25 Outdoor Winter Activities For Kids To Stay Fit When It Is Cold

Winter is a fantastic season to engage in outdoor activities with your kids. The fresh air, snowy landscapes, and the opportunity for physical activity make it a perfect time to explore the great outdoors.

Outdoor Winter Activities For Kids

Bundling up and braving the cold can be tough, but playing in the snow can be a blast, especially when you have some exciting outdoor activities to do. So, get those winter jackets, hats and mittens on and let’s jump into 25 awesome outdoor winter activities for kids!

1. Build a Snowman Family

Bring your creativity to life by building a lovable snowman family in your backyard. Roll up snowballs of different sizes and stack them to create a mom, dad, and kids. Use sticks, rocks, and even clothes to give them personality. Don't forget the carrot noses and button eyes for extra charm!

2. Go Ice Skating

Head to the nearest ice rink or find a frozen pond and enjoy a day of ice skating with your kids. Lace up your skates, hold hands, and glide together in the crisp winter air. It's a fantastic way to build confidence, improve balance, and have a blast while embracing the winter chill.

3. Craft Colorful Ice Lanterns

Create magical ice lanterns with your little artists. Fill a plastic container halfway with water, add colorful decorations like berries, flowers, or leaves, and freeze it overnight. Remove the ice block from the container and place a tea light or LED candle inside. Watch as the winter glow illuminates your creations.

4. Have a Winter Picnic

Pack a blanket, some delicious snacks, and thermoses filled with hot soup or cocoa, and have a cozy winter picnic outside. Find a scenic spot, spread your picnic blanket on the snow, and enjoy the snowy surroundings while indulging in yummy treats. It's a delightful twist on the traditional picnic experience!

5. Explore Animal Tracks in the Snow

Bundle up and go on a nature adventure to observe animal tracks in the freshly fallen snow. Look for footprints left by birds, squirrels, rabbits, or even larger animals like deer. Use a field guide or smartphone app to identify the tracks and learn more about the wildlife in your area.

6. Create DIY Snow Paint

Mix water and food coloring in spray bottles to create your own snow paint. Take your little artists outside and let them unleash their creativity by painting designs, pictures, and even colorful snowball targets on the white canvas of snow. It's a vibrant and mess-free way to enjoy the winter landscape.

7. Build an Epic Snow Fort

Challenge your kids to build the ultimate snow fort using shovels, buckets, and snowballs. Create walls, towers, and secret passageways in your snowy fortress. Don't forget to decorate with snow sculptures and flags. Once it's complete, host a friendly snowball battle or simply enjoy the cozy space.

8. Host a Winter Olympics in Your Backyard

Embrace the Olympic spirit by organizing a Winter Olympics right in your backyard. Set up fun snow-themed events like a sled race, snowball toss, or skiing through an obstacle course. Award medals and create a festive atmosphere that gets the whole family involved in friendly competition.

9. Build Snow Art Sculptures

Encourage your little artists to create snow sculptures using tools like spoons, forks, or even toothpicks. Sculpt animals, castles, or abstract designs in the snow using various techniques. Add food coloring, spray bottles, or even natural materials like twigs and pinecones to make your sculptures truly unique.

10. Make Snow Angels

Relive the timeless joy of making snow angels with your kids. Find a clear patch of undisturbed snow, spread your arms and legs wide, and gently lower yourself onto the snowy canvas. Then, carefully rise and admire the beautiful angelic impressions left behind. It's a simple and whimsical winter activity!

11. Have a Family Movie Night with Snow-themed Films

Gather the family, snuggle up with blankets, and have a cozy movie night featuring snow-themed films like "Frozen," "The Chronicles of Narnia," or "Ice Age." Prepare some delicious popcorn, hot chocolate, or snowflake-shaped cookies for a cinematic experience filled with winter magic.

