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Between the cumulative headaches of virtual schooling while working, kids sick of being cooped up after almost an entire year stuck inside, and the lack of sunlight, winter is enough to drive even the most patient parent to the brink.
Don’t worry — here are some winter family activities that will not only be free of screens, they'll also tire your kids out. And maybe, they’ll even have fun and learn something.
CDC holiday recommendations: winter safety tips
Keep in mind, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends people avoid participating in activities with people they don’t live with to keep loved ones and communities healthy and safe from COVID-19 and the flu.
If you and your children head outside, remember to wear properly fitted masks, maintain correct social distancing and avoid gathering with people from outside your own household. Plus, it’s flu season so Dr. Steph Lee, pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, advises getting your children vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible.
“Children can start getting the flu vaccine once they’re 6 months old,” Dr. Lee told Mom.com. “The flu vaccine is important to either prevent catching the disease or to make recovery a breeze if you do happen to get sick later in the year.”
Bake with kids and do other fun winter indoor activities
There’s something about cold weather that makes baking, sipping hot cocoa, and other cozy indoor activities all the more appealing. Thankfully, that’s one thing the pandemic can’t ruin, right? Here are nine activities you can do safely with your family this winter:
1. Bake with kids
Whether you’re baking family favorites or trying new recipes, not only is this a great way to build memories with your children involving all your senses, you get to eat the final product! Plus, your house will smell amazing.
2. Play board games
Release your inner geek, pour some hot cocoa (with marshmallows), start up the fire, and gather around with your children to work through your stack of board games. “We're sitting by the fire and drinking our respective body weights in tea and chocolate,” entrepreneur Lizz Porter told Mom.com. “We’re playing lots of board games and getting more for Christmas!”
3. Winter crafts for kids
Bring out the gingerbread houses, salted dough for handprint ornaments, coloring books, holiday kits for kids, construction paper, scissors, glue, and all your crafty accoutrements. Let your kids gorge on all the craft supplies you’ve been hoarding and let them craft to their hearts’ content.
4. Read together as a family
Take turns reading out loud a classic like A Wrinkle in Time or a newer book like The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta — or retreat into your individual reading spots and read alone together. You can also set up FaceTime reading dates with grandparents like teacher Marissa Kalan Gillette did for her son. “So far they've read The Hobbit and the first three Harry Potter books together and are halfway through the fourth,” Gillette told Mom.com.
Snow play, winter sports for kids, and safe outdoor winter activities kids will love
Of course, sometimes, your kids just need to go outside for some winter family fun. Here are some activities that might require a bit of adjustment in terms of wearing masks and maintaining proper social distance — but in general, should be OK for your family to enjoy.
5. Camp in your backyard
As long as you have weather-appropriate gear, take advantage of your own backyard and set up camp for your kids. Don’t want to pitch a tent in the cold? “We make s’mores in the backyard over the fire pit,” mom of two Elizabeth Chan told us. The best part? No camping fees.
6. Play in the snow
One of the main benefits of living somewhere with snow is all the snow-related activities your kids can do. Build a snowman, collect icicles, build a snow fort, or start a snowball fight. The possibilities are endless. “We will sled and snowboard in the pasture,” shared farmer Michelle Newby, “and do ‘sleigh rides’ using the four-wheeler to pull the kids on sleds.”
7. Winter sports
Do you have access to an outdoor ice rink or skiing? Call ahead to make an appointment and to familiarize yourself with the facility's COVID-19 safety practices — especially for any equipment you may need to rent for your children.
8. Winter drive-thru: check out winter lights displays
Look up the local neighborhoods or zoos with drive-thru light installations. Pack your car with the kids, hot drinks, blankets, and holiday music and enjoy the pretty sights in the warmth of your vehicle.
9. Plant a garden
As long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can plant vegetables like onions, shallots, peas, asparagus, and spinach with your children. Or, if you’re more of a flower person, you can plant flowers that bloom in winter such as calendulas, pansies, and winter jasmine.
