A collection of our favorite kids’ outdoor winter play activities – from fun and games in the snow to backyard winter science and STEAM ideas…
Kids Winter Outdoor Play Ideas – Table of Contents
Kids Winter Outdoor Play Ideas – Table of Contents
Use the links below to jump straight to a specific topic of interest in this article…
- Kids Outdoor Winter Play Prep
- Outdoor Snow and Ice Play Ideas
- Outdoor Winter Science Play for Kids
- Neighborhood Winter Nature Observation
- Kids Backyard Winter Games
I grew up in Ohio where winters can be fairly snowy and cold, and most of our free time was spent playing outside – no matter the temperature. When winter hit, my sister and I would jump at the chance to bundle up for nearly any outside diversion, whether it was shoveling the driveway with dad or plodding over to the sledding hill at the end of the block.
From fresh air and Vitamin D to risk-taking assessment and better sleep, the benefits of outdoor play are undeniable. From my own lifetime of experience, I can confirm that the physical challenges of moving through snow reawaken a unique set of muscles and a new awareness of balance.
When I think back, some of my very best winter play memories include activities that also helped to develop my social skills, creativity, empathy, and self-confidence.
Though quite a few of the activities involve snow or ice, I made sure to include just as many seasonal play suggestions for our warmer-winter readers. And even if you don’t think of your family as the outdoorsy types, consider trying a few…you might just become outdoor winter regulars!
How to Prep for Safe Outdoor Winter Play With Kids
Winter play outside comes with its own specific challenges. Here are a few ideas to help you make your kids’ outdoor winter playtime safe and enjoyable for everyone…
- Keep an eye on the weather. Especially during winter, it’s a good idea to be aware of the forecast, keep an eye on the sky, and watch for changing conditions or winter temperature drops.
- Dress for the temps. The number one rule for dressing in winter (no matter the age)? Layer up! Waterproof outer layers and boots are best if playing in the snow, and remember to keep extremities covered up too – hand warmers can be an especially helpful accessory (you can DIY your own set from scrap fabric!).
- Play near home and stay out of the street. Though not necessarily always a reason to stay inside, heavy snowfall, deteriorating conditions, and icy water or roads can present winter play hazards. When in doubt, keep the fun relegated to your own backyard or neighborhood.
- Check on warmth regularly. When kids are distracted by play, they can easily lose track of how cold they feel. Teach little ones to become aware of their bodies and their surroundings with a quick warmth check-in every now and then.
- Take warm-up breaks. Chattering teeth or frost-nipped cheeks are good signs it’s time for an indoor break. Who can resist a warm mug of hot cocoa?
- Hydrate. Cold dry winds and heated rooms mean hydration is just as important in the winter months as in the summer. Filling a kid-sized water bottle with the day’s water and letting kids sip throughout the day will keep them hydrated with water that’s warmed to room temperature.
50 Fun Kids Outdoor Winter Play Ideas
Kids Backyard Snow and Ice Play
Snow day! When the flakes start flying, try one of these fantastic activities for snow play...
1. Make rainbow snow castles
Not just your average frosty fortress, these colorful snow castles add a pop of color to the winter wonderland, making your backyard look like a page out of a fairy tale.
2. Try rainbow ice snow painting
Invite your little artists to let loose on a snowy canvas with a rainbow ice painting activity. This activity is easy to start outside, then take inside if temperatures start to drop or your kiddos start feeling the freeze.
3. Make vibrant DIY spray snow paint
Learn the secret of creating the BRIGHTEST, most colorful winter landscape in town…follow the easy 1-minute DIY then watch your kids turn the backyard into a graffiti wall of snow. It’s Banksy meets Frosty!
Quick, easy, and endlessly entertaining, DIY spray bottle snow paint allows children to express their creativity on a grand scale.
4. Make a frozen winter ice sculpture
Channel your inner Elsa and create DIY winter ice sculptures that will turn your yard into a gorgeous gallery of frozen masterpieces. This activity is a great way to introduce children to the concept of states of matter, observing how water transforms into ice. It also encourages fine motor skills and artistic expression as they create their unique sculptures.
5. Build creative snow creatures
Move over, traditional snowmen. Why not a snow octopus or a snow unicorn? The only limit is your imagination (and maybe the amount of snow you have).
