The Winter chill provides for some awesome indoor and outdoor activities for families!

 

These Winter activities are great for creating new family traditions!

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Create new family traditions

With the holidays, families find themselves spending more time together and needing something to keep children occupied during Winter break. With the cooler weather that Winter brings, it is a good time to create new family traditions.  You’ll need a good list of boredom busters from this list of best winter activities to help keep your children entertained and from letting cabin fever set in!

 

 

What can you do with your family during the Winter?

I’m surely not suggesting you brave the outdoors when it’s below freezing; although outside activities like skiing or sledding are always sure-fire ways to burn some energy! You can don some family pajamas and put your creativity to use by doing some Winter themed crafts like a wreath to hang on your door. Or, you can create some of your favorite recipes or try some new ones!

 

But when you start to feel cabin fever creeping in, it may be a good idea to leave the house but stay warm by visiting a museum, taking a scenic drive, or exploring other ideas on this list of family winter activities suited for both kids and adults alike.

 

Winter activities for families

1. Make a no sew blanket

Make a blanket to keep and use as a family, or to give as a gift! Fun and easy for all ages!

 

2. Attend a holiday parade

3. Have a family karaoke night

4. Have a coloring contest

Coloring is a great way to pass the time on a Winter day when going outside is not an option. My girls and I still love coloring!

 

5. Volunteer at a soup kitchen

6. Make snow angels

7. Have a pillow fight

8. Make snowflake playdough

Playdough is super simple to make, and children can even help make it! Add some snowflake confetti to finish it off!

Playdough recipe:

Ingredients needed:

• 1 cup of flour
• 2 tsp of cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup of salt
• 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of water
• blue food coloring

How to make playdough:

1. In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients
2. Add water and two to three drops of food coloring to a pot
3. Add the vegetable oil to the water
4. Add the dry ingredients to your water
5. Mix well and cook over low to medium heat until dough starts to form
6. Once it looks like a ball and is completely mixed, remove from heat
7. Allow to cool before handling
8. Once cool, knead for five minutes to soften dough
9. Add in your snowflake confetti!

 

9. Make your own wrapping paper

Decorate kraft paper with stencils or stamps to use to wrap holiday gifts for family and friends! It’s ecofriendly and personalized!

 

10. Host an ugly Christmas sweater party

 

Related post: The best non-toy experience gifts your children will enjoy time and time again

 

11. Send a care package to a soldier

Go to the United Services Organization (USO) website for info on sending a care package to a soldier.

 

12. Have an indoor nerf war

Choose your teams and prepare for battle!

 

13. Put a puzzle together

Puzzles provide endless hours and days of fun for the whole family!

 

14. Visit a tree farm

15. Make homemade holiday potpourri

Homemade potpourri makes a great gift and provides a natural way to add fragrance to any home!

Holiday Potpourri:

Ingredients needed:

• fresh cranberries
• fresh orange slices
• rosemary
• cinnamon sticks
• whole cloves
• star anise
• canning jars

Simply put all the ingredients into your crock pot, instant pot or a pot on the stove and let simmer for a couple of hours. Let cool. Pour contents into the canning jars. Refrigerate when not in use. To activate, simmer on stove.

 

16. Make personalized mugs

Make your own personalized mugs to use for cocoa, cider or soup!

 

17. Go sledding or tubing

18. Make a pinecone craft

Pinecones make great bird feeders, mini trees, and can even be turned into owls! Along with a few other simple items, and you can create away!

 

19. Play board games

Board games are a great family pastime that provides hours of fun!

 

20. Make homemade bread

There is nothing like making homemade bread! The yummy smell fills your home and is a great family activity!

How to make bread:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of flour
• 3 tbsp. of sugar
• 1 package of quick rise yeast
• 1 cup of warm water
• 3 tbsp. of olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. of salt

How to make bread:

1. First, mix 1 cup of flour, 3 tbsp. of sugar, the yeast packet and 1 cup of warm water.  Let sit for ten minutes.
2. Next, mix 1 cup of flour, 3 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 1/2 tsp. of salt.
3. Finally, add the last cup of flour and mix.
4. Put the dough in a bread pan.  Cover it and let it sit for half and hour.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for twenty five to thirty minutes.
6. Remove from oven, let cool for about five to ten minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

 

 

21. Stay in and watch movies

22. Make your own snow globe

Make your own snow globe for your own Winter keepsake!

 

23. Listen to holiday music

24. Make paper snowflakes

25. Make a gingerbread house

Take your creativity to another level by making gingerbread houses!

 

26. Have an indoor picnic

27. Cozy up by the fireplace

28. Play indoor hide and seek

29. Go ice skating

30. Make ornaments

DIY essential oil clay ornaments are super fun and easy to make!

 

Related post: DIY clay ornament essential oil diffuser

 

31. Make a popcorn garland

32. Decorate stockings

Decorate and personalize your own stockings with fabric paint markers!

 

33. Build a snowman

34. Visit a holiday light show

35. Make an indoor blanket fort

36. Make homemade snow

Homemade snow provides a fun sensory activity in case it is not possible to play outdoors in real snow!

Homemade snow:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1 cup of shaving cream
• large bowl
• fork

Blend the baking soda and shaving cream in a bowl with a fork. Then use your hands to mix until you can form it into a ball. Add some artic animals and enjoy!

 

37. Bake cookies

38. Have a snowball fight

39. Have a screen free day

40. Make a hot cocoa bar

Use your personalized mugs and make your own cocoa bar with marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and whipped cream! The possibilities are endless!

 

 

In the end

In the end, the goal is to have fun as a family. Choose activities that interest you and your children, and enjoy some quality time together; that’s what it’s all about!

 

Related post: Make it  handmade holiday with DIY craft ornaments

 

What types of Winter activities do you and your family enjoy doing together?

Do you have any family holiday traditions?

Until next time,

Anitra J.