60+ Indoor & Outdoor Snow Day Activities for Kids
Snow days are the stuff of childhood dreams! A whole day off school to play in the snow sounds great to most kids. But, snow days are not always easy for parents. Many times, parents still have to work or take care of things around the house. While we’re all about getting kids OUTSIDE, we also know that sometimes you also need INDOOR games and activities to do when going outside isn’t possible. Today, we’re sharing 60+ indoor and outdoor screen-free snow day activities for kids! This giant list of ideas is sure to help you beat the boredom of a snow day and give your little ones plenty of fun ways to be active, creative, and play independently off screens.
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Indoor snow day activities for kids
It’s no surprise that we’re hoping your kids get outside and play in the snow on any snow day. This entire website is about getting kids outside and off screens. However, we are also parents and we know that it’s not always possible for kids to be outside all day, every day. So, when they’re in the house, we want to help you with fun screen-free snow day activities to keep them entertained and active. We hope these snow day activities will help inspire you to get creative on your next snow day and be prepared for any “I’m bored” complaint that comes your way!
Image credit: mylittlewildlings.com
1. Hot chocolate bar
What goes better with a cold snow day than hot chocolate?! After spending time outside playing, hot chocolate is the perfect drink to warm you up, head to toe. Get a little creative with your hot chocolate and set up a station for the kids to make their own. Include marshmallows, leftover candy canes, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cinnamon, or whatever else you can find in the pantry!
2. Make an obstacle course
A fun way to make the most of an indoor snow day is to build an obstacle course for the kids. An obstacle course around the house or the basement will provide endless hours of fun and challenge them. Plus, it will help them stay active and test their creativity. We like to set up obstacle courses around our basement with stations, where you have to complete a challenge before moving on. We incorporate furniture, pillows, blankets, cushions, toys and anything else we can find a good use for. The kids have to climb over, under and through the obstacles. Some of the challenges include spinning around 5 times, doing a somersault, doing jumping jacks or pushups, shooting a basket, doing a handstand, hitting a target, or jumping rope.
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
3. Snow ice cream
The perfect snow day is not complete without snow ice cream! With just a few simple ingredients, you can turn ordinary snow into something extraordinarily delicious! Snow ice cream is always a huge crowd pleaser at our house and can be made with things we already have at home. Just take some freshly fallen snow and combine it with milk (or cream). Add a smidge of vanilla and a couple of spoonfuls of sugar. Voila! Top with sprinkles or chocolate sauce for some extra fun!
4. Treasure hunt
Treasure hunts are always a fun idea and a great way to keep the kids occupied and entertained. We like to select one item and then hide it in various places around the house (or within a room) and they have to find it. My kids can play this game over and over and over. You can be involved and give them “hot” or “cold” clues or just let them figure it out on their own. Or, if you want to get really creative, you could hide something and give them a series of clues or draw a map for them to use to find it. Or make it a scavenger hunt and give them a list of items that they need to find to win the game.
Image credit: @dimples.and.the.blonde
5. Board games
If you’re looking for something fun for the entire family, break out a board game (or “bored game” as my kids call them) for a fun family-friendly indoor activity. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a game with an actual board (Candy Land, Life, Monopoly, Shoots & Ladders, Sorry) or just a fun card game (Uno, Exploding Kittens, Apples to Apples, Go Fish, Old Maid). Kids love games, particularly if there’s a prize on the line. Winner gets to pick dessert!
6. Friendship bracelets
Making friendship bracelets was one of my favorite indoor childhood activities. I went through a period of years of making elaborate bracelets for all my friends and family members. It’s something I can’t wait to teach my kids to do (hopefully soon). All you really need is some thread and some patience. Here’s an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to make friendship bracelets with helpful photos, but there are also probably a million resources out there if you have questions or want to get extra creative with your masterpieces.
