Winter activities - whatever the weather
Winter can be a tricky time, especially if you’ve got children with lots of energy to burn off. While you can get out of the house, it’s also helpful to have a list of indoor activities for when the weather isn’t cooperating. We’ve put together some indoor and outdoor suggestions for wonderful winter activities.
🌧️ Indoor Activities
Do some baking – Make some cookies or try baking bread.
Family movie night - Snuggle up under a blanket with homemade popcorn and hot chocolate.
Board game or puzzle afternoon - Challenge your family to a board game tournament or work together to do a puzzle. If you have space to leave a puzzle out, you could pick a tricky one and work on it over a few days.
Get crafty – make winter-themed crafts or decorations, or try your hand at painting or drawing.
Build a fort - Use furniture and blankets, and then read stories inside.
Host a family dance party in the living room - It’s a great way to burn off energy if you can’t get outdoors.
Home science experiments - Make slime or create a volcano. You can find lots of simple experiments online like these.
❄️ Outdoor Activities
Nature walks in local reserves – Rug up and look for winter birds or spot some winter plants.
Beach walk – Great on crisp, clear winter days, take in the view and see if you can find some shells
Bike ride – Choose a sunny day and stop for a hot chocolate at a cafe or from your flask.
Go for a puddle jumping walk - Get out your gumboots and head out after the rain to find some puddles to splash in.
Go star gazing – Clear winter skies are ideal, and with it getting dark earlier, you can do this even with younger kids.
Find some snow – If you can get to the snow, have a day of sledging, skiing or snowman building.
Visit a farmer’s market – Many run year-round, and it’s a good way to get fresh air and pick up some goodies.
Get out in the garden – Plant winter veges or bulbs for spring flowers, or build a bird feeder together.
Visit the hot pools – Many regions have natural hot pools for a warm outdoor soak.
🏛️ Places You Can Go
Your local library – Many have storytimes or craft sessions during winter.
Indoor swimming pool - Get in the water for some splashing fun.
Your local museum or art gallery - Look for child-friendly sessions or activities
Indoor trampoline park, climbing wall or ten-pin bowling - Burn off some energy while keeping warm and dry.
Visit a café - If you have smaller kids, look for a café with a good selection of toys or a play area.
Visit a wildlife park or aquarium - If you can find a nice day, you might find you see more animals than during the summer, as the cooler temperatures may encourage activity.
