Winter is here, time for cozy cups of cocoa, breaking out the heavy coats, and spending time with families. The winter months often force us indoors and have us spend a lot of time with our loved ones.
Winter starts off with a bang with multiple holidays, but as the months go on, the winter blues start to hit, and that’s when you need some inspiration for activities! We’ve got you covered for all those long winter days with our ultimate list of things to do in winter!
We have the Best Outdoor Winter Activities, Fun Family Winter Service Activities, Indoor Winter Activities for the Family, and Great Holiday Winter Activities!
Best Outdoor Winter Activities
Winter temperatures vary greatly based on your physical location. Northern areas have great snowfalls and lots of ice and snow activities, whereas more southern locations receive very little, if any, snow, and the weather is much more temperate. With that in mind, we have a bunch of ideas for things to do in the cold and snowy weather, along with some things that are great when there’s no snow on the ground!
- Build a Snowman: Consider this snowman kit from Amazon so you have all the pieces you need to make an adorable snowman!
- Build an Ice Fort: Check out this tutorial from Scary Mommy for the most Epic Snow Fort!
- Catch a Parade: Around December, many small towns have light parades in the evening, or Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s parades. Check your area to see what you can!
- Sledding: If you are lucky enough to get snow, find a great hill, and spend an afternoon sledding!
- Try Winter Sports: Go Skiing, Ice Skating, Play Hockey, or Snowshoe, if you have the winter weather, explore it.
- Campfire: If it’s not too cold, s’mores and campfires are always a hit in the winter!
- Winter Hike: no matter where you live, hiking in the winter is a beautiful experience. Dress in layers, and pack some warm water, if needed.
- Enjoy the Snow: Snow angels, snowball fights, forts, snow, snow snow!
- Ice Fishing: Head North and get yourself an ice house for some ice fishing!
- Horse Drawn Carriage Ride: One of the sweetest ways to spend an evening is snuggled up with the ones you love on a horse drawn carriage ride. Check out your downtown to see if they have any carriage rides!
Indoor Winter Activities for the Family
Sometimes winter weather forces us to spend more time indoors. Don’t let that indoor time drive you crazy! Try out some of these fun activities!
- Snowman Shaped Pancakes: Make some delicious pancakes like these Snowman Shaped Pancakes from Toddler Approved!
- Cookies: Cookies are a staple of the holiday season, check out these kid friendly cookies by Porculine for some great choices!
- Build a Fire: Nothing says cozy like a warm fire on a cold day. Use your fireplace, or consider getting one, you’ll love being warm and cozy!
- Play Board Games: Dust off the games and see what you guys love these days. Or do a game exchange with friends to try out some new ones! It’s the perfect way to spend time with family!
- Have a Tea Party: Check out this Tea Party Idea from Our Family World. It’s a fun way to have a party with your friends at any time in the winter!
- Make Snowflakes: Decorate your house for winter with these beautiful snowflakes from Sitter City.
- Stay in PJs all day: There’s no shame in declaring a “stay-in” day. Stay in the PJs, have a movie marathon, and just spend time inside all day!
- Read a Book: Winter is the perfect time to catch up on that reading you haven’t had a chance to do all year. Dive into the latest best seller, or pull out an oldie… either way, you’ll feed your mind and find a chance to relax!
- Dance Party: When those winter months drag on and your kids get squirrely, Put on the Chicken Dance Party Mix and bust a move!
- Bird Feeder: Consider spreading the love this winter with a bird feeder. These Pine Cone Bird Feeders from One Little Project are the perfect choice!
- Make a Wreath: Design your own winter wreath with this How to Weave a Wreath tutorial from Little Yellow Wheel Barrow
Make Hot Chocolate Bombs: Learn to make your own Hot Chocolates Bombs from Creative Green Living. They’re easier than they look, make great gifts, and are just so fun!
Fun Family Winter Service Activities
Winter is a time of reflection on all the blessings we have. One way to recognize the blessings of what we have is to donate to charities that try to help other people. There are lots of ways to give back, so don’t let our list limit your creativity and giving!
- Donate Time: A lot of charities are looking for people to put in time at their holiday stores, ringing the bell for Salvation Army, cooking or serving food at a shelter, etc… see where you can spend some of your time!
- Donate Money: Everyone is looking for donations. Find your favorite charity and give them a little something extra this winter.
- Shovel snow for a neighbor: If the weather is snowing, check on your neighbor, and shovel a little extra. Get the kids involved as well. See how many driveways you can clear out together.
- Take Cocoa to Homeless: Get some disposable coffee mugs, and fill them with hot cocoa before heading out. Purposefully find someone who is homeless and give them a hot cocoa. They’ll really appreciate the extra warmth.
- Clear out old to give away: January always seems like a season to clean out things. Look through your closets and see what you don’t need and what someone else might!
Great Holiday Winter Activities
Of course, Winter is synonymous with several holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are the most popular, but there are several other holidays that are celebrated at this time of year as well. To help you celebrate the main events, we’ve got some ideas for you!
- Christmas Movie Marathon: Check out this Ultimate Christmas Movies List from Movie Nights at Home for some ideas!
- Christmas Lights: Before Christmas, hop in the car and take a tour of the neighborhood lights!
- Hot Chocolate Tasting Party: Gather up different types of hot chocolate packs, and find a homemade hot cocoa recipe… have a taste test to see which one is the best!
- Make Christmas Ornaments: There are so many options for making your own ornaments, but check out these adorable kids ornaments from Busy Blooming Joy
- Host a New Years Party: Stay up until midnight, play games, eat snacks, and ring in the New Year with your closest friends!
- Make a Thankful List: Write down all the things you are thankful for, and celebrate those all winter season!
Conclusion
Winter is a beautiful time of the year. It’s a time for thankfulness, family togetherness, and fresh starts. Although it may be cold outside, and your outdoor time is limited, there are still plenty of wonderful things to do!
For more ideas, check out our 45 Fun Things to Do in October, our Kids Winter Weekly Social Calendar, and our affordable Christmas Teacher Gifts!