Image credit: @thimbleandtwig
7. Build an indoor fort
There are very few things my kids love more than a good fort. After years of helping them, they’ve finally become master fort builders themselves and can erect an elaborate fort all the way around the couch (with rooms and secret tunnels) in about an hour. It’s a great way for them to play independently and forces them to get creative. Offer pillows, cushions, sheets, chairs, clips and anything that might help and let them give it a shot. And building the fort is only half the fun. A lot of the time, they’ll play in the fort for the rest of the day!
8. Indoor campout
Who says camping has to be just for outside? If you’ve got the room, set up your tent inside the house and let the kids have an indoor campout. Set up their sleeping bags, add some twinkle lights or a lantern and let their imaginations take them to their favorite camping locations. Have a meal of camping classics like hot dogs, kabobs, or foil packets. Make microwave s’mores! Before hitting the sack, give them flashlights and let them read books or tell ghost stories in the tent. And for bonus points for being the “coolest mom ever,” let them sleep there overnight!
Image credit: hodgepodgedays.co.uk
9. Make butter
If you want to wow your kids, burn some energy and show them a little classic science, making homemade butter will blow their minds! Making homemade butter is so simple (and so delicious) that you may never buy butter again! All you need is some heavy whipping cream and a Mason jar with a lid. Fill the jar about halfway with cream (leave lots of room) and tighten the lid. Now hand it off to your kids and let them take turns shaking the jar as fast and hard as they can. After about 10 minutes you’ll have whipped cream! But keep going! After a few more minutes, you’ll notice when the cream turns solid and you now have butter! Keep shaking until the butter is solid and separated from the buttermilk. It’s that easy! If you want to get extra fancy, add some special ingredients to make flavored butter (garlic/herbs, cinnamon sugar, honey, etc.). Serve with fresh bread, blueberry muffins, pumpkin bread, or English muffins.
10. Marshmallow tower
Building marshmallow towers can be a really fun indoor snow day activity for any kid or an effective team-building activity for siblings. All you need is a bag of marshmallows and some spaghetti and then let the kids get creative. They have to stick the spaghetti into the marshmallows to create a tower that won’t topple over. Make it more interesting by setting a timer and challenging your kids to make the tallest tower.
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
11. Decorate with snowflakes
Bring a little of the winter wonderland magic indoors by cutting out and decorating your own snowflakes. There are so many possible ways to make snowflakes with paper and scissors. I like to show the kids once how to do this by folding the paper in some random weird way and cutting out various shapes along the folds. I’m always surprised by what it looks like when I open it up! Then I let them take over and do it their way. If you want inspiration, this post includes a great visual on how to fold the paper and make the cuts for different (and beautiful) designs. You could also use coffee filters and decorate them with watercolor paints or markers for colorful snowflakes!
12. Photobooth
Want some adorable photos from your snow day to help document and remember the fun and madness? Take some silly photos in a photo booth! Setting up a photo booth is really simple. You can use your camera, but you can also just set up your phone or an iPad for the kids to use. If you have a tripod or a stand, that’s great, but you can also use books or binder clips to prop it up. Have the kids get fancy in dress-up clothes or break out old Halloween costumes. Let them play with costume jewelry or silly accessories (sunglasses, hats, scarves, etc.). The photos will be worth the mess!
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
13. Slime
Making slime is totally the “cool mom” thing to do with kids these days! My kids are obsessed with slime and ask to make it on the daily. Very rarely do I agree (I’m obviously not the cool mom), but when we do make slime, it’s hours of entertainment. We like this easy slime recipe: 6 oz (1 bottle) of Elmer’s Glue, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1.5 tablespoons of contact lens solution, and some water. Pour the glue into a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and mix in thoroughly. Next, add up to 1/4 cup of water if you want stretchy slime. Slowly add the contact lens solution (a little at a time) as you knead the slime. Keep kneading until you get the consistency you want, it may take a while (and you may not need all the solution). Add glitter or food coloring if you want to get fancy!
14. Balloon tennis
Another fun, active and easy indoor snow day activity for kids is to play balloon tennis. For this, all you need is a balloon (for the ball) and a couple of frisbees or even paper plates (to be the rackets). Make a line for the court and let the kids try volleying the balloon back and forth without touching the ground.
