Interested in fun winter activities for your little ones to keep them entertained at home? Check out these easy 19 creative ideas that can teach your toddlers about the winter season and help make snow day more fun.

Are you tired of just watching all the snow pile up in your backyard? Winter seasons are sometimes really hard to pass. With the temperature always falling below freezing, taking little ones for outside playtime can often seem like the last thing you want to do.

After living for almost a decade in one of the most coldest cities in Western NY, living with harsh cold winter weather has pretty much become a part of our lives. But after becoming a mom, the idea of being stuck at home with a toddler sounds really tiring.

Lately with my daughter turning into a fully grown toddler probably a preschooler, trying to homeschool as well as entertain her at home has been very challenging.

She is at that age where she likes to be challenged by her activities and also has so many questions around them. So, to not let the boredom drive us all insane at home, I have been trying to get really creative with new fun ways of trying to make the most of these cold months at home.

Below I have shared 17 very fun and creative ideas that have been a great hit in our home with my daughter. Also, this list contains both indoor and outdoor fun, so have fun making the most of each of them with your little ones.

And if you are looking for more inexpensive and easy setup activities for your little toddlers, then sign up for these, 25 fun and learning toddler activities that can keep your toddler extremely engrossed as well as teach new and important life skills!

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winter activities for toddlers

 

1. Build a snowman with sticks and stones

The easiest activity of all! If the weather is feasible for you to step out, then building a snowman is the most fun snow activity of all. And the easiest way to decorate a snowman is by using sticks for hands, nose and stones for eyes, mouth and even cute little buttons. Also, to give it a complete look, add a snow hat and a muffler to it and have fun clicking pictures around them.

This is a cute little family video of us building a snowman with sticks and stones in our backyard.

2. Snow painting

All you need for this easy to do activity is add some snow in the storage bin. I am using the 28 qt storage bin from Walmart. Mix food colour in water and make four different colours and throw in some paintbrushes in each bowl.

Let your toddler have fun painting and mixing the colours. Also, to make it a more learning experience by talking to your toddler about how the colours mix when the snow melts.

winter activities for toddlers

Snow painting

3. Spray snow painting

I really love this easy to do DIY snow winter activity which you can easily set up in your backyard. But if the weather is not great to step out, you can have the same fun indoors.

All you need is food colour and spray bottles. Just like the previous above activity fill the storage bin with some snow from your backyard. In small spray bottles (these are great for toddlers) add food colours and water. Let your toddler spray the colours on the snow.

4. Potato head snowmen

Make a cute potato head snowman with your little ones.

5. Sledding

As a family we love sledding. Such a fun way to pass the weekend plus get your little ones to tire out easily. We use this sled, and it is great to use for 2 (1 being the kid). Sharing a few great options below.

Also, I had shared this cute reel from our sledding fun over on my Instagram account. We had so much fun!


6. Winter sensory bin

Sensory bins are my most favourite and best tool in keeping my daughter engaged for really long. Check this winter sensory bin idea that your little ones will love.

Also wondering how to introduce sensory bins to toddlers, then check out these easy tips and tricks that will come in very handy. Also, find a very basic and complete list of how to set up a basic sensory bin at home.

7. Create an ice cream shop

This idea never gets boring! Get some cute ice cream holders and some hand tools in a storage bin and let your little one scoop snow and make fun ice creams out of it.

Also, give them buttons to decorate the ice cream. Avoid using buttons if your little one likes to swallow things. It could be dangerous.

winter activities for kids

8. Snow construction site

A fun outdoor or indoor activity! All you need are construction trucks, snow and a small snow shovel or a big spoon will also work.

Watch your kids fill the construction truck with snow and make creative stories around it. A great activity for their fine motor skills!

9. Snow target practice

Our favourite family snow activity in our backyard. We mark a spot on a side fence or the back wall of our home and throw balls at it like trying out a snow target activity.

10. Make some snow dough

Have you ever heard of snow dough! Super easy and your little ones will love it.

11. Bubble wrap snowman

A cute indoor idea of making a bubble wrap snowman and enjoy watching them be creative with it.

12. Icy salt paint for toddlers

I had tried this icy salt paint activity with my daughter over the weekend and it was so much fun.

13. Snow tub bath time activity

Love this super easy and fun to do activity during bath time with your little ones.

14. Snowball fight

Another fun outdoor snow activity. Make small snowballs and shoot at each other a.k.a snowball fight 🙂

15. Make snow angels

Although making snow / Christmas angels is more of a Christmas tradition. But which little one does not like to jump and roll in the snow. Just make sure they are properly dressed for winter gears to avoid any chill from the snow.

If you are looking for ideas on how to dress up your little ones for the winter season, then check out this complete list of the 8 most essential snow gears that your little one needs to play comfortably in the snow.

16. Distorted ice cube painting

All you need for this activity is ice cubes, a big plastic bowl, food colour and a dropper.

  • Let your toddler fill the dropper with the food colour
  • Guide him to drop the colour on the ice cubes and watch it spread
  • Also, you can give him multiple droppers with 2-3 colours and show him how all the colours mix when the ice melts

17. Rocky snowmobiles

I had recently tried out this activity and it was a great hit. Add some flour and sprinkle rice in a storage bin. Throw in some small cars to the bin and let your toddler enjoy moving his small cars on the flour and making tracks.

I call this activity the ‘perfect small me-time activity’ as it can easily give me a 15-20 minutes break to drink a cup of coffee or answer my emails while keeping my daughter happily engaged.

I hope these activities help in keeping your little ones engaged this winter season! If you need more toddler activities then check these articles below!

21 Sensory bin activities for toddlers

15 Mess-free toddler activities for early learning

So, which is your favourite winter activity to do with your toddler!

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