As winter approaches, the options for keeping our toddlers active and engaged dwindle. However, with a little creativity, we can turn our homes into vibrant play spaces that stimulate their minds and bodies. This season is the perfect time to nurture their creativity, fine motor skills, and imagination, even if it requires some advance planning. After all, who says we can’t have just as much fun indoors as out?
From budget-friendly crafts to more elaborate activities, this list has something for every parent, caregiver, or educator looking to create a winter wonderland in their own home.
Bubble Foam Sensory Play
To create a unique sensory experience, combine equal parts soap and water, along with a few drops of food-grade dye. Blend the mixture thoroughly until it reaches a rich foam. Don’t hold back – really get in there and mix it up well. For added fun, incorporate toys or shiny objects that will capture your child’s attention. This type of sensory play is an excellent way to promote development in both younger and older toddlers.
If you’re looking for more ideas like this, be sure to explore our collection of developmental activities.
DIY Moonsand
Moonsand, a beloved activity among young ones, can indeed be an expensive indulgence, especially when tiny hands crave creative chaos. But fear not – A simple DIY recipe can provide endless fun without breaking the bank. Start by combining 8 cups of flour with 1 cup of baby oil and, if you’re feeling extra festive, add a splash of color with food dye. Once mixed to perfection, transfer the mixture to a designated bin for future playdates and mess-free storage.
Fingerprint Glass Magnets
Get creative with fingerprint glass magnets. Start by having kids stamp their fingerprints onto a blank sheet of cardstock or construction paper once dry, they can decorate their artwork as desired. Next, use Mod Podge to attach the flat side of clear gemstones to the center of an image. Repeat this process until your design is complete, and let it dry completely.
When you’re satisfied with your masterpiece, apply hot glue magnets to the back of each piece once the Mod Podge has gone clear between layers. With these unique magnets, kids can add a personal touch to their favorite things.
DIY Blanket Forts
Incorporating creative play into your regular routine can be a game-changer. For a quick and easy activity, grab some soft materials like pillows, blankets, or cushions, or even sturdy items like cardboard boxes. These make great building blocks for kids to get their imagination flowing and develop important gross motor skills in the process.
Just remember to establish clear boundaries beforehand about what’s fair game and what’s off-limits, as it can be challenging to regain their attention once they’re fully immersed in fort-building mode. And when the time comes to dismantle the structure, consider ending on a high note by setting up a cozy movie night with your little ones inside their creation. Just be prepared for the possibility that they might get so attached to their masterpiece that they’ll resist taking it down.
DIY Bookmarks
While bookmarks may seem like a mundane accessory, they can be a truly unique and personalized reflection of one’s interests. What makes a great bookmark is subjective, and it’s fascinating to see how different individuals approach the design process. For instance, a toddler’s bookmark might feature colorful characters or simple shapes, whereas an adult’s might incorporate more complex designs or themes.
One creative way to make a bookmark is through hand-tracing, allowing children (and adults alike) to express their artistic side and bring their imagination to life. By adding a popsicle stick backing, these bookmarks gain both physical strength and visual appeal. The possibilities are endless, making it an exciting activity for kids to get involved in – just be sure to explore more hands-on fun projects with them too.
Marshmallow Snowflake Craft
For a low-key yet engaging fine motor exercise, gather marshmallows and pretzel sticks. As a gentle guide, demonstrate the creation of a single snowflake, allowing children to take over and experiment on their own. This activity not only develops their dexterity but also provides a tasty treat afterwards.
DIY Painted Rocks
Make the most of this creative project by personalizing it to your liking. If you’re working outdoors, don’t forget to have some rocks on hand as a backup – or better yet, go on a rock-hunting adventure if the weather permits. When it comes to bringing your design to life, feel free to get artistic with paint, adding characters, backgrounds, and even intricate details. For an extra touch of flair, use permanent markers to add special finishing touches.
Once everything is dry, seal your masterpiece with Mod Podge for a glossy finish that will last.
Sensory Paint Squish Bag
One of my go-to activities for a fun and easy art experience is creating a colorful, mess-free masterpiece. To achieve this, I simply add bead-like items to a sheet of paper and then store them in a ziplock bag. This format works perfectly for an 8×11 page. Encourage your little one to paint the entire sheet as much as they like or simply enjoy the sensory experience. You can choose colors that match the current season, their personal favorites, or whatever hues you have on hand.