Image credit: @thimbleandtwig
15. Minute to win it games
Kids love a challenge and they love watching their parents be silly. Minute to win it games are a great family bonding experience when you’re stuck inside on a snow day. Most of these games can be played with stuff found around the house and are easy to set up. There are tons of ways to adapt the game for the various ages and skill levels of your children. Here’s a great list of family minute to win it games. A few of our favorites are cookie face, penny towers, noodle pickup and pantyhose bowling. Be prepared for LOTS of laughter with these!
16. Snow play dough or DIY snow
White playdough is surprisingly easy to make and so much fun for kids! All you need is 2 cups of corn starch and 1 1/4 cup of unscented white hand lotion or conditioner. Mix them together in a bowl and you’ve got a moisturizing dough that’s fun to mold. Add some silver glitter if you really want to get fancy. Have your kids make indoor snowmen and decorate them with items they find around the house (buttons, sequins, ribbon, etc.). Kids love this fully hands-on sensory activity.
Or, you can also make your own sensory bin of DIY snow. We’ve got a great post with three DIY snow recipes to make with your kids from ingredients you already have at home!
Image credit: refinedprose.com
17. Story stones
Story stones help build imagination and storytelling skills. By using the stone with a picture on it, children can create a story or retell an adventure. Story stones are easy to make and would be a perfect indoor snow day activity for kids. There are a variety of story-telling games you can play. If you have a group, place all the stones in a bag and let each child pick a stone, then go around the circle and have each child build on the story by adding something about the stone they picked. We love these graphics and story prompts from Little Pine Learners, which allow your kids to be part of the process, from creation to story.
18. Animal charades
A game of animal charades is such a fun way to get kids moving and using their imagination! Kids of all ages like pretending and even little kids know animal sounds and characteristics. Usually, charades is played silently, without using words or sounds, but you can always adapt the game depending on the age of the kids and their charade skill level. Toddlers and preschoolers may really enjoy making the animal sounds! Here’s a great free animal charades printable that you can use to help you choose the animals.
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
19. Puppet show
Another fun indoor activity to do with kids is to put on a puppet show! You can make puppets with materials from your recycling bin. Or, you could make sock puppets from all those single socks you have lying around! Or you could use stuffed animals and dolls you already have at home. Help the kids come up with an idea for what the show will be about and then let their creativity shine! This is also an amazing activity to share with family and friends on FaceTime or other video chatting app. You don’t have to leave your house and you can bring some joy to others in isolation from a safe distance!
20. Make sugar cookies
Most kids absolutely love helping out in the kitchen. Especially so if they’re making sweet treats. If you want to have a little fun in the kitchen on a snow day, how about making a batch of sugar cookies. We love this delicious sugar cookie recipe that doesn’t require any rolling out or cookie cutters (although, those are fun, too). Double the batch and make extras for the neighbors!
If cookies aren’t your thing, here are a whole bunch of other tried-and-true great recipes to make with kids from our Creative Team.
Image credit: @thimbleandtwig
21. Spa day
I think we could all use a little extra pampering and self-care these days, even kids. If you’re stuck inside during bad weather or need a fun indoor snow day activity, consider having a spa day with your kids. Start with a warm luxurious bubble bath. Use all the fancy bubbles and soaps. When you get out, put on a robe and wrap your hair in a towel. Move on from there to a facial. You can make a natural face mask out of avocado, oatmeal, or honey. You may also use one you already have at home. Cut up some cucumbers they can use while their masks set to help rest their tired eyes. Next up, manicures and pedicures. Let the kids pick their nail colors and get as creative as they want.
22. Ghost mud
If snow’s not your thing, how about mud? Clean mud! To make ghost mud, all you need is a bar of Ivory soap, a roll of toilet paper, and a cup of warm water. Let your kids have fun removing all the toilet paper from the roll. This is a great indoor activity in and of itself! Gather it up and put it in a large container. Then add the soap – you can either grate it or do the soap explosion experiment where you microwave it! Then add the warm water and have the kids work the mush into mud! Check out this post for the full ghost mud tutorial.
