Fun & Creative Winter Break Activities for Kids

Keeping the kids entertained over winter break can become a full-time job for moms! You quickly become an entertainer, personal chef, teacher, and playmate for the few weeks that your kids are off school. It’s harder to send the kids outside to play because the weather isn’t always good, so kids' energy needs to be let out indoors! 

Today, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list of fun and creative winter activities for kids to do over break. 

Whether your kids need to run off energy or nurture their inner artist, we hope there is something on this list for every Birdie, at every age! We also try to round up ideas that include plenty of things your Birdies can do on their own, with just a little setup help from Mom. 

What’s your favorite way to keep the kids entertained? 

12 Fun & Creative Winter Break Activities for Kids

1. Popsicle stick snowflakes 

We love this activity because it can be customized to the things that you already have at home! You simply need popsicle sticks and glue or string. And then to decorate you can use glitter, paint, buttons, and any other crafting supplies left over from the year. These can be an adorable way to decorate your home all winter long. 

Get a full list of supply ideas and easy-to-follow instructions from ABCDeeLearning.com.

2. Adorable egg carton penguins

How cute are these?! Debbie from ‘One Little Project’ shared this winter craft and we instantly fell in love. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Egg Carton
• Black Paint
• White and Orange Paper
• Googly Eyes
• Glue

Make sure to read the full article to see the ones her kids made. (spoiler alert: they’re adorable) 

3. Snow Slime

We know that some parents don’t like slime… and here we are sharing yet another slime activity… But it doesn’t snow where we live! So we thought this snow slime was an adorable way to bring a little of the wintery outdoors to our house. We promise this slime is very easy to make, with little mess. 

All you’ll need is: 

• Liquid Starch
• Elmer’s white school glue 
• Artificial snow for Christmas crafts

For incredibly easy-to-follow instructions, check out this guide from Debbie over at Frugal Fun 4 Boys.

4. Mason jar snow globes

This craft is brought to you by, Hey! Let’s Make Stuff. Cori calls them ‘Calm’ Snowglobes and the idea is that it takes a really long time for the ‘snow’ to settle. When your Birdies need to settle down, you give the mason jar a good shake and watch the snow settle. During that time, they can also settle down. 

For this craft you’ll need:

• Mason Jar with gasket lid
• Clear Elmers Glue
• Snack cup (washed and dry) – optional
• Scissors
• Glue gun + glue sticks 
• Bottlebrush Christmas Tree or other miniatures
• Glitter

This one might be more of a craft for mom this year, but we love the idea of using them as a ‘Calm’ globe and if you have older kids it’s definitely an activity they can participate in! Follow along with Cori’s instructions here. 

Plus they make a really cute bookshelf or mantle decoration and you can pick up mini Christmas trees in everyone’s favorite colors. 

5. Polar bears on ice

Polar bears are a huge symbol of winter and an animal that needs our protection! There is no better way to teach your kids about the importance of protecting our environment and these incredible animals than by recreating them this winter. 

The materials you’ll need for this winter craft are: 

• 2 pieces of white card stock paper
• Watercolors
• Black marker
• Googly eyes
• Glue/Scissors

Follow along with the full instructions from Michelle at Crafty Morning here. 

6. Play in the snow

One of the best ways to get rid of pent-up energy in the winter is by playing in the snow! Bundle up in your warmest clothes and head outside. You’ll definitely need to live somewhere with snow for this winter activity, but if you do, the options become endless! 

Activities you can do in the snow:

• Build a snowman
• Have a snowball fight
• Go sledding 
• Snow paint
• Host a backyard winter-themed Olympics 
• Make glowing snow paint!

7. Make a snow volcano 

Be the coolest mom in town this winter by helping your kids do a snow volcano science experiment! This is another activity that you’ll need snow for, but you could potentially make your own snow through this activity with ice - but we haven’t tried that yet! 

For this winter-themed science experiment you’ll need: 

• Snow
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Dish soap
• Coloring
• Small, thin tubes or bottles 

To make your own snow volcano, follow these steps! 

8. Make snowman paintings (with glue) 

This snowman-themed activity requires no snow and can be done entirely from the comfort (and warmth) of your home. This is a ‘glue-resist’ painting from Artful Parent. We’ve shared crafts from their site before, and we love this activity from Jean. 

To make your own snowman painting you’ll need:

• White glue
• Watercolor paper (or white posterboard/cardstock)
• Small beads, sequins, and/or googly eyes (optional)
• Watercolor paints (either in a palette or liquid watercolors if you have them)
• Salt (optional)

Aren’t they fun? Follow along with the instructions here. 

9. Make tissue paper snowflakes 

Tissue paper snowflakes are a great way to decorate the house and practice your creativity! Plus they’re very easy to make. We recommend saving the tissue paper from Christmas and reusing it making this fun winter craft. To follow along with the instructions (there’s also a video!), click here. 

 

10. Make play dough snowmen 

If you need a super kid-friendly activity this winter, but don’t have any snow to get outdoors and build a snowman with… try making your own indoor snowmen out of playdough! They look pretty cute after all (and they won’t melt in the sunshine!)

The ingredients you’ll need are: 

• 3 cups white flour
• ¾ cups salt
• 3 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or preferred oil)
• 2 ¼ cups boiling water
• Glitter

We found this craft from Stefanie on Mommy’s Musings and luckily for you, she has very easy-to-follow instructions! She also suggests making these as kits for future use or winter holiday parties! 

 

11. Make an igloo out of sugar cubes

Did anyone else do this when they were a kid?! I definitely remember making a sugar cube igloo at my grandmother’s house when I was little. Resurrect this winter tradition by making these igloos with your kids as the perfect winter craft. 

This activity is going to take more setup and assistance from Mom… but the results turn out pretty cool! Dixie Crystals has gathered everything you need with easy-to-follow instructions. Check them out here. 

12. Read winter books 

One of our favorite things to do when it’s cold outside is pay a visit to our local library. This year, check out some books about winter! We love reading with the kids, even when they’re little it’s such an amazing way to spark their imagination and spend quality time together. If you need some inspiration for winter books to read, here are some of our favorites: 

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal
• The Mitten by Jan Brett
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
• Red Sled by Lita Judge
• Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Richard B. Smith, Felix Bernard, and Tim Hopgood

Winter often means spending more time indoors, but that doesn’t have to be exhausting for us moms! There are plenty of ways to release energy, learn something new, or cultivate your child’s inner artist and imagination this winter. 

What’s your favorite winter activity? We always love reading, playing in the snow, putting together sensory bins, and creating crafts that we can decorate the house with! 

And sometimes, you just want to cuddle up with a good book or movie! Get extra cozy this winter in buttery soft bamboo. Shop blankets, pajamas, and cute jackets for cozy winter days. Our bestselling winter and Christmas collections are out now!