Simple Activities to Keep Children Happy & Busy this Winter
Simple activities to keep children happy and busy this winter[Updated for 2026]
The winter is a great time for children to be busy.
They can enjoy the snow and get fresh air or enjoy some winter walks whilst spotting different things.
But, the weather can be unpredictable.
That’s why I’ve come up with this list of simple activities you can do with your kids this winter.
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There are activities for those snow days, or when chilling in the house is more appropriate.
And there are some activities that can be enjoyed outside.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Simple activities that will keep children happy and busy this winter
Make cookies
This activity is great for children of all ages, and it’s just as fun for the adults to help out too!
Making cookies in the winter is one of my favourite things to do with my boys. We make all different kinds.
This activity is both great for adding in some fun to your day and also helping children learn new skills.
Go sledding
Have you got snow? Do you want to have a fun day outside?
Then why not consider going sledding with the kids.
It’s an activity that is fun for all the family and the children will absolutely love it.
Arts and crafts day
Weather not looking too promising? Then a day in the house might be a good option.
A great activity that keeps children busy and beats boredom is arts and crafts.
Create a crafing space by putting down protective paper or plastic, set out different kinds of carft items and let the children get creative.
You could do:
- Hand and feet painting
- Making snow flakes
- Crafting a star for the top of the Christmas tree
- Paper garland to hang in the house
- Tree decorated
- Crafting homemade presents with air drying clay such as trinket trays or tree decorations
- Festive paintings
Snowball fight
Another great outdoor activity is a safe Snowball fight.
My son and I have tons of fun having Snowball fights that often end with a Christmas movie, hot chocolate and a warm blanket.
This is a great activity for tiering out children and letting them has fun.
Movie night
Movie nights in our house are sacred!
It’s something we do quite a lot as we all share a passion for film.
With this activity its a good way to have some quiet time whilst also keeping children entertained.
Want some movie ideas? Then check out my post- Ultimate List of Movies to Watch this Winter
Make snow angels
Making snow angles feel a little magical doesn’t it?
Getting down in the snow and being closer to the earth whilst creating beautiful angel shapes fills my soul with happiness.
Kids love this because they get to roll around in the snow, completely free to get messy.
Fire up the grill for s’mores
Grilling is a fun activity for the whole family, and s’mores are a classic treat that everyone loves.
You can make them in the oven, but grilling them gives you a chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors as well.
My son loves doing this! We normally do it once a year where we get all wrapped up and get the outdoor grill on to toast some s’mores.
This activity would be perfect for when it’s a bit dark outside and there is frost in the air giving the magical festive feelings.
Final thoughts
I hope these ideas have inspired you to get out there and enjoy the winter with your kids or have a cosy day at home having fun.
Winter can be a tough time for some families, especially if they have children who don’t go to yet school.
I know that when my son was young it was hard getting him out of bed in the morning during winter months since he didn’t have any friends or activities outside of nursery hours.
But now that he is older (and more social) we like take advantage of snow days and weekends alike by doing something fun together as a family!
Making sure that we always had fun in the winter as well as the other seasons was super important for us because now my son likes to do things all year round.
So, don’t let a little bit of snow put you off, get out and have some fun in it! Or, when the weather isn’t great, make sure you make the most of the time inside.
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Honestly, these are things I’d like to do myself, haha! These are some great suggestions; it’s good to have a few ideas ready to go when needed.
Some fantastic ideas here that have passed the test of time – so glad to see that none of them involve looking at a screen / mobile phone!
Some great ideas that have passed the test of time – so glad to see that none of them involve looking at a screen!