Image credit: @brandimarkham
23. Indoor picnic or tea party
Make mealtime a little more fun on a snow day by having an indoor picnic or an indoor tea party. Move some furniture out of the way and spread out a blanket or a tablecloth on the floor. Give the kids fun picnic-like finger foods and snacks like fruit kabobs, sandwiches, chips, and lemonade. Let them help in the process and have a say in what they make. Set everything up with paper plates for easy clean-up. Turn on some music and have a relaxing meal. Just make sure to put lids on drinks!
24. Make taffy
Did you ever make taffy as a kid? My cousins and I used to make taffy every summer and loved it! It can be a little messy, but it’s super fun and your kids will love how interactive and involved the process is. There’s a lot of taffy pulling, kneading, and stretching involved, so little ones can get some energy out while they make it. Here’s a great kid-friendly taffy recipe and a step-by-step tutorial on how to make taffy with kids.
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
25. Fashion show
My daughter loves any excuse to raid my closet and try on all my shoes and jewelry. And all the kids love costumes. Give the kids permission to play dress-up by having them put on a fashion show. Let them select their own outfits and do their own hair (and make-up, if you’re feeling extra brave). Then let them walk the runway to fun music fanfare and applause. Grab your camera and play the part of paparazzi to your little supermodels.
26. Indoor snowball fight
If you’re not able to get outside for a “real” snowball fight, you can safely bring it inside! You can purchase soft indoor snowballs or just do it the old-fashioned way by using balled-up socks. Divide up into teams and dump half of the snowballs on each side of the room. Instruct the teams that the goal is to have the least number of snowballs in your area at the end of 5 minutes. Snowballs can only be thrown, not kicked and they can only throw one at a time. Then let them go wild!
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
27. Make bird feeders
There are TONS of ways to DIY a bird feeder using eco-friendly and recycled materials. We’ve made bird feeders using recycled toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, orange peels, twine, pine cones and sweet gum balls! A really easy way is to coat your materials in peanut butter and then dip in birdseed. We have a great post on making ec0-friendly bird feeders with kids using materials you already have at home! When you’re ready to venture out into the snow, the birds are going to be especially grateful for the treats!
Image credit: @brandimarkham
28. Racecar track with tape
I’ve always been impressed with how many things I can do with a roll of tape! If you’ve got a few rolls of masking tape lying around, you’re in for hours of fun. We love this idea to create a race track using masking tape for your cars around the house or around a room. Not only will it be fun to come up with the course, obstacles, and challenges, but then racing the cars will be a blast!
Image credit: @thimbleandtwig
29. Read a book
In my opinion, nothing sounds better to me on a cold snowy day than snuggling under a blanket and reading a good book. You don’t need any kind of fancy reading nook or window seat (although that sounds nice). A couch, oversized chair or bed will work fine. Snuggle up together and read something exciting together with the kids. Even if your kids are old enough to read on their own, they love being read to. So, grab a book (here are some great read-aloud book ideas) and dive in!
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
30. Dance party
Crank up the music and dance the winter blues away! If you’re stuck inside on a snow day, a dance party is a great way to have some fun, burn some energy, and show off your smooth moves. Let all the kids have a turn choosing the songs or let your system shuffle music from your favorites. Make it extra fun by adding some instruments (even fake/imaginary ones like an air guitar) or costumes.
Outdoor snow day activities for kids
Playing in the snow is so much fun! It provides a fabulous sensory experience for all those who are lucky enough to enjoy it. We’re all about getting kids outside, no matter the weather. We hope that you’ll send your kids outside to play in the snow as much as possible on their next snow day. And if they’re in need of some fun snow day activities and ideas, we’ve got tons! This list should help you get through an entire winter of snow days!
