Fresh Ideas for Children’s Indoor Winter Fun

If you’re busy prepping for a snow or ice event, there’s little time for finding activities to entertain the children. Have no fear, I’ve gathered a list of fresh ideas for you.

Living in an isothermal belt, we rarely get more than a dusting of snow. I get excited when snow finally arrives—as long as people are safe and warm.

This weekend, an ice storm is heading our way with major power outages predicted. We’re stocking up on emergency essentials, including tasty snacks — especially for the little ones. But you can’t eat and sleep the whole time—not with children in the house!

Snow is fun to play in, but ice forces us to stay indoors. Of course, there’s always the puzzles, board games, and charades. But I have been gathering more fresh ideas for indoor activities and games.

Do-able Ideas for Indoor Winter Fun

Creative Construction – I’ve saved boxes of all sizes, and even a few large cans. We’ll pile them on the floor along with painter’s tape, scissors, markers, and other creative materials. The kids may decide to build car ramps, castles, forts, robots, and more. Check out all the ideas I’ve saved on my Cardboard Crafts Pinterest Board.

Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of objects for the children to find. You may decide to hide objects such as plastic animals. Or, the objects may be ordinary household items, but not in the places they’re ordinarily found.

Special Snacks: Make snowman pancakes with Cool Whip, a strawberry hat, blueberry eyes, and a bacon scarf. Or whatever you have on hand! Set up a popcorn, hot chocolate, or waffle bar. Roast mini marshmallows on toothpicks over a candle. Cook a new recipe together. You may even try creating an original recipe! We plan to roast hot dogs — either on the camp stove or over the fire pit, regardless of whether we have power.

Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling: Use a plastic toy bowling set or make your own set from empty drink bottles. Attach a glow-in-the-dark bracelet to each bottle. Use an inflatable beach ball or whatever small ball you have on hand.

Glow-in-the-Dark Bubble Baths:  Light up the bathtub with some fun by throwing in some glow sticks!

Flashlight Games and Shadow Puppets

Winter Trivia Questions: Just for fun, or make it a competition for prizes! A good starter list is at https://healthyhappyimpactful.com/winter-games/

Minute-to-Win-It Games: You can find lots of suggestions online. I’ve also gathered some of my favorites and saved them to my Family Fun – Let’s Play Pinterest Board.

Paint Glow-in-the-Dark Rocks You can find glow-in-the-dark paint at craft stores and online. If you don’t care for the paint mess, consider glow-in-the-dark stickers. It’s fun to use these in an indoor scavenger hunt.

Do Kind Deeds for Others: Ask your kids to brainstorm ideas for acts of kindness they can do for their neighbors, family, and those who may be in need.

Make Cards: If Valentine’s Day hasn’t passed, get out the craft supplies and make homemade Valentine cards. Or make thinking-of-you cards for the homebound members of your church. Repurpose those old Christmas cards by making puzzles or bookmarks.

Make Hot Chocolate Play-doh: There’s an easy recipe for this: Hot Chocolate Playdough is a Fun Way to Spend a Snow Day – The Simple Parent.

Winter Wonderland Activity Pages: Download for free from our Library of Printables!

Books and Movies

Create Fun Spaces for Kids to Read: Consider a dry bathtub filled with pillows and battery-operated fairy lights, in a “fort” underneath a table, or a sleeping bag by the fireplace.

Act Out a Scene from Your Favorite Book

Make a Family Legacy Journal: Interview one another about their life journeys, their favorite memories, and their dreams for the future. Record the answers in a special notebook to have as a keepsake.

Write a short, humorous skit and film it. Send this out to your friends and family who may be stuck indoors, too!

Watch Family-Friendly Movies with Winter Settings:

Arctic Tale (G) Live Action/Documentary

Balto (G) Animated, Based on a True Story

Happy Feet (G) Animated

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Snow Dogs (G) Live Action

Frozen (PG) Animated

Ice Age (several movies) PG Animated

March of the Penguins (G) Live Action/Documentary

A Year on Ice (G) Live Action/Documentary

Penguins of Madagascar (PG) Animated

Snow Buddies (G) Live Action

White Fang (G) Live Action

I hope this list is helpful to you. When it’s safe to be outside again, hopefully your family will enjoy a winter wonderland scavenger hunt!

In the meantime, stay safe and warm, my friends.