27 Winter Break Activities for Kids at Home
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Need some winter break activities for kids that you can do at home? I got you!
Hi friends,
Winter break is one of the longest breaks the kids get during the school year – if not the longest. It’s a long time at home and if weather is bad, it’s a lot of cabin fever too!
So, if you have elementary-aged kids home for a week or two over winter break and you’re running out of ideas that don’t involve screen time or pricey outings – you’re going to want to save this post!
These fun and creative winter break activities are perfect for school-aged kids (roughly 5-12) to do right at home. I’ve rounded up the best crafts, projects, indoor things to do, STEM activities, creative ideas and outdoor activities all right here!
This post is all about winter break activities for kids at home!
27 Winter Break Activities for Kids at Home
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Table of Contents
Keep reading if you want to see all of the creative winter break activities for kids to do at home!
Winter Break Crafts & Projects for Kids
Fun, easy crafts and projects to do over winter break at home!
1. DIY Snow Globes
DIY Snow Globes
Source: LittleBinsForLittleHands
Fun for all ages (even parents) – Make your own DIY snow globes right at home featuring a toy or small figurine that best represents them and their current interests. Would make such a cute keepsake too!
Make this activity
2. Make paper stars
Origami Paper Stars
Source: Emaloukidsartcraft
These little origami stars are surprisingly easy to make! My daughter enjoys making them. Have your kiddos write down wishes and/or predictions for the new year to keep in a jar and then open up next year!
★ Heres an easy tutorial I found!
Make This Activity
3. Stop motion movie
Use action figures, legos or a mix of different toys to create your own stop-motion movie! Free apps like Stop Motion Studio make this super easy to do.
Challenge them to recreate their favorite movie or give them a prompt like “Spiderman gets stuck in a snow storm” and see what they come up with!
4. New year time capsule
Make a Time Capsule
The start of a new year is the perfect time to put together a time capsule! Make a yearly one or one to be opened several years from now. Here’s one we made a few years back – cant wait to open it one day!
5. Pine Cone Feeder
Pine Cone Feeders
Source: CreatePlayTravel
Make these adorable pine cone bird feeders out of pine cones, peanut butter and bird seeds!
Make This Activity
6. Beaded snow flakes
Make Beaded Snowflakes
Source: OneLittleProject
Make these adorable beaded snowflakes using only a few supplies. These would be so cute to hang from the ceiling or on a window as sun catchers!
Make This Activity
Indoor Thing to Do Over Winter Break for Kids
Indoor winter break activities for kids that need to get some energy out!
7. Snowball toss/fight
indoor Snow balls
Plush snowballs
We got these fake snowballs a few years ago and still they’re still a hit every winter!
Use them for an indoor snowball fight or set up buckets and make a snowball toss challenge.
Doubles as a “snowball hunt” when they’re done playing and need to find all 50 snowballs again 😉
8. Candy cane hunt
Candy Cane Hunt
Take a box of candy canes and hide them around the house. Send the kids on a candy cane hunt to find them all. Afterwards, they can take turns hiding them for each other.
Makes for a really fun and easy Elf on the Shelf idea too!
9. Danny Go
Danny Go on YouTube has tons of fun and interactive videos for kids! We cast them to the TV in the living room and they’re an easy to get moving and burn some energy indoors.
10. Write & send thank you notes
Write & send cards
Thank you notes
With the holidays having just passed, it’s the perfect time to have the kiddos send out thank you notes to family and friends!
11. Reading in a fort
Read in a fort
Air fort
Build a small fort out of blankets and chairs or set up a small tent or air fort, get cozy and read in a nice, calm environment.
Personally, we love the air fort, the kids can set it up all by themselves using just a box fan and it’s big enough to comfortably fit all three of my kiddos!
STEM & Hands-On Winter Break Activities for Kids
Hands-on and educational activities to do during winter break for kids who love to experiment and explore!
12. Marshmallow building challenge
Marshmallow Building Challenge
Source: LearnWithPlayAtHome
Grab your kid a bowl of mini marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge them to make an igloo or other type of structure!
Do This Activity
13. Play with fake snow
make Fake Snow
Source: The Purposeful Nest
For those of you don’t get snow where you live (or if you just dont want to get cold). Make fake snow with literally two ingredients!
Make This Activity
14. Make ice cream
ice Cream Experiment
Source: 123homeschool4me
Make ice cream right at home using only a few ingredients and zip lock bags. There’s even a printable experiment worksheet!
Do This Activity
15. Bouncing bubbles
Make Bouncing Bubbles
Source: FoxFarmHome
Winter is the perfect time to play with bouncing bubbles. Learn why gloves are the secret trick to making bouncing bubbles!
Do This Activity
16. Make a snow volcano
Make a Snow Volcano
Source: Crafty Morning
Get outside and create a super cool chemical reaction that looks like a snow volcano erupting with bright beautiful colors!
Do This Activity
17. Indoor snow painting
Indoor Snow Painting
Source: Twitchetts
Here’s a fun way to bring the snow indoors and have fun without freezing.
Make This Activity
Creative Winter Break Activities for Elementary Aged Kids
Creative things to do over winter break for older kids!
18. Start a journal
interactive journal
Wreck This Journal
My daughter loves Wreck This Journal! It has tons of creative prompts and challenges. You’ll be surprised by how fast your kids will fill up the pages!
19. Audiobook + Art Time
Turn on an Audible audio book for everyone to listen to while they do a quiet activity like color, play with play dough, paint or build with Legos/Magnatiles/blocks. Listening to a book will keep their minds busy while their hands are busy
20. Paint by sticker books
Mess-free activity
Paint by sticker
My kids love these paint by sticker books and they definitely keep them busy (and quiet) for quite some time. Perfect for any school-aged kids too!
21. Collage project
Kids Collage Project
Source: missrobertsyyc
Make a fun, old school collage out of scraps from old magazines. Use a photo of them to personalize it or make it an “all about” collage!
See This Activity
22. Recreate old photos
Go through old photos and try to recreate as many as you can. The whole family can join in on this and have a blast. Using an instant camera makes this even more fun and provides everyone with an instant keepsake!
Outdoor Winter Break Activities for Kids at Home
Fun outdoor things for kids to do at home over winter break!
23. Snow painting
Paint the Snow
Source: Crafty Morning
Such a simple, easy to do, and low prep activity to do over winter break on a snow day!
Do This Activity!
24. Winter nature scavenger hunt
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Source: Frugal Mom Eh
Get outside and get some fresh air by taking a nature scavenger hunt walk. Gather each item you find in your bag as you go!
Do This Activity
25. Stomp rockets
Outdoor fun
Stomp rockets
No snow? No problem! Let the kids get some energy out by stomping on rocket pads to see how high they can get them.
We have this too and I’m not gonna lie – it’s fun for parents too!
26. Painted ice sculptures
Painted Ice Sculptures
Source: Iheartartsncrafts
Paint ice cubes, icicles, or broken sheets of ice and use them to create sculptures and ice fairy gardens!
Do This Activity
27. Bubble wand
Make Bubble Wands
Source: EarlyYearsOutdoor
With tons of sticks on the ground, winter is the perfect time to collect them and turn them into bubble wands!
See This Activity
Now you have a bunch of different winter break activities for kids to do when school is out that will keep everyone entertained and happy.
Psst – Don’t forget to come back in a couple months to see a ton of cheap or free spring break activities for kids to do on their next school break!