Image credit: @roaminggonzalez
31. Sledding
Sledding has become a beloved winter activity for our family. Especially as my kids get older, they really love the speed and thrill of how much fun they can have on an otherwise normal hill. However, as with every fun activity, especially when children are involved, it’s important to be safe, as well as have fun. Find a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom so there is a place to glide to a stop. Avoid hills that end near a street or parking lot or near ponds, trees, fences, or other hazards. And don’t underestimate the fun of even a small hill. As kids get older, they may want a bigger and longer hill for sledding, but don’t be afraid to start small and see how it goes. My kids can have hours of fun on the tiniest of hills!
Photo credit: @this_gr8_kozi_life_
32. Snowman building
Building a snowman is a classic wintertime childhood activity that is a blast for kids of all ages. Give your snowman the perfect proportions by aiming for a 3-2-1 snowball ratio (for example, if the lowest ball has a diameter of three feet, the middle ball would be two feet, and the top ball would be one foot). Also consider that the lower to the ground your snowman is, the more stable he will be.
Just because building a snowman is a classic activity doesn’t mean you can’t use nontraditional decorations. Let your kids give your snowman (or snowwoman) some personality. Give him a funky cap or an ugly Christmas sweater. Give her a grass skirt and Hawaiian shirt to wear. And no one said your snowman had to be a man. Make a snowwoman, a snowdog or snowcat, a snowtiger, or an entire snowfamily! Add some extra fun with snow paint (food coloring and water in a squirt bottle) to give your snow character clothes or stripes or just have some extra fun.
33. Snow maze
If you have a large wide-open space with nice untouched snow, consider making a snow maze for the kids. You can shovel the maze out, or just walk through to pack down the snow in lines, with turns, dead-ends, and loops. Depending on the ages of your kids, you may want to make it harder or easier to find their way through the maze. Kids will love trying to figure out where to go and how to get through with the fastest time.
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
34. Snowball fight
Snowball fights are such a fun way to get the kids outside, active and burning through some of that snow day energy. Older kids tend to do better with snowball fights, but even little kids love making and throwing snowballs. Snowball fights are usually about nailing a member of the other team with a snowball, so make sure to talk to the kids about proper snowball fight etiquette (no throwing at the face, no ice or rocks in snowballs, etc.). If you don’t want to throw them at each other, you could have a competition to see who can throw them the farthest or who can make the most snowballs the fastest.
35. Look for animal tracks
Winter is a great time to head out to the woods (or even your local park) and see if you can find animal tracks. Fresh snow is great for showing tracks of various woodland animals. Examples include rabbits, foxes, deer, and squirrels. Make it a game and see who can spot the most tracks, the biggest, the smallest and the most exotic. Try to guess what animal made them, where they were going and what they were doing. Don’t recognize the tracks? Take photos of the tracks and look them up when you get home to see what animal made them.
36. Snowball target practice
My kids love to use snowballs for target practice! Set up or choose a target and see who can get closest to the bullseye with snowballs. You can do this horizontally (place a target on a wall or choose a location on a tree to throw at) or vertically (set a bucket or item on the ground and throw the snowballs up into the air to see if you can get them to land in the bucket).
37. Ice experiments
Turning water into ice sounds simple enough, but in the winter, it’s a great educational science experiment. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celcius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Use your snow day to get in a science experiment by challenging your kids to see how long it takes water to freeze into ice. Try freezing water in various locations around your yard or neighborhood to see if that makes a difference. What about using different containers? On a super cold day, we’ve heard of people throwing a cup of water into the air and watching it freeze instantly!
Image credit: @ladybirdsadventures
38. Snow painting
Add some color to your snowy landscape with snow paint. All you need is water and food coloring. Put it in a spray bottle and let the kids turn the snow colors and make designs. You can also give them a paintbrush and let them color snowballs or paint pictures in the snow.
39. Ice lanterns
Ice lanterns are made by using molds to freeze ice into candle holders. You can put them outside to light your walkway, or on your front porch to welcome guests. If you add a handle, you could even take them on a night walk/hike around the neighborhood. Our friends over at Take Them Outside have a great tutorial on how to make ice lanterns with kids.
