Winter blues? Let’s turn cold days into cozy, screen-free fun.
When winter weather keeps everyone indoors, it can be tempting to lean on screens to pass the time. While family movie nights are an easy win, some of the most magical winter memories are made when unplugged. From hands-on crafts to silly indoor games, these screen-free winter activities for kids are designed to encourage connection, spark creativity, and make winter days feel a whole lot more fun.
Top 10 Screen-Free Winter Activities
1. Create Your Own Puzzle: Let creativity take the lead with our DIY Puzzle Printable. Kids can draw, color, and add stickers to design their own puzzle using our template, then cut it out and put it back together. It’s part art project, part brain game, and fun for a wide range of ages.
2. W.I.N.T.E.R. Scavenger Hunt: Turn an ordinary day into a playful challenge by finding items that start with each letter in “W-I-N-T-E-R”. This works just as well indoors as it does outside on a bundled-up winter walk. For an extra challenge, limit finds to nouns only, or make it more open-ended by allowing descriptive words too.
3. Blanket Fort Book Time: Few things feel more magical than a blanket fort on a winter afternoon, especially when snacks are involved. Use chairs, tables, and pillows to build a cozy hideaway, grab a stack of books, and settle in. Frozen freezies make an easy, mess-free treat that feels extra special.
4. Winter Activity Sheet: Keep little hands (and brains) busy with our Winter Magic Activity Sheet, it’s packed with puzzles and games with counting and coloring moments. Perfect for those inevitable “I’m bored” moments, and easy to pull out whenever you need a quick win.
5. Letters to Future You: Create a quiet, meaningful moment by writing letters to your future selves. Put on soft music, then jot down hopes, memories, or predictions for the year ahead. Then seal them up to read on New Year’s Eve later this year.
6. Cornstarch Clay Strawberries: This craft uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand and a bit of patience. After shaping the berries, let them air-dry overnight, then paint once they’ve set - watch how to make them here. They’re adorable, hands-on, and a sweet way to celebrate National Strawberry Day on February 27.
7. Freezing Bubbles: On extra cold days, take science outside. Make a homemade bubble solution with sugar, water, and dish soap and watch bubbles freeze before your eyes. For best results, the temperature outside should be at least 14°F or -10°C, so don’t forget to bundle up! Get the full recipe here.
8. DIY Unicorn Koozies: These felt unicorn koozies are as cute as they are practical. Kids can help decorate them, then use them to keep little hands warm with their favorite freezies. Check out our step-by-step guide and supply list here.
9. Nature Texture Hunt: Looking for a quick activity to add to winter walks outside? Give kids a short list of textures to find, like something smooth, soft, hard, or bumpy. It encourages curiosity, observation, and a deeper connection to the outdoors, even in colder months.
10. Sock Skate Races: Turn slippery socks into the main event. Clear a hallway or open space and race from one end to the other, fuzzy socks work best for this. Remove any tripping hazards or breakables first, then for an added challenge, set up pillows or stuffed animals as obstacles to glide around. It’s silly, active, and surprisingly tiring.
Winter days don’t have to feel long or boring. With a little creativity and a lot of imagination, screen-free fun is closer than you think. If you’re looking for more ways to keep kids entertained, especially for days when they’re feeling under the weather and stuck inside, check out our Top 10 Activities to Keep Sick Kids Smiling.
