The Best Winter Activities to Keep Toddlers Busy

These winter activities for toddlers will help you keep even the most energetic of children entertained and occupied during the long, cold winter months. Trust me, these ideas will save your sanity each winter!

Summer is a blur of activity – a lot of it outside – while the cold months strike fear in the parents of toddlers everywhere who worry about trying to figure out what to do during a long season stuck inside.

That changes this year with this list of winter activities for toddlers that will keep your little one active and occupied this winter. Whether you want to go play outside in the snow or not, there is plenty to do inside!

Winter Activities For Toddlers

This time of year doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in the house, watching your kids bounce off the walls.

It also doesn’t need to be a season of being glued to screens.

With this list of fun indoor activities you can do with toddlers, you’ll won’t be short on ideas, and you can feel free to repeat the ones that your family loves as often as you want.

Winter Crafts For Toddlers

When the weather is cold and dreary, winter crafts for toddlers are a perfect activity to keep those busy hands…busy! Here is a list of some winter art for toddlers to try this winter.

Handprint Polar Bear from Fun Handprint Art Blog – handprint crafts are always a hit with toddlers!

Snowflake Ornament from A Little Pinch of Perfect – simple but perfect for toddlers.

Toilet Paper Roll Snowflakes from Living Life and Learning – have some recycling fun.

Salty Snowman from Best Toys 4 Toddlers – such a simple project for toddlers.

Simple Foam Snowman from Made In A Pinch – easy, adorable, and perfect for little hands.

Simple Snowflake Craft from Artsy Momma – magical snowflakes will appear much to your toddler’s delight…and yours!

Cookie Cutter Painted Snowman from Fun A Day – these are perfect winter crafts for toddlers, they will love the creative process behind this one.

Bubble Wrap Snowman from Crafts On Sea – can you resist popping that bubble wrap? If so, use it in a craft project!

Snowflake from Messy Little Monster – such a fun project.

Q-Tip Painted Snowman from Mess For Less – great for those fine motor skills.

Toddler Games

Kick-off playtime with some easy toddler games that are fun and educational too! Toddlers learn through playing. The right game can boost your kid’s cognitive, physical, and emotional skills, so try these toddler games for some fun activity during the winter.

1. Simon Says

This was a personal favorite of mine as a kid! Simon Says is a classic that teaches kids how to listen and follow instructions…in a super fun way.

The rules are easy: You are Simon and what you say goes. Call out commands, such as “Simon says jump up and down!” Your child has to follow whatever the direction is.

The catch is that they need to listen for the words “Simon says”. If you call out a command like “Spin around!!” without saying “Simon says” first, players who follow that direction are eliminated.

Be sure to throw in some funny commands, too, like “hop like a frog,” “wiggle your ears,” or “touch your toes to your nose!”

2. Hot and Cold

Hide your toddler’s favorite toy and then have him search for it. If he’s wandering away further away from it, he’s getting cold. As he gets closer, he’s getting warm…warmer…hot! If he gets frustrated, you can hold his hand while he looks around.

This game will sharpen your kid’s emotional skills. He’ll learn patience, perseverance and the idea that just because you can’t see something, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

3. Obstacle Course

Promote gross motor skills, coordination and balance with a fun, safe obstacle course. If space allows, you can set up a small course in your living room (or a bedroom or basement) to get your kid rolling around, climbing under, and jumping or running around objects.

4. Scavenger Hunt

Is there anything more fun than a scavenger hunt for a kid? Send your toddler hunting for objects around the house based on commands, such as “find me something square” or “find me something yellow.” As she gets better and faster at this game, it start to make it a little more challenging!

5. Hide-and-Seek

Hide and seek is still one of my favorite toddler games to play! Teach your little kid problem-solving skills by hiding from him! Start easy (maybe behind the couch or under a table). If he’s having trouble finding you, you can call out his name to let him hear your voice.

If he’s nervous about playing this game, be sure to really make it fun when he finds you! Tickle him, hug him, and praise him so that it feels like a big reward to him.

If he likes the game, you can use progressively harder hiding spots. Then give him a turn to hide while you search for him. Word to the wise – keep your eyes slightly open…toddlers really can hide very well!

6. Puzzles

Puzzles are great toddler games because they encourage development in multiple areas: problem-solving skills (from making the pieces fit) and emotional skills (learning how to be patient.)

Building a puzzle can also help boost your kid’s memory, teach her about different shapes, and help her set (and meet!) simple goals.

Start simple with easy puzzles – we started with big floor puzzles that had up to 24 pieces, which was perfect. As your toddler becomes more confident and builds her skills, gradually increase the difficulty of the puzzles.

Winter Books For Toddlers

When it’s cold and nasty outside, why not stay inside and cuddle together to read a good book? Not only is it a wonderful experience, but it also helps your toddler with reading development through word recognition.

With so many winter books for toddlers to choose from, it can be hard to choose just a few…so pick some and just keep going down the list! Here are a few of our favorites:

Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman

Biscuit’s Snowy Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Snow by Uri Shulevitz

Let it Snow by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll

Little Critter: Just a Snowman by Mercer Mayer

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Snow by P.D. Eastman

Squirrels on Skis by J. Hamilton Ray

By reading winter books, playing indoor toddler games and doing winter crafts perfect for toddlers, your winter will speed by!