Image credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com
40. Ice globes
Add some magic and fun to your outdoor snowy space by making colored ice globes. All you need to do is add a few drops of food coloring to the water in a water balloon and let them freeze (either outside or in the freezer). Once frozen, pop the balloon, and you’re left with a beautiful ice globe in your color of choice. Take them outside to decorate or play with.
41. Snow cakes for the animals
Everyone loves cake…even animals! But while deer, squirrels and birds probably shouldn’t be eating cakes made from sugar and flour, they can eat cakes made of snow, fruits, and veggies for the animals! Head out to a field or choose a spot near the woods where animals will be sure to find it. Use the snow to make a big cake on the ground and decorate it with birdseed, carrots, apples, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables. The animals will be grateful for your generosity.
42. Frozen suncatchers
Suncatchers made from ice are not only beautiful but super easy to make! Spend some time outside gathering natural items to use in your suncatchers. The more colorful the better. Examples: branches, berries, twigs, flowers, buds, and leaves. Lay out a plastic lid, paper plate, cups, muffin tin, pie plate or silicone mold to use as the mold for your suncatcher. Fill the mold with water and add your natural elements to the water in any design of your choosing. Leave outside for a few hours or overnight to freeze. Gently remove the ice suncatcher from the mold and hang it from a tree branch or window sill. Pro tip: Rumor has it that if you want your ice to be crystal clear, boil the water first! For a full tutorial, check out our post on how to make frozen ice suncatchers.
Image credit: @stephanie.b.collins
43. Winter mandala
In its simplest form, a mandala is a circular structure with a design that radiates out symmetrically from the center. There is no right or wrong way to make one which is why it is such a wonderful way to engage children to make their own mandalas using items they find in nature. Go for a walk or hike and collect items to use in your winter mandala. Choose a location to start making it directly on the ground, with a snowy white background. Let the children’s imaginations create something beautiful! This is a great time to discuss symmetry and shapes, but don’t push them too hard to stick to any hard and fast rules. Creativity wins the day. We’ve got a great post on making nature mandalas with kids if you want to read more about this fun activity.
44. DIY yeti tracks
After you’ve found animal tracks in the snow, why not have some fun creating some of your own! Use heavy cardboard to create oversized yeti footprints. Cut the feet out and attach them to the bottoms of your kids’ snow boots. Head outside and let them create their own yeti tracks in the snow. Create a trail around the yard or neighborhood for others to track. Your kids might be surprised by how they can seem to walk on top of the snow. With a larger surface area, they will sink less, giving walking on snow a whole new feel.
Image credit: @roaminggonzalez
45. Build a snow fort/igloo
There are so many fun things you can do in the snow, but building a fort has to be up there at the very top of awesome winter outdoor activities! Last year my kids built an amazing igloo (with dad’s help) that they played in for hours and hours over the course of a few weeks (until it melted). They were so incredibly proud of their igloo and had so much fun building it! Always be extra careful not to make it too heavy on top, and make sure kids have proper adult supervision.
Image credit: @coleyraeh
46. Maple candy
Have you ever tried or made maple candy? All you need to make this delicious treat is some pure maple syrup and snow! You’ll need to help your little ones, though, as you first have to heat the syrup before pouring it hot into the snow to solidify. Grown-up supervision is a must. For the full set of directions, check out this awesome maple syrup snow candy post from our friends at Little Bins for Little Hands.
Image credit: @sage.and.summit
47. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is essentially winter hiking over the snow. You need special snowshoes to do this, but they’re not expensive and can even be rented very cheaply in many places. Snowshoeing is a great way to get the whole family outside together for fresh air and exercise. We’ve got a great beginner’s guide to snowshoeing with kids to help you get started with this fun family snow day activity.
Photo credit: @the.meadow.house
48. Ice skating
A snow day is the perfect time to try ice skating – particularly at an outdoor rink. There’s something magical about skating outside when it’s frosty cold. Most rinks have rental skates for kids as young as two, along with buckets or rails for little kids to hold onto. If your kids are little, we also recommend wearing a bike helmet and super thick gloves to protect kids’ heads and fingers.
