10 Winter Activities to Keep Your Toddler Happy and Active – Indoors and Out!

Winter with toddlers is a magical time, but also a tiring one! Cold weather and shorter days can mean less choice when it comes to keeping little ones entertained. But our roundup of the best indoor and outdoor winter activities is sure to keep them happy through the colder months. And keep you happy in turn!

toddler winter activities

These winter activities provide a huge range of opportunities for learning, development, and, most important of all, fun! From cozy indoor crafts and Christmas baking to exciting snow adventures and magical nature walks, these activities promise to keep your toddler busy through the coldest months… and help create memories for the whole family!

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Indoor Winter Activities

 1. Ice Painting (Indoor Activity)

indoor winter activities for toddler

Ice painting is a wonderful creative activity with a winter twist! For this activity, simply freeze water that’s been mixed with food coloring in an ice tray. Once frozen, let your little one “paint” on paper or in a tray using the ice cubes. They’ll love watching the colors melt and blend, creating their own wintry art.

Tips: Use a winter themed ice cube tray like this snowflake tray. Cover the surface with a towel or paper towels to keep the table or surface dry, and make sure your supervise your little one for safety with any melting ice. It’s a good idea for your toddler to use gloves to create this very icy artwork!

Benefits: Ice painting supports color recognition, fine motor skills, and is a great way to celebrate the winter season.

 2. Indoor Sensory Bins/Trays with Winter Themes

winter sensory bin for toddler

Sensory bins or trays are always a hit with toddlers, so why not make one with a winter theme? Use items like cotton balls (for snow), snowflake sequins and winter animal toys like penguins and reindeer to create a winter wonderland. Toddlers will love imaginary play and exploring different textures.

Tips: Choose items that are safe if your child still has a tendency to put toys in their mouth. A tuff tray is a great choice for sensory explorations because it’s easily cleaned and it’s super adaptable.

Benefits: Sensory bins or trays support fine motor development, encourage creativity, and offer a calming and independent option for play.

 3. Storytime and Indoor Library Visits

mom reading a book to a toddler winter activity

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book. Storytime can be as simple as reading winter-themed books at home, or you can take a weekly trip to the local library. Most libraries have children’s areas with cozy nooks, comfy chairs and cuddly toys, and some even offer story hours tailored to toddlers.

Read Next: 15 budget-friendly outdoor activities for 1-Year-Olds

Tips: We love this ‘A Little Book About Winter’ story, by Leo Lionni. It’s full of winter wonderland art and introduces little ones to this magical season. And ‘Ten Sparkly Snowflakes’ sees woodland animals playing winter games as they count down the snowflakes.  

Benefits: It’ll come as no surprise that reading together is one of the best things you can do with your toddler to develop their language and cognitive abilities. It also strengthens focus and is a great way to bond with your little one! And toddlers love trips to the library, choosing from hundreds of books and getting to take them home.

 4. Indoor Obstacle Course

a toddler obstacle course inside a room

On especially chilly days, try setting up a simple obstacle course in your house. Use soft and safe objects like pillows, blankets, and soft toys to create a fun path around the living room. Ask your toddler to be creative when navigating the course, with activities like crawling, jumping, and balancing. Indoor obstacle courses are the perfect way to help toddlers burn off energy, all whilst developing their motor skills.

Tips: Keep the course safe and soft, with items your little one can navigate easily. 

Benefits: This very budget-friendly winter activity encourages coordination, builds gross motor skills, and helps your little one release pent-up energy!

 5. Baking and Decorating Winter Treats

two toddlers baking cookies - indoor winter activities

Baking will always go down a storm (pun intended!) with toddlers. Choose simple recipes that are safe for little hands, like sugar cookies, gingerbread or mini pizzas. Little ones will love mixing ingredients, using cookie cutters, and decorating their bakes with winter-themed sprinkles or icing.

Tips: Let toddlers handle safe and easy tasks, like stirring and pressing cookie cutters. You can get some amazing toddler-safe baking sets, like this one from Amazon.  It includes a silicone rolling pin, a pair of tongs, a spatula and a whisk. And we love this Christmas cookie cutter set – perfect for making delicious presents for family and friends! 