6. Make painted ice lanterns
These aren’t your typical lanterns. These frozen glowing orbs of magic will make your porch look like it’s straight out of Narnia (and are a lovely way to light up dark winter evenings).
7. Mix up a bowl of snow ice cream
Combine culinary skills with a bit of science and a dash of winter wonder to make your own snow ice cream. This deliciously fun activity is a delightful way for kids to see how everyday ingredients can transform into something new and exciting.
8. Have fun with snowballs (nine different ways!)
From classic snowball fights to snowball bowling, these ideas will make you wish for a snow day every day.
Each of these snowball activities provides a fantastic way for children to develop hand-eye coordination and motor skills, learn about friendly competition, and even engage in a little teamwork.
9. DIY your own set of cardboard Abominable Snowman tracks
Perfect for convincing little siblings that a friendly yeti visited overnight, creating your own set of tracks is not only a creative way to spend a wintry afternoon but also a wonderful opportunity for imaginative play and storytelling. And what an exciting snowy outdoor adventure (bonus points for mysterious growling sounds)!
10. Decorate trees outside with homemade colored ice ornaments
Adds a touch of art and color to the natural winter landscape, while turning your backyard trees into a winter wonderland art gallery with these shimmering, icy baubles.
11. Blow frozen bubbles
This frosty twist on bubble blowing is a mesmerizing science experiment…watch in awe as bubbles turn into delicate, icy spheres before your eyes!
12. Design and freeze an ice suncatcher
Capture the glow of the winter sun with these frozen, glittering beauties. These kid-designed icy suncatchers are a beautiful way to explore light, color, and nature’s art.
13. Grab a muffin tin and make mud kitchen ice cakes
Mud pies are so last season; it’s all about ice cakes now. This frosty play invitation offers a fun variation on traditional mud kitchen play, and is a multi-sensory experience that helps little ones explore different new textures (at cooler temperatures!).
14. Combine snow with colorful or scented winter nature finds at a winter potion-making station
Trade up the chemistry set for snow and pinecones to create magical potions (or just a really cool-looking mess). This imaginative activity is a great way to foster exploration and experimentation, as children mix different natural elements, getting kids invested in science and nature early.
15. Invite friends over for an outdoor tea party!
Bundle up, call up the neighbors, set a snowy table, and find a cozy spot to sip on hot cocoa in your winter wonderland! It’s like a regular tea party, with added layers.
Outdoor Winter Science Play Ideas
When exploring science concepts, I’ve always been a fan of hands-on learning, and I can’t think of anything more fun than taking experiments outside! Here are a few of my favorite backyard winter STEAM suggestions…
16. Make a snow volcano
Not only does this “explosive” activity bring a touch of summer science fair nostalgia to the chilly winter, but it also gives you a chance to cover your backyard in a landscape of frosty mini Mount Vesuvius’ (Vesuvi-i?)!
These chilly eruptions are a blast to watch, always a kid favorite, and a cool way to safely play with chemical reactions.
17. Set up a backyard winter weather station
Equip your little ones with a notebook and a sense of adventure as they predict whether it’s going to be a snowman-building day or a stay-inside-with-hot-chocolate kind of afternoon.
Transform your outdoor space into a kid-led meteorological study area, encouraging budding scientists to observe and predict weather patterns.
18. Make a bottle thermometer
Temperature: it isn’t just a number on a phone’s weather app! This DIY thermometer lets kids see temperature changes in action, and it’s a great way to answer the age-old question: just how cold does it have to be for school to be canceled?
Using a bottle and some colored water, this simple yet effective DIY project is an excellent tool for teaching kids about temperature changes through a tangible, hands-on lesson.
19. DIY a snow gauge and track snow totals
Perfect for the little statistician in your family (or anyone who loves to keep score) a simple DIY snow gauge lets them track just how much snow Mother Nature’s dropped on your doorstep.
20. Investigate the details of snow with your own snowflake study
Turn your backyard into a snowflake mini-lab! With a magnifying glass and a bit of curiosity, a simple winter day can easily turn into a fascinating scientific exploration as your kids discover the truth to the age-old adage that no two snowflakes are ever alike.
21. Enjoy an afternoon of sledding science
Sledding…where fun meets friction! Combine the thrill of sledding with a lesson in physics, and you’ve got a recipe for one exhilarating science lesson.