Image credit: @thereluctantexplorers
49. Freezing bubbles
Blowing a bubble and watching it turn to ice is such a fascinating activity. If it’s super cold outside (below freezing), try making frozen bubbles! This is a great science experiment for kids in freezing temperatures. It might take a few different attempts to get a bubble to freeze, depending on time, sunlight, what the bubble lands on and bubble solution. Check out our full post on making frozen bubbles, which has tips and a great homemade solution that works! You may want to chill the bubble solution in the fridge or freezer before using it outside, to help with the freezing process. And if your breath is too warm, try waving the wand to make the bubbles instead.
50. Frozen clothes
Freezing and posing clothing seems to be all the rage right now! It’s such a simple and silly way to have some fun with your kids. All you need to do is soak some clothing in water and then set outside to freeze. Then, reshape the clothing to look like it’s being worn and stand it up in the yard! Set up a whole scene and astonish the neighbors!
Image credit: @destinationmommy
51. Snow tic-tac-toe
Playing tic-tac-toe outside in the winter is so much fun for kids. There are a variety of ways you can set up a game outdoors. Use 4 large sticks to create a board on the snowy ground and then use colored water in spray bottles to designate your X or O marking. Or use pinecones, leaves or rocks for Os and 2 sticks to make Xs.
52. Eat an icicle
Icicles are nature-made popsicles, just hanging there ready for a lick! Let kids be kids and give them the chance to taste an icicle this winter. The next time you have a snow day, go on a hunt for icicles. Be careful getting them down, as they can be very sharp. For extra awesomeness, dip it in sugar!
Image credit: @ashleeboonephotography
53. Snow day picnic
When it’s warm outside, we practically eat every meal outdoors on our back patio. Why should winter stop us from enjoying delicious food with a side of fresh air and snow? Use your snow day to spend a little extra time outside and host a winter picnic for your kids. We recommend serving warm and savory non-messy and easy-to-eat foods, if possible. Fill a thermos with vegetable soup, chicken noodle soup, chili, stew, lentil soup, ramen, or macaroni & cheese. If you’re not using your thermos for food, use it for drinks like hot chocolate, hot tea, or warm apple cider. If you don’t feel like taking a whole meal outside, let them eat a special treat outside like donuts or cookies.
54. Snow angels
Making snow angels is a quintessential snow day childhood outdoor activity. This activity needs no real explanation or instruction, but there are a few things you can do to make it more fun for kids. After the kids make the snow angel, let them decorate them! It’s really funny to see hollow snow angels on the ground with pinecones for eyes, sticks for hair, and a red berry mouth!
Image credit: @thevacationcastleguy
55. Snow castles
Sandcastles are all the rage in the summer, but building snow castles on a snow day can be just as much fun! Get out your sandcastle-building equipment (cups, bowls, shovels, etc.) and do the same in the snow! Create elaborate castles with moats and leaf flags. Bring out the army men, Barbies, or characters and make an entire town. Add some colored water to give it a whole new look! There are so many fun things to build in the snow.
Image credit: @stephanieruff.lifestories
56. Study snowflakes
There’s nothing more magical in the wintertime than snowflakes! If you’ve ever seen photos of individual snowflakes up close, you know just how truly miraculous and incredible they are. Take some time this winter to study snowflakes with your kids. Talk about how snowflakes are formed, how/why they’re similar, but all unique. Use a piece of black felt to try to catch falling snowflakes to observe and see if you can even photograph them.
Image credit: @destinationmommy
57. Snow kitchen
Snow day activities should be fun and creative. Make good use of that mud kitchen in the winter by using it as a snow kitchen! Let your kids play with some mixing bowls, utensils, and pie pans to make all kinds of snow delicacies. Snow cakes and snow pies, sundaes, and snowshakes. Let the kids decorate their creations with twigs, leaves, and pebbles (or whatever natural materials they can find outside).
