tub for something new and exciting!
Lovevery Bath Kit – This kit has everything your toddler will need for a fun and educational bath time! Working on skills like cause and effect and language development as well as getting the sensory input they need? It’s a huge win!
3. Get Busy in the Kitchen
Kids love to be helpers and feel included and one of the easiest ways to include them is through baking, cooking and experimenting in the kitchen! This kid-friendly chopping set is a safe and fun way to get them involved in cooking and meal prep. This toddler baking kit comes with 50 toddler friendly recipes, an apron and measuring cups/bowls! Older kids will love to get busy in the kitchen with kid friendly recipe books like this and this, and even if it’s not meal time, simply setting out some play-dough and some tools like this perfect playdough rolling pin will keep your child feeling included!
4. Get Crafty!
Kids love to get creative and there are so many fun winter creations to be made! One of the easiest is to get out some paint, some paint brushes and some paper and paint arctic animals! Use a plastic fork and some white paint to make a polar bear head, or a paintbrush and white paint to make some snowmen! White paint on black paper can make cute penguins and q-tips are the perfect tools for adding some snowflakes!
For another mess free and easy art project, set out these fun snowflake beads with some pipe cleaners!
5. Beloved Books
Our absolute favorite way to keep children busy during the colder months, is with books! There are so many fun winter books like this one, and this one. But, my monthly book list subscription (that only costs the same as your morning coffee) is an easy pass to getting the best books to read into your home and your child’s hands. The best part is this will not only get you through the winter, but through the entire year! Click here to take a closer look and sign up!
Written by Becca Thiemann and Kathleen Koester
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