Fun Indoor Winter Activities for preschoolers and Toddlers
To be honest, winter is NOT my favorite season (to the shock and disbelief of my toddler). Maybe this sounds bad, but I dread the thought of tromping around outside in minus twenty-degree weather to lay down in the snow and make snow angels. It’s even harder with a baby to pack around.
Because of this, I decided that I need to find some suitable indoor winter activities for toddlers this year. I love the sun and the warm weather, and I don’t understand the love people have for things that are cold and wet.
If you have a toddler, you know how hard winters can be. Toddlers are lively and energetic, and they rarely want to spend their time indoors. They (usually) have no desire to sit cozied up on the couch with a fire blazing and a cup of hot chocolate.
In fact, I am pretty sure ALL toddlers are the “outdoorsy” type. While I appreciate that my child has such an innate desire to explore the world, I look forward to the day when my child understands that the world is best explored in warmer weather.
I am so glad that I prepared in advance for the winter season, and I wanted to share some of the best indoor winter crafts for toddlers that I was able to find.
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Related: Fall Craft Activities for Preschoolers
Related: Christmas Ornaments for Toddlers to make
Winter Snow Sensory Bin Activity
This sensory bin activity is great for those kids who really want to play in the snow (is there a kid who doesn’t?!) This activity really encourages your child to use their imagination, and it’s a great one for young and older toddlers alike.
Handprint Penguins
These handprint penguins are SUPER adorable and easy to make. What I love most about this indoor winter craft for toddlers is the fact that you will be making a cute little keepsake of their handprint to keep forever.
Homemade Snow Recipe
If you don’t want to go outside and play in the snow (or you just don’t get snow where you live) you can make some homemade snow! This snow is SUPER easy to make and contains ingredients you probably have laying around the house!
Winter Shaving Cream Marbling Painting
A shaving cream painting will definitely entertain any toddler for a while. Talk with your toddler about what happens if you mix the paint in with the shaving cream, or add lots of colors to it.
Winter and Christmas Charades Free Printable Game for Kids
While I LOVE the idea of this Christmas charades activity (and the printable characters are SO cute), I do think it’s a little old for most toddlers. I think a great alternative to this would be to print out two versions of the printable and make a matching game for your toddler instead. A younger toddler may still struggle with this, but it may be easier than the concept of charades.
Ice Painting for Kids
This ice painting activity is more about the process than the result. Especially because the result of your ice painting will be a mess of ugly colors. Take the opportunity to have a discussion with your toddler about what happens to snow when it melts, as well as what happens to the different colors of paint when they start mixing together.
Letter H is for Hot Chocolate Craft
If you have started practicing your child’s ABC’s, this Letter H craft is PERFECT for helping celebrate and solidify your child’s understanding of the letter H. Even if your child doesn’t know what hot chocolate is, they probably know what marshmallows are!
WINTER EDIBLE SENSORY BIN FOR TODDLERS
I love helping my toddler explore different foods and I also LOVE sensory bins. That makes this edible sensory bin activity a clear win. Although this isn’t exactly a winter themed activity for toddlers, it’s definitely an INDOOR activity to DO in the winter, and it still counts as artsy in my book!
Polar Bear Finger Print Keepsake
I think parts of this polar bear fingerprint keepsake may be a little old for some toddlers, however, I know my toddler would have a lot of fun with dipping fingers in white paint. You may have to paint up the details on the actual bear, but this will make a great keepsake gift for a loving grandparent or friend. This would also make a cute toddler DIY Christmas ornament!
Five Little Snowmen Puppets
I found these five little snowmen puppets are really easy to make, and they are something your toddler will play with again and again. You can actually find rhymes to go along with these puppets through the craft creator’s post, so definitely take a peek!
Erupting Snowballs – Winter Science Activity
These erupting snowballs are sure to impress your toddler (I know mine will be!) This is an indoor winter activity for toddlers that I would save for an extra hard day, as I imagine the craft is exciting enough to help your toddler forget they’re in a bad mood.
Salt Painting Process Watercolor Art
Salt painting is a great activity to do with your toddler. The nice thing about this activity is once you understand HOW to do salt painting, you can adapt this activity for any art image you want!
Icicle Craft: Easy Winter Activity for Toddlers
Painting on Snow
Okay, so I know I told you guys that I hate the cold – I really do! This snow painting activity seems like a very nice compromise. I can stay inside and be warm, but my toddler still gets to play with snow! I bet this is the first time your toddler will have used a pipette before. I think mine will have a ball with it!
Winter Coloring Pages
Last (but NOT least!) here are some winter-themed coloring pages. I think coloring is such a relaxing activity for adults, and most toddlers seem to enjoy it. Coloring is so good for their motor skill development, so use the season as an excuse to use up a little of that printer ink!
What was your favorite winter activity for toddlers? I would love to hear about it below in the comments!