Image credit: @sara_mccarty
58. Acts of kindness
Snow day activities are a great time to consider doing some acts of kindness for others, particularly those that can’t get around well outside in the snow and ice. If you have kids old enough to help, shovel the sidewalk or driveway of an elderly neighbor or new parents. Salt local walkways or paths. Scrape off windshields or help clear paths for delivery drivers. They’re all guaranteed to appreciate the kindness.
Want more ideas? Here are 20+ ways to be kind to nature and outdoor acts of kindness for kids.
59. Outdoor hot chocolate stand
You’ve heard of lemonade stands in the summer, so why not a hot chocolate stand in the winter? This is one of our most clever snow day activities for kids. Get your kids into the entrepreneurial spirit by letting them set up and host a hot chocolate stand. There probably won’t be a lot of traffic out and about on a snow day, so invite nearby friends and neighbors to participate. This type of activity is great for teaching kids about hard work, customer service, counting money, etc.
60. Ice bricks
Most educational resources will tell you how important it is for kids to learn how to play with simple blocks and stacking bricks. We definitely agree, but we want to put our own twist on it by taking it outside! And in the winter, why not make ice bricks for building for an even more enjoyable experience. All you need to do for this snow day activity is freeze water in various size containers. Make small blocks using ice cube trays and larger ones using Tupperware. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water to make colored ice blocks. Pop them all out of their containers on the ice-cold sidewalk and let the kids get creative!
61. Ice bowling
Keep your kids outside and occupied for hours with ice bowling! All you need are 10 water bottles and a balloon. Fill all the water bottles with colored water and place them outside or in the freezer to freeze solid. Leave room at the top or leave the lid off to give the water room to expand as it freezes so it doesn’t distort the bottom of the bottle, keeping them from standing upright on a flat surface. Fill a round balloon with water and freeze to make a round bowing ice ball. Once it’s all frozen solid, take outside and set up a bowling lane! The bottles are the pins and the ice water balloon is the ball. Teach your kids how to keep score and it becomes an educational math activity as well!
Image credit: typicalmummy.co.uk
62. Snow tree faces
You may have heard of making mud faces on trees…this is same, but only with snow! For this fun snow day activity, all you have to do is pack some snow on the side of a tree trunk and then mold it into a funny face. You can add rocks, leaves, sticks or berries to make facial features.
Image credit: @my.homespun.life
63. Outdoor hot tub
Who says you can’t swim outside in the winter?! If you have the opportunity, let your kids experience the fun of “swimming” (or soaking) in an outdoor hot tub on your next snow day. Hot tubing is a great snow day activity for kids. There’s something really special about being enveloped in warm water while it’s snowy and cold outside. The contrast is invigorating! You don’t need an actual hot tub, you can make your own! Fill a big bucket, tub, or kiddie pool with warm water and let the littles soak. But as always, use caution and adult supervision. Kids shouldn’t spend very much time in hot tubs at the risk of overheating their small bodies.
Photo credit: @maakitude
64. Skiing/snowboarding
Take advantage of the fresh powder and hit the slopes on a snow day. Skiing and snowboarding with kids is incredibly exhausting, but so much fun! Pack up your gear and head for the hills to take advantage of all the fun the winter has to offer. If your kids are new to skiing, we highly recommend you read our beginner’s guide to downhill skiing with kids. Or get the kids a lesson or ski school before hitting the slopes. Instructors are usually really great with kids and teach them in a way that’s fun and easy to understand. Once they’ve gotten the hang of it, they can show off their new skills with you.
About the author
Barn cats
Summer on the farm
Hi, I’m Leslie Alvis! I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, wife to my high school sweetheart, and mom to four rascally kids. They love the outdoors as much as I do, and our yard often feels like the scene from “The Sound of Music” where you hear voices and laughter and can’t find any children until you look up into the trees. I love writing, photography, and all things outdoors, and do pretty much everything with my kids tagging along. We live in Northeast Ohio on the edge of Amish Country, where it’s perfectly normal to park beside a horse and buggy at the grocery store.
About the author