After being stuck inside for a few weeks, it can be difficult to keep everyone upbeat. Figuring out how to keep the kids happy and busy during the winter proves to be quite a challenge. But being intentional about implementing fun winter activities with the family doesn’t have to be difficult. In this post, Tiffany Edmonds shares a list of 50 winter bucket list ideas for families to inspire you this winter!
Let’s face it, winter can be a difficult season for most of us! While it holds the joy and excitement of the holidays, we’re often too busy to really savor the special moments of the season together. Then, when all the holiday hustle has passed, we can all feel a little let down and antsy with nothing but a winter chill to keep us going.
We want to breathe new life into your winter season and keep your family full of joy. This is a unique time of year to intentionally pause, reflect, and invest in time together. So, we’ve created these 50 fun family-friendly activities that will help you craft cherished memories and beat the winter blues.
These Beat-the-Winter-Blues Activity Tiles are stacked with opportunities to not just survive, but flourish as a family from December through February! If you’re the queen of discipline and schedules, try selecting one activity to do every other day.
Perhaps you find it hard to stick to a mapped-out approach? Consider choosing one or two per week to do together when your calendar permits. Make the activity selection process fun by allowing each child a chance to pick one at random. Or spill them all out and decide together which you’d like to do and when. The plan is up to you, but we’ve come up with all the ideas to make it relaxing and enjoyable.
More Ideas!
Create a simple winter-themed basket, box, or jar to hold your tiles. Another idea is to purchase a mini-stocking or a festive ribbon to hang them in a special place. Alternatively, you can use a seasonal container you already have and store them in a prominent spot where they won’t be forgotten. Purchase square wooden pieces to adhere the activity ideas and pretty winter backing to for a cute and durable collection that can be used year after year.
Laminate, punch a hole and hang them as a garland or on the tree! Hang one at a time on a vertical ribbon as you complete them. Or just print on cardstock, cut them out, and toss in a basket.
Be Intentional
However you choose to draw these ideas together, be sure it is life-giving for yourself and your family. Be intentional about trying as many of these fun family activities as you can and delight in the purposeful time together this winter!
We want to breathe new life into your winter season and keep your family full of joy.
50 FAMILY BUCKET LIST IDEAS TO HELP YOU SAVOR WINTER AS A FAMILY
- Make and take homemade gifts/treats to the neighbors.
- Visit a live nativity, then discuss who would want to play which part if they could.
- Purchase or make a traditional Christmas treat from a different country.
- Sing Christmas carols at a local nursing home or children’s hospital.
- Buy whole nuts, shell them with a real nutcracker, and snack on them by the fire.
- Attend a candlelight church service.
- Read the Christmas story in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 aloud, then discuss the different details mentioned in each.
- Compile and send a Christmas care package to a missionary family.
- Pick out Toys for Tots and deliver them to a local dropbox.
- Write letters to troops stationed overseas.
- Invite another family over for a cookie decorating party.
- Make and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus and sing to Him.
- Build a nativity scene with Legos or other toys/blocks.
- Listen to a Christmas story audiobook while driving around looking at lights and decorations.
- Spend an evening having a silly Christmas song karaoke and dance party.
- Design and create your own wrapping paper and use it for family gifts.
- Watch the Nutcracker ballet on stage or on DVD.
- Bake a loaf of stollen bread and enjoy a slice and cup of hot cocoa while discussing its symbolism.
- Donate canned goods to a local food pantry and offer to help organize for a few hours.
- Make paper crowns and talk about the gifts the wise men brought Jesus, and what gifts you might have brought instead.
- Write letters to Jesus, thanking Him for the many gifts you received this year.
- Create a Christmas video-gram to send to out of town friends or family.
- Make edible Christmas trees out of upside-down ice cream cones, green icing, and sprinkles.
- Have an indoor campout next to the Christmas tree and read Christmas books until you fall asleep.
- Wear Santa hats to the mall and anonymously pay for the Santa photos or hot drink of the person behind you.
- Wear Santa hats and serve your neighbors by collecting trash at a local park.
- Make a red and green themed meal for dinner.
- Decorate a wreath together with items that each family member chooses to include.
- Make paper snowflakes and hang them in a doorway to add some festivity.
- Pop some popcorn and watch your favorite Christmas movie together.
- Make salt dough ornaments.
- Do a holiday-themed puzzle with the whole family.
- Look through old Christmas photos and relive memories from past years.
- Make snowman pancakes to serve for dinner.
- Have a hot chocolate night and include some fun mix-ins.
- Paint the snow with food-colored water spray bottles, or watercolor paints with brushes.
- Make glittery white snow slime and give it a fresh winter scent by adding a drop of peppermint extract.
- Visit a local museum, science center, or indoor park.
- Make your own snowshoes with small branches tied to your boots, trek around and explore.
- Go sledding or ice skating.
- Get into a book series by reading a chapter aloud each night by the fire.
- Mix cornstarch and shaving cream for a fun indoor snow substitute. Build and decorate mini snowmen or winter scenes.
- On a below-freezing day, blow soap-bubbles with a wand to create frozen crystal bubbles.
- Host an indoor beach day on a snow day, complete with shorts, tropical snacks, and beach ball games.
- Go on a winter wildlife hike and hunt for animal tracks.
- Have a rock-paper-scissors tournament, complete with a poster bracket and prizes.
- Try a new hobby like coin or stamp collecting, candle or soap making, or animal origami.
- Research your heritage and make a family tree.
- Gather friends and watch the winter Olympics, or make and compete in some of your own.
- Set up an indoor obstacle course incorporating physical activity and fun.
We hope you enjoy these ideas for some fun family activities for the winter. What ideas would you add to the list?
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ‘BEAT THE WINTER BLUES’ ACTIVITY TILE DIY PROJECT!
KEEP THE WINTER BLUES AWAY!
Our team has put together this FREE printable for our readers to help you celebrate and enjoy the winter season with your kids! Enter your name and email below and we’ll send this fun printable right over!
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