Indoor Race Car Track
Creating a DIY train track with your child can be an exhilarating experience. To get started, grab some non-toxic painter’s tape or a similar adhesive that won’t harm surfaces. As you begin planning the layout together, encourage your little one to let their imagination run wild and envision the perfect route for their trains.
Tissue Paper Apple
Transform your little one’s fine motor skills with a fun arts-and-crafts project. Gather some essential supplies: red and green tissue paper, glue, and either draw an oversized apple or find a printable online. Engage your child in ripping the tissue paper into strips to fill in the apple’s shape. Then, have them apply the ripped pieces to the page using glue. This activity not only enhances their fine motor abilities but also encourages creativity and color recognition.
Nerf Gun Games
Transform your home into a Nerf battle arena by encouraging kids to create their own targets using everyday household items. From repurposed cardboard boxes and paper plates to an empty laundry basket, the possibilities are endless. By getting creative with these materials, not only will you be able to find most of those wayward darts, but you’ll also foster a sense of imagination and resourcefulness in your children.
Printable Play Mats
To make this customizable idea a reality, you’ll need to do some preparation work. Start by gathering self-laminating pages if you don’t have access to a laminator. Next, find black and white images online and import them into a word document. Adjust the orientation as needed to ensure they sit correctly for your child. If necessary, cut out the images and reposition them on a blank page to achieve the desired layout.
Once lamination is complete, allow your child to use these interactive placemats during meal times. To enhance their experience, consider providing play-doh, dry-erase pens or other fun activities to enjoy with their new placemat.
Slime
While slime has become a staple in many households, making your own can be an even more budget-friendly option. And who knows, you might just find that the process is more enjoyable than buying it. To get started, gather 5 ounces of white glue, 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of contact lens solution. Add some sparkle to your mixture by incorporating glitter or sequins – a great way to make slime-making an activity the whole family can enjoy.
Simply combine all the ingredients, aiming for a consistency that’s not too runny, and get ready to have fun.
DIY Travel Craft Sticks
With this simple yet creative craft, keeping your little ones entertained during car rides has never been more effortless. To get started, gather some popsicle sticks and attach velcro adhesive rounds to each side and end. And that’s it – you’re done! But if you want to take things to the next level, why not add a splash of color with paint or markers? You could also sprinkle on some glitter for extra sparkle, or even give them googly eyes for an added touch of whimsy.
If you’re looking for a more educational spin, consider numbering the sticks and using them as a fun way for your child to practice their numbers.
Giant Floor Maze
Transform playtime into an immersive adventure by setting up a massive floor maze for your little ones’ toys. With a gentle adhesive or tape, create a fun and interactive game that will have them racing to get their favorite toy cars through the twists and turns. For added excitement, propose the idea to your kids and involve them in the process, reminding them of the essential elements of a classic maze.
This indoor activity is sure to delight even the most energetic of young ones, making it an ideal solution for those days when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Indoor Campout
For an unforgettable indoor campout experience, why not let your little ones take the reins? Let them choose everything from where they’ll be sleeping to what activities will fill their night. Even food can be up for grabs. Pinterest is a treasure trove of inspiration, with boards dedicated to campfire treats, tent forts, and countless other fun ideas. But don’t stop there – poll your kids and see what creative suggestions they come up with.
This activity is sure to be a hit with the whole family, making it one of the most enjoyable weekend activities for children.
Drizzle Painting
To unlock the creative potential of your art project, start by setting up a versatile workspace. Begin by securing large sheets of butcher paper, which will serve as the canvas for your artistic expression. Next, gather a variety of icing bags and tempera paint, essential tools that will allow you to experiment with diverse techniques and textures. As you delve into this process, feel free to get creative and explore different approaches, allowing the possibilities to unfold before you.
Jell-O Alphabet Play
Combine a sweet and engaging sensory experience with educational value by creating a Jell-O and letter sensory bin. Start by preparing two boxes of Jell-O according to the package instructions, then carefully add letters to the mixture before allowing it to set. The next day, give the mixture a gentle stir to redistribute the letters, and consider adding any accessories that enhance the activity’s enjoyment or reinforce specific skills.
