30 Winter Activities For Kids (You Can Do in 2021)

To help your family thrive this winter, here are 30 winter activities for kids (you can still do in 2021). These activities will keep them active outside, bust the indoor boredom, and engage their creativity. Plus, they’ll provide hours of quality time and fun for the whole family!

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Winter with kids can be rough. (Or is that just me??) Short days and cold weather often mean extra time cooped up inside. Add in the closures and social distancing of the past year, and you’ve got a lot of pent-up energy and creativity itching to be released.

Take a look, and pick out the ones that best fit your family’s ages, personalities, interests, and lifestyle.

30 Winter Activities to Do in 2021

Make paper snowflakes. Hang your beauties in the windows or suspend them from your kids’ bedroom ceiling to make a winter wonderland.
Go on a winter nature walk. Kids are pretty good at creating their own adventures outdoors, but here are some ideas for winter nature walk activities to have in your back pocket.
Host your own backyard Olympic games. Fresh air + physical activity + hours of fun! Get creative and come up with some possible events. If you need some inspiration, here are some fun ideas to get you started!
Bake some yummy treats together. If your kids are older, up the ante by holding your own family bake-off!
Have a pajama day. What kids don’t love staying in their jammies all day??
Make homemade hot chocolate. Take it up a notch with one of these “fancy” hot chocolate twists!
Have a chili night. Go all out with the ultimate chili bar, complete with cornbread, Fritos, red onion, avocado, sour cream, and, of course, all the cheese.
Build a snowman. Put a fun twist on a classic winter activity by recreating your favorite book, TV, or movie characters. Post pictures on social media and see if your friends/family can identify your creations.
Camp out in the living room. Put up a tent or fort, construct an “indoor campfire”, make s’mores, and read some campfire stories.
Have a weekend movie marathon. Vote on your family’s favorite movies and binge watch them over the weekend.
Make a list of books to read together. If you need some ideas, here’s an ongoing list of our favorite read-aloud chapter books.
Go on a snowshoe hike. Don’t know anything about snowshoeing? Me either. But here’s a great beginner’s guide to snowshoeing from someone who does if you’re game for trying.
Roast marshmallows in the fireplace (if you have one). These extendable roasting skewers are perfect for indoor OR outdoor ‘mallow fests.
Knit or crochet. If you’re brand-new to the art, here are some easy knitting/crocheting projects for beginners.
Make wassail. (Or take a shortcut and buy it.) Sip it on a winter walk, in front of a cozy fire, or while watching a family movie.
Schedule a winter family photoshoot. To keep your pictures frown and tear-free, here are some great tips for outdoor shoots!
Have a family game night.
Do a puzzle. Once you’ve gone through your own stash, swap with some friends for a whole new puzzle experience.
Make snow ice cream. It’s very easy to do, and kids think it’s super fun!
Create a workout routine. Here are some of my favorite at-home workouts, and here are some other ideas of workouts the whole family can do together.
Write letters/make homemade cards. Many people are feeling the isolating effects of the pandemic. Brighten someone’s day with a homemade card or letter.
Make your favorite soups. (Here are some of ours!)
Make a DIY snow globe
Do a toy purge. Ok… maybe this isn’t exactly a “fun” activity. But if your house is anything like ours, it’s one that needs to happen this winter!
Make a craft. You can find a plethora of winter craft ideas on Pinterest, such as this Thumbprint Snowman, this Snowman in a Bag, these Mosaic Snowflakes, or *gasp* these Elsa wands!
Have an afternoon tea. Get your fancy pants on and serve up cups of tea with scones or some other delightful treat.
Build a fort. Get all the kids (and parents!) involved in making the best and greatest fort EVER.
Have a family book club/cozy reading day. Put on your fuzzy slippers, grab your coziest blankets, and get lost in the pages of your favorite books together. Talk about what each of you is reading, and share some of your favorite parts, characters, or lessons.
Work on a home project. Find a DIY or simple home renovation project you can get the whole family involved in doing. (Even young children can help hold materials or fetch tools!)
Visit a (virtual) museum or attraction. My oldest son LOVES virtually exploring museums, national parks, and global landmarks via Google Arts & Culture.