Benefits: Baking encourages creativity, enhances fine motor skills, and is a great way to introduce little ones to basic cooking skills. Plus, we’re sure they’ll find eating the sweet treats lots of fun…

 6. Toddler Winter Dance Party

a toddler dancing in a winter decorated room

A dance party is the perfect way to get active when the weather outside is frightful. Create a playlist on your smart speaker with winter-themed songs, like “Let It Go” or “Jingle Bells,” and encourage your little one to move to the beat. Use dressing up clothes, scarves or lightweight blankets as dance props, and make sure you get your boogy on too!

Tips: Keep the space clear and safe for lively dancing. You could even grab a karaoke kit for extra musical fun! Next stop, America’s Got Talent!

Benefits: Dancing promotes coordination and balance, and is a fabulous way to burn off energy indoors. Plus, it’s a budget-friendly and super simple way to make amazing memories! 

7. Visit a Local Aquarium or Indoor Play Center

When you need a change of scenery, take your toddler to a local aquarium or an indoor play center. Your toddler will be amazed by the weird and wonderful creatures in the aquarium, while indoor play centers often have toddler-specific areas – perfect for burning off energy!

Tips: Check for winter exhibits or special events, and visit during less busy times for a more relaxed day out. Weekends in winter at family attractions can get super busy.

Benefits: Days out are mini adventures for toddlers. They offer sensory stimulation, the chance to learn something new and the opportunity to make memories for the whole family. 

Outdoor Winter Activities

 8. Snow Play Adventures

a toddler making a snowman

If toddlers like anything more than a snow day, we don’t know about it! If you live in an area that gets snow over winter, wrap your little one up in several warm layers, and head outside.

Read Next: Nature’s Playground: Unveiling the Science Behind Outdoor Play

Toddlers love making snow angels, building snowmen, and throwing (little) snowballs. And don’t forget to bring along a small sled for endless fun. 

Tips: Dress your little one in waterproof mittens or gloves, snowsuits, thick socks and snow boots to keep them warm and dry whilst playing in the snow.

Benefits: Snow play builds motor skills, provides sensory experiences, and encourages kids to stay physically active. And, of course, it’s fun! 

 9. Winter Nature Walks

a Toddler in a winter park

If it’s not too chilly outside, why not bundle up and head outside for a nature walk! Even in winter, parks and trails have lots to offer for curious and energetic toddlers. Look for frozen puddles, animal tracks in the snow, and interesting plants. Don’t forget to take a magnifying glass for closer inspection, or a small bag to collect “treasures” like pinecones and twigs.

Tips: Keep the walk short and manageable so your little one doesn’t get too cold or tired, and encourage your child to talk about what they see and hear, asking questions as they go. And don’t forget to wrap them up warm before you go!

Benefits: Nature walks are a treat for the senses and can foster a love and appreciation for the natural world.

 10. Bubble Play in the Cold

On super cold days, bubbles can freeze or create pretty patterns when they land on surfaces. This activity is best when the temperature is below freezing, adding a unique “science” element to winter play.

Tips: Stock up on extra bubble solution to make sure play time isn’t over too soon. Encourage your little one to notice what happens to the bubbles when they touch different surfaces. And make sure your little one’s wrapped up warm for this super chilly activity.

Benefits: Bubble play in the cold weather introduces early scientific concepts, encourages curiosity, and develops fine motor skills.

 Conclusion

Winter with toddlers can be simultaneously enchanting and exhausting. But with the right activities, it’s easy to turn chilly days into cherished moments. Whether you’re snuggled up indoors crafting or wrapping up and venturing out for snowy adventures, each activity on this list is designed to encourage development, celebrate the season and create joy.

toddler winter activities

By embracing the magic of winter as a family, you’ll not only keep your toddler engaged and learning, but also create lasting winter memories you’ll never forget. So put the fire on or bundle up, and dive into the wonders of winter!

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