20 Indoor Winter Activities to Keep Kids Happy & Entertained without Screens

Winter days can feel long for anyone when stuck indoors…but they can be never ending as a parent when you have energetic kids bouncing off the walls or releasing their energy through bickering. What you need are some quick, go-to creative activities that can make being inside fun again. Whether you’re dealing with a blizzard or you’re just too tired to get the snow clothes on everyone again, here’s a list of 20 indoor activities to keep your little ones entertained – and keep your sanity intact! 

Want to skip reading and just get a free printable list to cut and have ready in a jar? Download our free Indoor Activities Guide.

GUIDE INCLUDES:

1. Creative Activities
2. Active Games
3. Educational Challenges
4. Imaginative Play
5. Relaxing Options
6. Building Big

1. Creative Activities [Rocks, Papers, Scissors – Go!]

Kids are not the only ones who will love getting hands-on and creative with these fun projects! According to research in the National Library of Medicine, creativity is proven to boost not only happiness but your overall well-being. There are a million craft project ideas online, but here are a few of our favorites so bust out those craft supplies and get happy!

• Snowman Pinch Pots: If it is too cold or there is not enough snow outside to make the real thing, grab some clay and make these fun and adorable snowman! Full instructions at Make It Your Own. 

• Potato Print Walrus Card: If you have never used potatoes to make art, today is the day! We suggest starting with these simple walrus cards for any occasion! Full instructions at Red Ted Art [this site is a treasure trove of great craft ideas!]

• Hot Rocks: If you don’t have any potatoes available try this simple rock craft instead. Our kids love to watch the crayons melt over the surface of the baked rocks. Full instructions at Mud and Bloom. 

• Giant Coloring Pages: Coloring pages are a popular go to activity for winter, but sometimes they lose their excitement. What to make kids excited about coloring again? Try one of our giant coloring pages that will keep kids creatively engaged for hours! 

2. Active Games [For the days when your toddler has more energy than a nuclear reactor]

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean sitting still, and you don’t have to create an indoor playground to help kids burn lots of energy. Check out a few of our favorite ways to get kids’ wiggles out! 

• Obstacle Course: Whether the floor is lava or an icy river, kids will love using cushions, chairs, and tape to design courses and stay off the floor! Check out this article with great tips and ideas for the ultimate indoor obstacle course.

• Dance Party: Turn on some of your favorite songs and just get moving! 

• Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Design a scavenger hunt with rhyming clues or a specific theme, like pirates or winter holidays. 

Pro Scavenger Hunt Tip: Don’t want to design your own? We’ve got you! Scroll to the bottom and download our free Indoor Activities Guide that includes our fun-guaranteed Winter Scavenger Hunt. 

• Stair Ball: Created by my husband, stair ball involves a ball and some stairs…can’t get much simpler than that! One person stands at the bottom of the stairs (or closer for younger kids) and tries to hit people as they walk by at the top. When you get hit your out!

3. Educational Challenges [Who said learning can’t be fun?!] 

We are parents. Of course we try to sneak in learning whenever we can! Here are a few of our favorite activities that build up brain power. 

• Baking Together: Get kids working on fractions, addition, and counting as they measure, mix, and make delicious treats with you. You could also do this as an experiment and give kids certain ingredients and see what they can come up with! 

• Science Experiements: From making snow in a bag to experimenting with bubbles, science is so fun! Check out this great list of 76 simple science experiments with ingredients you already have! 

• Puzzles: You may be surprised how even the busiest body loves to sit down and work on a good puzzle. 

Pro Tip: Include some snacks and turn on an audio book to make things even more memorable!

• Board Game Tournament: You know it is winter when our family breaks out all the board games, I am pretty sure we play at least one every night! Even if you are not a board game fan, you can have fun as a family playing together or even hosting a board game night with friends. 

• Story Time Adventures: Transform reading into a full adventure by acting out sotires or illustrating favorite scenes. Explore book-themed activities at Buggy and Buddy or browse creative project prompts on Journal Buddies. 

4. Imaginative Play [Let’s pretend you are a doctor while I lay here…wink]

• Dress-Up Fun: Dig out your costumes or even mom and dads accessories and let the kids transform into whatever they want to be! 

Pro Tip: Give the kids a dress up item and have them act out who/what they are while everyone else tries to guess! 

• Puppet Shows or Mini Plays: Put on a show for the family using toys or puppets. 

• Pretend Store: Set up a grocery store, cafe, or even a toy shop. This is especially fun if you can “pay” with buttons or monopoly money!

5. Relaxing Options [For those days when YOU don’t have any energy left]

When everyone needs a slower pace, thy these low-key ideas. 

• Sensory Bins or Bottles: Fill a container with rice, beans, or cotton balls and let your kids dig in with scoops, spoons, and small toys.

Pro Tip: Place a blanket that can catch any spills under your kids and the bucket. Then, when they are all done you can gather the blanket and pour the items back into the bucket. 

• Indoor Picnic: Speaking of blankets, place one on the floor and enjoy a special snack or meal together! 

• Puzzles: These deserve a place here as well, as they can be a very relaxing option, especially if you add the snacks and audiobook. 

• Horizontal Parenting: If you are super tired, check out horizontal parenting – a new parenting hack where you basically lay down while being the center of kids play. For example, wearing a tshirt with lines the kids can trace with toy cars on the back. Check out this article or simply google - horizontal parenting ideas!

6. Building Big [Blankets, Legos, and Cardboard – Oh my!]

For kids who love to build and tinker, these activities are perfect! 

• Lego Challenges: You don’t have to use Lego’s, but you do need to try having a contest to see who can build the tallest tower or create the best winter scene. For more prompts on what to build, download our free Indoor Activity Guide. 

• Cardboard Creations: Turn empty boxes into castles, rockets, or even sleds. The sky is the limit. If you are worried about your kids using sharp knives, check out these great cardboard cutting tools! 

• Blanket Fort: Nothing beats the coziness of a fort! Toss in some pillows, grab a flashlight, and you’ve got the perfect setup for stories or pretend play. 

Conclusion

Keeping kids entertained during the winter isn’t just about filling the hours– it’s about creating memories, fostering creativity, and spending quality time together. No matter which activity you try, these moments will warm your heart long after the snow melts. 

Which activity do you want to try first? Let me know michelle@kangatoys.com– I’d also love to hear your favorite winter activity ideas! 

[Download the free Indoor Activities Guide]

Would you like a printable list that you can cut out and add to a jar for easy inspiration when you are feeling cabin fever? Download our Indoor Activities Guide that not only includes a list of all the ideas we mentioned, but also a few extras + a Free Scavenger Hunt Printable