8 Winter Wonderland Family Activities

As the daylight dwindles and the days turn cooler, I find myself missing those golden, early fall evenings. Delighted shrieks of neighborhood children drifted in through our open windows, prompting my kids to shovel dinner in their little mouths, Velcro their shoes in record time, and fly down our front steps to join the fun. Now, on these cold, dark winter evenings, my kids are somehow tired earlier and restless at the same time. But the change in weather opens up a different way to play and keep busy.

Now, there is an opportunity to take advantage of being stuck indoors and find a way to blow off steam that doesn’t involve jumping off couches. Luckily, the PBS KIDS winter line-up offers fresh ideas to create our own winter wonderland — with or without snow. Whether you choose to get outside or keep cozy inside, there are plenty of ways to enjoy family time in the winter.

Slip and slide. Encourage your child to try something new in the snow, and remind them that trying new activities gets easier with practice. Doing something for the first time isn’t always easy — especially when it involves slippery surfaces like snow and ice. In “Alma’s Way,” when Rafia has trouble ice skating at first, Alma reminds her to keep trying. Making snow angels and building snowmen are great examples of activities kids love to do in the snow, but they don’t always turn out perfect. And kids may need some practice going for a snowy nature walk or sledding (or even rolling) down a nearby hill. Support them as they play and let them know it’s OK to get a little wet in the process!

Dig out solutions. When snow changes your landscape, look for new ways to play! Children must problem-solve and rely more on their imagination when swing sets are covered in snow or mittens hinder playing tee ball. In Donkey Hodie’s “Snow Surprise Challenge” episode, Donkey tells Bob Dog to think of something he’s good at and use it to help him solve his challenge. Does your child want to play hopscotch, but the sidewalk is covered in snow? Help them use their creativity to come up with a new way to play, like using a stick instead of chalk to “draw” their course in the snow.

Pack learning in. It’s easy to sneak math and science games when you’re playing in the snow. Use snowballs to measure your family and find out how many snowballs long each family member is. Time yourselves running across a snowy field and laugh about how long it takes. Make observations about the snow together — is the snow powdery and fluffy, or wet and sticky? How quickly does the snow melt if you hold it in your hand? Playing together in the snow is a great way to practice math and science skills without even trying!

Light up your nights. Early sunsets mean dark evenings. And we have the perfect antidote — flashlights! Try a game of flashlight freeze dance, a flashlight scavenger hunt, or even a game of limbo using a flashlight beam as the limbo “stick.” When the lights go out at Daniel Tiger’s Snowflake Day play, he has a great idea — the audience uses lanterns to light up the stage. Like Daniel, find your family’s own ways to light up winter nights. Continue the fun by making observations about when it gets dark in the winter compared to the summer!

Appreciate nature. Take a nature walk and gather firewood, acorns, pinecones, sticks, and other items found near you in the winter months. Then build something — a fairy house, a fort, or even a bonfire. If you’re feeling adventurous, make a fire and roast marshmallows on sticks. Or, enjoy a pretend fire and take turns telling stories as you sit around it — your family creates the warmth! As you play by your “fire,” observe what animals are around. Ask your child if they see different kinds of animals in the winter than they do in the summer. Talk about how some animals and plants “sleep” during the winter and we don’t see them when it’s cold. Birds are particularly fun to watch in the winter, and you can set up a DIY birdfeeder to help birds through the winter.

Make summer traditions winter traditions. What are your family’s favorite spots in the summer months? Check them out in the winter, too! Parks and trails are less crowded, but still lots of fun in the winter. Take a walk, visit a neighborhood playground, go for a bike ride or take out your summer toys like bubbles and chalk.

Play with indoor “snow.” When it’s just too frigid, bring the outdoors in with simple ice experiments, snowflake craft projects, or a homemade snow globe. Like in Donkey Hodie’s “Snow Day” episode — do things your way! Just like Purple Panda’s snow day traditions differ from Donkey’s, come up with your own family fun and traditions that work for you.

Create special family time. Cozy up by testing out new family traditions — try new books, games, or recipes. Remember what Daniel Tiger teaches us on Snowflake Day — every snowflake is different and special — and there is no one else exactly like any of us! Enjoy time at home with your family, and remind each member what you love about them.

Enjoy your own winter wonderland — and whatever you do, don’t forget the hot chocolate!