In this post, I have rounded up my favorite outdoor activities for kids in the winter that will keep your kids entertained and moving, no matter how cold it gets. Let’s embrace the winter months with creativity, exploration, and lots of fun!
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Why I Love Outdoor Activities for Kids in the Winter
I have to admit, I actually do not like winter! I get winter blues, and I just love the sun. In my opinion, it would be wonderful if it stayed hot all year round (that’s my inner Texas girl talking). But, I’ve discovered that challenging yourself to get outside in winter isn’t as tough as it seems—and it can actually be enjoyable.
With the right layers to keep you warm, outdoor winter adventures can be a lot of fun. Plus, there’s nothing like coming back to a cozy house and savoring a cup of hot cocoa—it tastes even better after the cold. Best of all, spending time outdoors works wonders for your mental health.
So, maybe challenge yourself and get out more this winter, just make sure to buy all the appropriate clothes. Below you will find some pretty unique ideas to help you out. And, for even more activities, check out my Winter Scratch-off activity adventure list.
Outdoor Activities for Kids in the Winter & Cold Weather (Without Snow)
You don’t need snow for it to be fun outside in the winter months. You just need it to be cold and maybe have an assist from your freezer.
1 – Build a Nest
Go outside and try to find nature items that a bird would use to build a nest. Items like twigs, moss, grass, sticks, feathers, leaves, pine needles. Then using glue or weaving, try to build a bird’s nest.
2 – Make Ice Globes
Fill up some balloons with water and food coloring of your choice. Place them in the freezer or outside (if it’s cold enough). Once they freeze, or the next day, pop the balloon. You have a fun ice globe. Take them outside to decorate your home or play with them.
3 – Frozen Suncatcher
Collect some nature items such as twigs, leaves, or flowers. Place some water into a plastic lid or paper plate. Place your nature items into the water. Leave outside to freeze overnight (or in your freezer). When frozen, take out and hang up in the sun.
4 – Make a Bird Feeder
Go outside and find some pine cones. Tie a 6-8 inch string to the pine cone. Spread peanut butter all over the pine cone. You can melt the peanut butter a little bit for easier spreading (adding butter helps to melt it). Roll the pine cone in some bird seed. Hang up outside around your house and observe the different birds. Instead of using pinecones, you could also make ice cream cone bird feeders.
5 – Toy Freeze
Freeze a bunch of little toys in ice trays or paper cups in the freezer or outside. Once frozen, take them out and get a hammer, or something hard to hit the ice and break out the toys. You can also do this with rocks or other small items. It can be fun to smash things.
6 – Workout Challenge
Challenge yourself to go outside. Pick 6-10 activities or exercises that you can do outside. Once you complete them, reward yourself and warm up with some hot chocolate. Some ideas:
- jumping jacks
- squats
- sprints
- push-ups
- lunges
- high knees
- butt kicks
- hops
- single leg hops
- toe taps
Make a list of the exercises and make sure to bundle up.
7 – Play Ice Bowling
Freeze 10 water bottles in the freezer or outside. Also, freeze a balloon filled with water. Once frozen, pop the balloon and use it as your ball. Set up the water bottles outside like bowling pins. Use the frozen ball and try to knock down the pins. Keep score and compete against each other or just knock them over for fun.
8 – Winter Scavenger Hunt
Do a fun winter picture scavenger hunt. Use a camera and go outside and find and take a picture of the following items:
- leaf
- bird
- animal tracks
- feather
- something green
- pine cone
- spider web
- bare tree
- ice or water puddle
- insect
Or come up with your own list. Make it a competition and split up into teams. Here’s a winter scavenger hunt you might want to download.
9 – Blow Bubbles
Blowing bubbles in the winter is different than the summer. On a cold day, blow bubbles and try to catch them on the bubble wand. Wait a few seconds and see if it freezes. You can also try to see if the bubbles will land on the ground without popping. Have fun with it and experiment.
10 – Build with Ice Blocks
Make a bunch of ice blocks with ice cube trays, bread pans, or anything square that can be frozen. Freeze in the freezer or outside. Once frozen, take them outside and build with them. See if you can build a house or structure.
11 – Paint Rocks
Find some flat round rocks around your neighborhood. Take them home and paint pictures or inspiring words on them. Now place them back outside along walking paths or parks for others to see. You could also do this with sidewalk chalk on a sidewalk around your house or at a park. It’s great for Valentine’s Day.
12 – Outdoor Ice Skating (on Rinks)
Look for outdoor rinks in your area or even ponds that have frozen solid enough for skating.
13 – Build a Snowless Snowman
If you don’t have snow, get creative with other materials. Try building a snowman with rocks, sticks, and leaves.
