15 Winter Hacks for Parents

Winter can be challenging with kids, which is why I set out to assemble some of the best winter hacks for parents. Some of these tips come from my own experience, while others were sourced from fellow parents. But all are sure to help you become a more peaceful, joyful, and intentional mom this winter.

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Winter is my least favorite season. It always has been, but especially as a parent of small children. Doing anything feels 100x harder with bulky coats, freezing temperatures, and a thousand pieces of clothing.

And then there’s all the snow play (not nearly as much fun as a parent than I remember it being as a kid), the darker days, the colds and illnesses, and the (very VERY real) cabin fever.

It is definitely getting easier as my kids get older. Two thirds of my kids can don their own cold weather accoutrements now, which is fabulous. (Seriously, no one told me how great that would be.) But I still have one little left.

However, I’ve been on a mission the last two years to develop a better attitude about winter. I live in Iowa, which means if I’m grumpy throughout the cold months, I’m grumpy a solid ¼ of the year! And that’s not how I want to live my life. So, I’m pursuing JOY even in my least favorite season.

Part of that journey has involved finding ways to lessen the frustrations and make the challenges less cumbersome. Thus began my quest for the best winter hacks for parents. Keep reading to find out what kinds of genius tips I’ve collected from my search.

15 Handy Winter Hacks for Parents

1. Get outside as much as possible.

Admittedly, this doesn’t feel like a hack (it’s sooo much work to get everyone outside), and full confession: I am not great at it. But I’ve seen what a difference it makes in all of our attitudes, moods, and energy levels when we make outside time a priority.

Helpful post: 30 Winter Activities For Kids

2. Prepare a stash of indoor activities.

There are days, however, when outdoor play is simply not possible. Beat the resulting cabin fever with these simple indoor activities and this list of things for kids to do when they’re bored.

3. Create a mudroom!

This is one of my favorite winter hacks for parents, and I can’t recommend it enough. One of the things that drove me absolutely bonkers after the kids played in the snow was the giant mess of boots, clothing, and snow(/mud) all over my entryway.

I finally fixed the problem by creating a place to put all the discarded snow gear. Don’t have space for a mudroom in your house? Neither did we. Here’s how I faked a “mudroom” in our home.

If nothing else, a couple of these boot trays will make a WORLD of difference!

4. Teach kids how to put on their own coats.

As I said in the introduction, the second part of your parent life begins when your kids can put on their own coats. Try to teach that as early as possible with these tricks. (This has the added benefit of making it into a fun game for kids who don’t want to put on their coat!)

5. Use these tricks for putting on kids’ gloves.

Ugh. Wrestling gloves onto small children tests the patience of even the calmest parent. Some are good at it (our 2nd and 3rd picked it up pretty quickly), but others struggle a bit more. Here are some genius tricks for helping kids put on their gloves.

6. And use THESE tricks for KEEPING them on.

One of my top sources of frustration when playing in the snow with little ones is their mittens. The darn things fall off every two seconds, and you have to keep wrestling them back on (either with your own cumbersome gloves/mittens or your freezing bare fingers).

For this, I’ve found two helpful hacks:

Mittens with long wrists, like these or these
Mittens with cinch wrists

Of course, you could also try good ol’ duct tape! 😉

7. Layer mittens over gloves.

Cold hands are not only uncomfortable (leading to cranky kids), they’re also dangerous. Keep those little fingers warm by layering mittens (in a slightly larger size) over gloves.

8. Get winter insoles for kids’ boots.

I don’t know about you, but when my feet are cold, my whole body feels miserable. That’s true for kids, as well! Keep their tootsies warm (and their hearts happy) with winter insoles for their boots and shoes. **Full disclosure: I have not tried these, but I want to!

9. Put newspapers in boots.

Extended snow play inevitably leads to wet boots. Dry them out quickly by stuffing them with newspapers. Or, if you have the budget for them, invest in some good boot dryers. My husband uses them for his work boots, and they’re great!

10. Store all hats and gloves in a designated spot.

Every parent knows (and loathes) the frustration of the last-minute hat and glove scramble. Avoid it by creating a designated spot for all hats and gloves. We use a basket under a bench in our entryway, but you can use whatever works for you. Maybe that’s a basket or locker for each kid or hooks on the wall. I’ve even seen people use hanging shoe organizers in a hall closet, which I think is genius.

11. Stock up on extras.

That being said, do your future self a favor by buying MULTIPLE hats and gloves. Don’t wait until you need them – at the start of the season, go ahead and buy them in bulk. On those crazy mornings when you’re running out the door, it will feel 100% worth the extra money.

12. Get some balaclavas.

Hats keep heads warm, but they do nothing for noses and cheeks, and scarves constantly fall off. Enter the wonderful solution that is the balaclava. We’ve used these for several years with our kids, and they’re great. They keep their faces and necks warm, and they stay on!

13. Dress for the cold.

Is there anything more frustrating than spending 30 minutes getting everyone bundled up to play in the snow… only to have them complain 5 minutes into it that they’re cold and want to come inside? If you want to keep your kids warm and dry, layers are your friend. Thermals, flannel, and micro-fleece all make for great under-layers, and you’ll want to make sure all outer layers are waterproof.

Bonus tip: fleece-lined leggings and thermals work so much better under snow pants than bulky jeans or joggers. They’re insulating without restricting movement, keeping kids warm and comfortable during play.

14. Plan for the extra time!

Getting ready to head out the door takes a thousand times longer during the winter, so plan for that extra time. Start the process earlier than you normally would, and avoid stressful last-minute scrambles. Bonus tip: get all the hats, gloves, etc. rounded up the night before so you’re not searching for them right as you’re ready to leave. (This is so much easier if you follow Tips #10 & #11 above!)

15. Choose your perspective.

This one’s not really a “hack,” but it is essential, and it’s making the biggest difference as I learn to embrace winter. I’ve listed it last, but in actuality, the first thing we need to do to make winter easier and more joyful is choose to look for the good. Look for things to love about winter. Look for ways to turn frustrations into opportunities. And look for the long-term benefits that make the short-term hassles worthwhile.

SHARE WITH US: Do you have any great winter hacks for parents? I’d love to hear them. Share them in the comments!