Unicorn Playdough
For kids who adore unicorns, whipping up this magical playdough is a must. To create this enchanted mixture, combine 1 part white frosting with 3 parts cornstarch and add 1 tablespoon of water. If your little one loves adding a touch of sparkle to their creations, throw in some sprinkles for an extra-special effect. The beauty of this recipe is that it can easily be doubled if you want to make more.
Soap Foam Sensory Bin
One more creative twist to explore with your child is creating an extra foamy sensory bin. To make this happen, combine water and dish soap as usual, but take it to the next level by adding Kool-Aid or a sugar crystal drink mix to the mixture. The key to achieving this extra fluffy texture is incorporating foam, which can be easily achieved by blending the ingredients in a blender or using an immersion blender.
Bubble Wrap Stomp Painting
When disposing of bubble wrap in the future, consider setting it aside for your child’s next creative endeavor. This unconventional activity has been known to captivate young minds and spark imagination. By wrapping their feet with bubble wrap, allowing them to dip their toes into vibrant tempera paint, and then walking on a large sheet of paper, kids can enjoy an immersive sensory experience that will keep them engaged for hours.
Make sure to conduct this activity in a space where cleanup is easily manageable, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable creative process for both you and your child.
Edible Pudding Slime
When disposing of bubble wrap in the future, consider setting it aside for your child’s next creative endeavor. This unconventional activity has been known to captivate young minds and spark imagination. By wrapping their feet with bubble wrap, allowing them to dip their toes into vibrant tempera paint, and then walking on a large sheet of paper, kids can enjoy an immersive sensory experience that will keep them engaged for hours.
Make sure to conduct this activity in a space where cleanup is easily manageable, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable creative process for both you and your child.
Summer and Fall Leaves Craft
As the seasons transition, consider engaging your kids in a fun art project that fosters hand-eye coordination. The activity involves polka dotting different colored leaves onto tree branches, allowing children to visualize the changes that occur throughout the year. To begin, have your child create two trees without leaves and prepare green, red, orange, yellow, and brown paints.
Once the tree bases are complete, instruct them to polka dot the first tree with only green dots, followed by the second tree with a medley of colors. This process demonstrates the leaf-changing phenomenon that occurs from one season to another.
Playdough Mats Printable
One effective approach to elevating the playfulness and tidiness of Play-Doh sessions with kids is by incorporating a mat into the activity. This simple addition can spark creativity while keeping the workspace organized. A variety of printable mats are readily available online, or you can utilize a downloadable pack featuring an assortment of shapes to further enhance the experience.
Farm Lacing Cards
Mastering fine motor skills is a crucial milestone in a toddler’s development, and engaging activities can significantly support this process. The provided card set offers a fantastic starting point for young children to refine their small muscle movements.
Paper Plate Dinosaur Craft
Get ready for a prehistoric blast. This paper plate craft is incredibly versatile, allowing you to transform it into any dinosaur shape that sparks your imagination. Start by creating a rough outline of your favorite dinosaur on the plate using a pencil or marker. Then, carefully cut out the shape and let your little ones run wild with their creativity – they can add colors, patterns, or even embellishments like stickers or stamps to bring their dino to life.
Craft Stick Shape Mats
When it comes to developing your child’s spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, teaching them to identify shapes can be a valuable exercise. One way to do this is by creating pages of silhouettes for them to practice with, either manually or by finding pre-made resources online. The goal is to have your child place sticks or other objects on top of the image, allowing them to become familiar with the concept and eventually move on to more complex shapes.
Flower Garden Sensory Bin
Transform the finale of winter into an engaging learning experience by creating a sensory bin that bridges the gap to spring. As the seasons change, use this interactive bin to introduce your toddler to the various aspects of spring. Simply add a mix of materials like real soil, toy produce, and other tactile elements that evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of the new season.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Transforming afternoons into adventures, this engaging activity allows you to tailor the experience to your child’s unique abilities. Whether they’re honed in on discovering specific colors, objects, letters, or numbers, the possibilities are endless and the excitement is palpable.
Dinosaur Dot Marker Pages
One of my favorite things about printables like this is how effortlessly they can provide entertainment while simultaneously promoting fine motor skill development in children. All that’s required is downloading a copy and letting your little one have fun dotting the circles with bingo dabbers, engaging their hands and minds in the process.