14 – Kite Flying
Winter winds are often perfect for flying kites. Take advantage of the open skies and fly a kite in a nearby field or park.
15 – DIY Outdoor Obstacle Course
Set up an outdoor obstacle course with various items you have at home (hula hoops, cones, ropes). Compete to see who can finish it the fastest.
16 – Make Colored Icicles
It has to be during a freezing time. Take an empty water bottle and poke a small hole about an inch from the bottom, the size of the tip of a pen. Thread at least 3 feet of string or twine through the hole and tie a knot at the end, so that it doesn’t slip through the bottle.
Fill the bottle with water and food coloring. Hang the water bottle outside from a patio, branch, or structure. Make sure it’s sturdy. Tie the other end of the twine to the ground with something heavy. Make several water bottles or hang a few strings from the same water bottle. Watch as the bottle drips over the next few days and freezes.
Winter Outdoor Activities for Kids (With Snow)
Just because it’s snowing doesn’t mean you can’t be outside. Here are some fun ideas for activities in the snow.
17 – Color the Snow
Place food coloring and water, or watered-down paints into a spray bottle. Go outside and color the snow with your spray bottle. Try to make a design or just color the snow. You could also use a water gun, squeeze bottle, or try painting the snow with a paintbrush. Be creative!
18 – Make Animal Tracks
Cut an animal track / footprint out of cardboard. Make it big enough for your child to wear it under their shoe. Tape their shoe to the footprint and have them walk around the yard creating different trails of animal tracks. The larger the cardboard, the less likely they are to sink.
19 – Create a Snow Maze
Trample down paths in a large area of snow to create a maze. Try to find the way to a “treasure” hidden at the end.
20 – Make an Igloo or Snow Structure
Use snow blocks or mounds to construct forts. Kids can use molds or plastic containers to create sturdy walls.
21 – Snow Obstacle Course
Create a course with snow jumps, snowball targets, tunnels, or snow mounds to climb over.
22 – Go Sledding
Find a hill and bring along sleds or tubes. Make sure to choose a safe slope without obstacles.
23 – Build a Snowman
Use snowballs to build a snowman, adding items like carrots, scarves, and hats for personality. Use these cute snowman kits to make it legit.
24- Go Skiing or Snowboarding
Find your local mountain and go skiing or snowboarding. You can even rent equipment.
25 – Have a Snowball Fight
Engage in a fun battle of throwing snow at each other.
26 – Make Snow Angels
Lie back in the snow, wave arms and legs, and leave an angel imprint!
27 – Shovel Someone’s Sidewalk for Them
As a kid, shoveling someone’s sidewalk is a fun way to help out while earning a little extra pocket money or gratitude from neighbors. It was a chance to feel grown-up, stay warm by staying active, and maybe even score some hot cocoa afterward.
28 – Snow Kitchen
Pretend to make snow pies, snow cakes, or other treats using kitchen tools and a sprinkle of imagination.
29 – Frozen Scavenger Hunt
Hide objects slightly buried in snow or place items on a snowy path for a fun hunt.
30 – Make Snow Cones
Eat the snow, but don’t eat the yellow snow. To make a homemade snow cone, crush ice in a blender or by wrapping it in a clean kitchen towel and smashing it with a rolling pin. Scoop the crushed ice into a paper cone or cup, then drizzle flavored syrups (store-bought or homemade with sugar, water, and flavor extracts) over the top. Enjoy your refreshing treat immediately.
31 – Build a Snow Volcano
To build a snow volcano, shape a mound of snow around a small container (like a cup or jar). Leave the top open to form the “volcano”. Fill the container with baking soda, dish soap, and food coloring, then pour in vinegar to trigger a fizzy, colorful eruption. Watch the “lava” flow down the snowy sides for a fun and easy science experiment.
32 – Snowshoeing
If available, snowshoes help explore snowy landscapes with less sinking in. Get these cute monster shoes for a nice added touch.
If you love these activities, you’ll also love my Winter indoor and outdoor scratch-off!
Or, you can also check out my 30-day winter activity challenge, if you are looking for some indoor ideas too.
Are you surprised there are so many outdoor activities for kids to do in the winter?
With so many fun and creative outdoor activities for kids in the winter, there’s no reason to stay inside and miss out on all the seasonal joy. Whether it’s a snowy adventure or simply bundling up for a chilly walk, these activities will keep kids active, engaged, and exploring all that winter has to offer.
Embrace the cold, make lasting memories, and remember – the outdoors is just as fun in winter as it is in any other season. So get outside, enjoy the crisp air, and have fun making the most of this magical time of year.
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