winter activities for kids?

[Sara Noel]

Indoor or outdoor suggestions.

Please no skating, sledding, snowman (although this is cute: Headless Snowman (Outdoor Winter Games for Kids) | Winter Fun & Games | FamilyFun), standard crafts, bowling, movies, reading, baking type suggestions. LOL

Looking for ideas if the kids have friends over or want to do something different.

Things like a winter treasure hunt, but not like make a bird feeder.

Something like making snow candy (Laura Ingalls Wilder) or jell-o (Make Jell-O according to directions on package. Pour into clean baby food jars-one for each child. Place containers in large tub and fill the tub with snow. eat when jell-o is set), but not like making colored snow paint.

Any suggestions that are a step above making snow angels? LOL

Our kids have their activities throughout the year and we usually take them sledding, bowling, the library, to the movies and skating. December is pretty busy, but January through March on Sundays gets a bit dull sometimes.
They aren't into skiing. Most of the things to do are on Saturdays and my kids are booked with music on Saturdays. Many Sundays can be down days, but I'd like them to have their friends over for a few of them and DO something a bit different than the typical build a snowman and have hot cocoa. We do a lot of crafts and baking before Christmas, so they start to get a bit boring, too.

I know I sound picky, but some of you with more than two kids with a wide range of ages know what I'm saying here. LOL we're really active in the warmer months.

[MissSeetonFan]

One of the first things that came to my mind was an outdoor winter game I used to play: Fox and Geese. Tramp out a very large circle with a center and several spokes, like a wheel. Then, with the fox (It) in the middle, play tag. You can only travel down the trampled paths. When the fox catches a goose, the tagged person is the new fox.

There are many variations, including having the center being a safe zone and all the geese start there with the fox in the outer ring. Then, when the fox chases somebody, the center remains safe but only for a limited number of people. If the fox chases one more person into the center, someone, usually the person there the longest, has to break away down one of the spokes.

Indoor activities? Snowflake making, making scenes by just cutting outlines of things then gluing them together. See what the kids can come up with without pens or pencils first. Although this is probably more of a standard craft idea. You could still adapt them to make them more interesting or difficult.

[Trishagirl]

How about doing puzzles or card games like uno and war or high low. or Pictionary, hangman. Jewelery making or making model airplanes or ships, cardmaking w/ stamps. Or teach the kids to knit hats etc. or make potholders with a weaving kit.

[jacqueline]

homemade twister game (i'm sure this isn't original,but it just came to mind as a fun indoor thing if you have a decent sized room to tumble around in)

-an old light colored shower curtain liner
-colored sharpies
-any cardboard (cereal boxes for example or any discarded cardboard)
-a tack or pin to attach the spinner
-imagination

* on the shower curtain - kids could draw circles like the original game or something they are interested in, such as dinosaurs or other animals. this could be small child images to things older children are interested in. just use the original game layout as a guide. (input "twister game" into google search and choose images tab for pictures)
* they also draw on the spinner the same pictures
* then just play by the original game rules or let them make up their own
* award prizes or make certificates- let them make up silly things for trophies or paper crowns or get a certain privilege for being king/queen of the twister game

[Sara Noel]

Thanks. Sadly, the weaving potholders was not a hit. I loved it when I was a kid and bought the little loom last year. My girls didn't like it. I was disappointed because I loved it so much as a kid.

A jigsaw puzzle would work well for a bit. But not for my 3 year old. Meaning a puzzle that would be good for ages 5-11 wouldn't work for age 3. Not that I couldn't get two puzzles. But you see what I'm saying here. But this is a good idea and would work well for a Sunday afternoon together coupled with a movie later or some sort of baking together.

Card games are fun. My 8 year old loves them. My five year old sort of likes them but needs a lot of help and my 3 and 11 year old aren't into them. So it ends up being just my 8 year old wanting to play about 20 games in a row. It often ends up where we divvy up kids and I do games with the younger and he does games with the older. Same kind of things with board games here. We have video games and play them as a family together sometimes, too.

We do beading crafts before Christmas each year. Usually making ornaments, bracelets, etc.

We have a craft bin of all types of things, but again this is pretty standard here and mostly interests the girls.

I like the tag idea.

The older two are more into hanging with friends, so of course I'd like something fun for them to do. Some previous hits were like build your own pizza (tacos, pizzas, cookies, cupcakes, etc.). We've also played bingo with dollar store prizes etc. The girls like to do makeovers, too.

[Sara Noel]

I could do a string maze for when friends come over. I think they'd like that. With a little prize at the end. Each kid gets a different colored yarn. Scavenger hunts would be great. We also take them swimming a couple of times over the winter. I only need to fill a few Sundays. There's winter disc-golf that's open, too.

[daylily]

How about learning useful skills such as knot tying, animal tracking, basket making, cake decorating, carpentry, cross stitch, crocheting (boys can do this too. One of the best crocheters I know is a man. He always makes baby afghans for the baby showers his wife is invited too.); flower arranging, first aid, photography, basic sewing, learning to identify birds by sight and sound, etc.

Specific cooking and baking skills like learning to bake muffins, bread sticks, crackers, yeast breads; You could make a check list of criteria for say..the perfect muffin..or whatever and let them check that skill off the list as they complete it.

Learning is such fun and there is no end of things to learn that will be useful to them as adults.

[monkeywrangler71]

Party games and old fashioned parlour games are fun even when you're not having a party.

Also, I can't remember what's it's called, like a scavenger hunt except it's clues...one clue leads to the next clue, on and on then a prize at the end. My brain must be broken, I can't think of the words. Anyway, fun inside on a stormy day.