12. Host a Winter-themed Scavenger Hunt

Create a winter-themed scavenger hunt for your little explorers. Hide clues or objects related to winter elements like snowflakes, mittens, or sleds. Let them follow the trail and solve riddles to find the hidden treasures, encouraging them to use their observation and problem-solving skills.

13. Make Hot Chocolate from Scratch

Indulge in a warm and comforting treat by making hot chocolate from scratch with your kids. Heat milk or water on the stove, add cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, and your preferred sweetener. Stir until it's smooth and creamy. Top it with whipped cream, marshmallows, or a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Enjoy the rich taste and cozy warmth!

14. Have a Winter Campout in the Living Room

Set up a cozy winter campout in your living room. Create a fort with blankets and pillows, and lay out sleeping bags or blankets on the floor. Tell stories by flashlight, play shadow puppets, and enjoy indoor camping activities like board games or card games. It's an adventurous twist on a classic family slumber party.

15. Make DIY Ice Ornaments

Add a touch of winter wonderland to your backyard trees by making DIY ice ornaments. Fill small containers with water, add decorative elements like berries, evergreen leaves, or small toys, and freeze them overnight. Hang the frozen ornaments on tree branches using colorful ribbons. Watch as they sparkle and catch the sunlight.

16. Go on a Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt

Bundle up in layers and embark on a winter nature scavenger hunt. Create a checklist of wintry items to find, such as pinecones, icicles, animal tracks, or frozen berries. Encourage your kids to observe the changes in the natural world during the colder months and discuss how animals adapt to survive.

17. Get Crafty with Winter-themed Collages

Engage your kids' artistic skills by creating winter-themed collages. Provide them with magazines, colored paper, markers, glue, and scissors to cut out and assemble winter-related images or shapes. Help them explore the beauty of winter through their unique collages, and display their creations proudly.

18. Build a Snow Maze

Challenge your little adventurers by creating a snow maze in your backyard. Shovel paths and create dead-ends to confuse and excite them. Use sticks or flags to mark the start and finish lines. See who can navigate the maze the fastest and celebrate their success in conquering the snowy puzzle.

19. Learn to Knit or Crochet Warm Winter Accessories

Introduce your kids to the art of knitting or crocheting and help them create cozy winter accessories like scarves, hats, or mittens. Start with simple patterns and guide them through the process. It's a relaxing and rewarding winter activity that teaches patience and develops fine motor skills.

20. Make Delicious Snow Ice Cream

Turn freshly fallen snow into a sweet treat by making snow ice cream. Collect clean snow in a large bowl and add milk, vanilla extract, and a sweetener like sugar or honey. Mix thoroughly until you achieve a creamy consistency. Add toppings like chocolate chips or sprinkles for extra flavor and fun.

21. Host a Living Room Obstacle Course

Design an exciting obstacle course right in your living room. Use pillows, cushions, hula hoops, or chairs to create challenges like crawling under, hopping over, or balancing on. Time each other's runs and cheer on the participants as they conquer the indoor adventure course.

22. Create a Winter-themed Sensory Bin

Assemble a winter-themed sensory bin for your little ones to explore. Fill a large container with rice, cotton balls, or shredded paper to represent the snow. Add small winter-themed toys, mini pinecones, or plastic animals for imaginative play. Let their senses dive into the magic of winter.

23. Enjoy a Winter Nature Photo Scavenger Hunt

Grab a camera or smartphone and go on a winter nature photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of specific winter-themed items or scenes to capture, such as icicles, frozen puddles, or snow-covered trees. Encourage your kids to observe the beauty of winter through their camera lens.

24. Go Sledding

Find a nearby hill and grab a sled for some exhilarating sledding fun! Help your kids climb to the top, then slide down together, feeling the rush of the wind and the snow beneath them. It's an exciting adventure that will surely bring smiles and laughter.

25.     Practice Snow Painting

Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring, then let your kids go wild and create beautiful artwork on the snow. Encourage them to experiment with colors and shapes while embracing their inner Picasso. Not only will they love the creative outlet, but their colorful masterpieces will also brighten up the winter landscape.