Every winter with the kids stuck indoors (or begging to play outside!), I find myself scrambling for easy activities toddlers and preschoolers can do with minimal preparation. Because with three little ones running around, easy play ideas are key to keep your sanity.
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And when I say EASY, I mean easy enough to set-up with the materials we already have around the house — because loading three kids in the car in the winter is a REAL struggle.
So whether the boys want to stay indoors and try some sensory play and painting, or want to burn off energy outdoors, having quick ideas in mind makes life so much more manageable.
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Check out some of our favorite indoor and outdoor winter activities below!
Winter Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers
When it’s just too cold to play outside in the snow, let the kids play with pretend snow for a fun sensory experience!
For kids who love to make a little mess with glitter or salt, this easy icicle craft is great for learning about the cold winter season.
Let your toddlers create a beautiful winter art piece using tape and washable paint.
Practice those fine motor skills while creating a unique art painting using bubbles!
When you need a really, really EASY sensory activity just grab some aluminum foil and watch the kids have a blast learning about the moon phases.
Obstacle course
Let the kids run around the house with a DIY obstacle course. Use some masking tape to create a fun path they can follow; small toys they can hop over and tunnels like this awesome one they can crawl through. So, so much fun!
Let your little ones enjoy some imaginary play with a pillow fort around your couch — they can pretend to be lions and tigers in a cave or explorers hiding out!
Crash Pad
Going stir-crazy? Let the kids jump around on pillows and blankets for an easy crash pad experience.
When the kids need a little more stimulation, grab some bird seeds and peanut butter and help them create simple bird feeders they can hang outside to watch and feed nature’s beautiful creatures.
Get crafting with some toilet paper rolls, glue and colored paper to make these easy rocket ships your kids can entertain themselves with all day.
Running out of ideas for indoor winter activities? Create your own kid gym or play area stocked with balls, slides, swings, and your favorite ride-on toys to really help kids burn off some energy instantly!
Want more indoor activities for kids?
Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.
my favourite activity is making the bird feeders – it’s a great way to connect the outdoor and the inside. You can stay warm watching all the birds come to eat!
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