Animal Popsicle Puppet
Creating kid-friendly puppets can be a fun and creative activity for both kids and parents. To start, simply obtain an image of the child’s favorite animal or character. Next, print out the image and then attach it to a sturdy popsicle stick using hot glue. The end result is a delightful and easy-to-make puppet that can be used to retell stories, act out scenarios, or even just provide entertainment.
Snow Dough
When forecasters predict a harsh winter storm, prepare for indoor fun by making a batch of snow dough for your kids to enjoy while you’re stuck inside. The recipe is simple: mix together 1/2 cup of potato starch, 1/2 cup of flour, and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Aim for a consistency that’s neither too wet nor too dry – the goal is a texture that yields slightly when squeezed. Once prepared, supplement with other winter-themed toys to create an engaging play experience.
Make Your Own Puzzles
Transform a creative activity into a fun family bonding experience. Start by having your child draw their favorite animal or even a picture of their family on a sheet of paper. Once they’ve completed their masterpiece, have them glue it onto another sturdy piece of paper. Then, challenge them to identify and trace large shapes within the drawing – perfect for developing their problem-solving skills.
After it’s completely dry, take out your scissors and cut out all the puzzle pieces together as a family. This activity not only fosters creativity but also encourages teamwork and critical thinking.
Walking Water
Introduce your kids to the wonders of science at a young age and foster critical thinkers. To create an engaging experiment, fill an ice tray with water and add different food coloring to each cell. Next, place small strips of tissue paper so that each end is submerged in separate pools of colored water. Let the mixture sit for a while and then return with your children to observe the changes together.
This simple yet effective exercise encourages kids to think critically about what happens when different variables interact.
Thunderstorm Sensory Bin
When introducing the concept of weather to your little one for the very first time, consider creating a sensory-rich experience by gathering various props. This could include items such as umbrellas for rain, cotton balls or white pom-poms for clouds, and flashlights or small toy lightning bugs for lightning. By presenting these relatable objects, you’ll be helping your child form meaningful connections between the tangible representations and the abstract weather concepts.
A-Z Finger Painting Activity
Transforming the mess of full-out finger painting into an organized activity, consider having your little artists create a visual representation of something that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Begin by writing out all the letters on a surface, leaving ample space for their masterpieces to unfold. This structured approach may seem counterintuitive at first, but trust that it will add a layer of purpose and excitement to the creative process.
DIY Silly Putty
While silly putty may not have the same instant appeal as its more popular cousin, slime, it still offers a unique tactile experience that’s just a touch less messy. To create your own silly putty, simply combine equal parts of cornstarch and water with a splash of Dawn dish detergent. If you’re feeling creative, add a few drops of food dye to give your putty a personalized hue once mixed, the result is a slightly firmer consistency than slime, yet still retains its signature squishiness.
Moon Dough
Combining two cups of cornstarch with one cup of conditioner creates a unique substance known as moon dough, which can be further customized with food coloring or other additives to create a desired hue. To enhance the experience, feel free to incorporate out-of-this-world accessories, such as those resembling moon rocks or alien figures, while engaging in this imaginative activity.
Edible Playdough
For many parents, the idea of edible playdough is music to their ears. After all, toddlers are notorious for putting everything into their mouths, so it’s no surprise that this recipe has become a popular alternative. And the best part: It’s incredibly easy to make. Simply combine equal parts store-bought frosting and powdered sugar, and you’re ready to get creative. So don’t be afraid to indulge yourself – or make an extra batch to enjoy later.
Spring Colouring Pages
While other activities on this list may not be feasible or have met with failure in your household, there’s one thing that’s always a hit – coloring And the best part is, if you have access to a printer, you’ve got an endless supply of coloring pages at your fingertips. We like to mix things up by choosing pictures that reflect the current time of year, whether it’s holiday-themed or just something that matches the season.
For even more variety, there are plenty of online resources where you can find packs and specific topics to color. Websites like Teachers Pay Teachers, blogs, and local libraries are all great places to start your search, and when you’re looking for more fun ways to spend time with your kids at home, be sure to check out some of our other favorite indoor activities.