Think creative party planning ideas rather than rainy day/winter ideas - mystery/detective, costume party, karaoke, dance party, etc. Or summer camp ideas like theme days/meals, funny skits, putting on a play (original or adaptation).

[Sara Noel]

How about learning useful skills such as knot tying, animal tracking, basket making, cake decorating, carpentry, cross stitch, crocheting (boys can do this too. One of the best crocheters I know is a man. He always makes baby afghans for the baby showers his wife is invited too.); flower arranging, first aid, photography, basic sewing, learning to identify birds by sight and sound, etc.

Specific cooking and baking skills like learning to bake muffins, bread sticks, crackers, yeast breads; You could make a check list of criteria for say..the perfect muffin..or whatever and let them check that skill off the list as they complete it.

Learning is such fun and there is no end of things to learn that will be useful to them as adults.

We have done animal tracking, birding, photography, etc. Some of those you listed are beyond my skills. LOL But yes, I think that's always a good idea to teach life skills.

I have no doubt that I can fill the time (it's filling quickly already), but always like to hear ideas. Especially for group fun.

[Sara Noel]

Party games and old fashioned parlour games are fun even when you're not having a party.

Also, I can't remember what's it's called, like a scavenger hunt except it's clues...one clue leads to the next clue, on and on then a prize at the end. My brain must be broken, I can't think of the words. Anyway, fun inside on a stormy day.

Think creative party planning ideas rather than rainy day/winter ideas - mystery/detective, costume party, karaoke, dance party, etc. Or summer camp ideas like theme days/meals, funny skits, putting on a play (original or adaptation).

This is exactly what I mean. This is what I'm looking for. Nothing too fancy, but fun and for friends to enjoy, too. Mystery dinner maybe or
a theme day/night. Shirt decorating. Tie dye-ing?

The kids have done a talent show before.

The younger kids like the puppet theater at the library. I could build one in their walk-in closet with a tension rod and curtain. But then again, I could just take them to the library too. LOL

The library and nature center have winter activities, too.

[Sara Noel]

We've done things like science experiments, balloon fun, bean bag and sock tosses/wars, paper airplanes, etc. But wanted to say again that there's nothing wrong with the kids having down time. Gabe is only available for family activities every other weekend because of work. There's always things they COULD be doing such as practicing their instruments more, reading more, cleaning more, etc. etc. But I have to admit that even I get cabin fever in the winter months.

[low-1]

Fox and goose was awesome, I remember that as a kid.

We used to spend days building snow forts, that was probably one of our biggest winter activities. We used to build forts in the snow piles made from clearing the parking lots at school. I guess they kind of frown on that nowadays. Snow drifts near rows of trees are usually deep enough to make good forts in, quinzees are also an option, although kids generally aren't too fond of *making* the snow pile.

You mentioned snow candy, not sure if I'm thinking about the same thing or not, but every year we'd do the "boil up maple syrup and pour it on clean snow" thing, it was good.

Early teens, we started doing a lot of cross country skiing, I still do and it's not only a lot of fun, but one of the world's be aerobic activities.

Not sure about where you live, but it's ALWAYS a good time just taking a short hike into the bush, having a big bonfire, cooking hotdogs and roasting marshmellows.

My little girl absolutely loves it when I put the harness on my big dog and tie it to her toboggan, she'll spend the afternoon getting the dog to pull her around.

[Libby]

What about homemade science activities/experiments. You know - vinegar/baking soda volcanoes? You can buy kits around Christmas with the sales and bust them out after the new year. If its a more detailed activity/experiment - maybe track its progress every Sunday? Keep it as an ongoing thing?

Challenge your kids to put their heads together and put on a talent show for you and Gabe? They have all day to prep, play with costumes and then by mid afternoon - they present the final product?

Would you be willing to cook/bake with them? Test out a few recipes that are a bit more complex then whatever you're used to baking? Bake treats in the am's and deliver to a senior's residence?

Are there any weekend library programs where you are? Some here do weekend activities similar to a 'day camp' and offer these programs all winter long to avoid the 'shut in' syndrome.

A Sunday family activity - collect enough stuff (ie purge) to donate to charity. This helps you get a clean up going post holidays and pre spring. Maybe re-arrange their rooms? (I know this sounds more like a grown up activity but if the kids pitch in - it keeps them occupied)

How about volunteering? Would a local food bank need help sorting things at that time of the year? Animal shelters?

[Sara Noel]

I'm thinking maybe we could focus on getting them ice skating. The girls (5 and 8) love to roller skate. I was lucky as a child and ice skated from a very young age. Gabe has always wanted to build a backyard rink. LOL We have a civic arena for ice skating and free places, too. It would open up one more thing in future years for them to enjoy.

Cross-country skiing is something Gabe has wanted to do with them. Snow-shoeing, too. I water skied (sp) growing up, but was never good at downhill snow skiing or I'd have the kids do that. I had a bad experience at a young age and it sort of scared me away from it for the rest of my life. I'm don't think my shoulder (post-surgery) could handle cross country skiing. But I do love that idea.

[Sara Noel]

You mentioned snow candy, not sure if I'm thinking about the same thing or not, but every year we'd do the "boil up maple syrup and pour it on clean snow" thing, it was good.

Yes, this is what I meant. Either using maple syrup or a brown sugar mixture.

We have a local place that rents toboggans. I'd like to find a new snow hill to sled on (with just regular snow sleds). We're in a flat part of Michigan. sigh.