You can explore basic physics concepts like gravity, friction, and momentum, understanding why some sleds zoom faster and why crashing into a snowbank is a practical example of inertia (bonus points if they can explain why they go faster on the smooth sled than on the bumpy one).
22. Make maple syrup snow candy
This sweet snow activity is a delicious way to teach about the magic of freezing points, and it’s also a perfect excuse to eat dessert straight from the snow (just make sure it’s freshly fallen!). Probably the tastiest science experiment ever, to be honest.
23. Try freezing a homemade set of water beads
It doesn’t get easier than this: Make or take a set of water beads outside for a chilly twist on water bead play. Frozen water beads provide a low-prep, tactile experience that’s an excellent way to explore the science of water’s states and transformations, offering a hands-on approach to learning that feels a lot more like play.
24. Learn about levers with a simple DIY snowball catapult
This one’s for the future engineers wondering how to launch a snowball to hit the target (like a sibling…who said that…?) with precision. Learning about levers, force, and simple machines has never been more fun than snowball catapult construction.
25. Set up a winter scent lab outside
Engage your kids’ olfactory senses by exploring how different scents react in the cold, turning your backyard into a fragrant outdoor scent laboratory where the only rule is to sniff (not taste!) the experiments.
Kids Winter Nature Observation Activities
The winter season presents a unique seasonal nature experience for kids. In addition to being a wonderful time opportunity to slow down, observe, and reflect, these ideas foster a deep appreciation for winter wildlife. And a plus for those of you in warmer environments: none of these winter nature play ideas require snow!
26. Shovel paths in the backyard to create your own winter nature trails
Turn your backyard into a mini Arctic adventure land by shoveling winding DIY nature trails out of the snow (or making paths, in warmer winter climates). This activity transforms the familiar landscape of your backyard into a wonderland of exploration and adventure, perfect for young imaginations. Be an explorer in your own frosty kingdom!
27. Become a backyard birder
Invite your kids to turn into neighborhood ornithologists and discover the secret life of birds during winter. Go birding around your neighborhood, make mini frozen bird feeders, and observe winter bird behavior.
28. Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
Join forces with birdwatchers across the globe in this annual bird-counting event. This group participation project is a marvelous way for children to contribute to real-world scientific research and can help foster a real sense of global community and responsibility.
29. Celebrate long winter naps
Amble into the world of animal hibernation with a cozy construction project and a lesson about our planet’s professional winter nappers.
Start indoors, getting hands-on as you build a hibernaculum and learn about hibernation, then head outside to make a snowy kid-sized den with sticks and snow for a lesson that offers a unique blend of biology and environmental stewardship and an engaging way to deepen children’s connection with nature’s cycles.
30. Track wildlife
Become a backyard detective and track the comings and goings of local wildlife. Encouraging kiddos to nurture their innate curiosity, sharpen their observation skills, and keep an eye on the habits and traits of different local species.
31. Collect winter nature treasures
Set off on a treasure hunt for nature’s winter gifts. From the perfect pinecone specimen, a fantastic feather, or an interesting seed pod to the longest icicle ever known to man (I remember finding a few of those, myself). It’s a wonderful way to appreciate the often-overlooked beauty of the colder months, and bonus: it’s free!
32. Adopt a sapling
Did you know that young trees often need a little TLC throughout the winter months or a particularly snowy season? Caring for a sapling is the perfect winter job to assign to your littles – teaching responsibility and offering a tangible connection to the cycle of life and growth.
33. Go howling…
Encourage your kids to express themselves freely as they unleash their inner wolves for a howling good time. This imaginative outdoor activity is a wild way to connect with nature (and who can resist an opportunity to howl at the moon?).
34. …or owling!
Switch to stealth mode and go on an owl-prowl. It’s a hoot of an adventure and a chance to see “whooo’s” out there in the night.
35. Spend an evening stargazing and keep track of the winter moons
Wrap up and gaze at the stars, making a note of the winter moons. It’s a cosmic show that beats any movie night and is a magical way to introduce children to astronomy.
36. Learn to identify trees without leaves
Become a leafless tree ID expert. It’s a skill that’s surprisingly handy (and will make you look like a nature wizard to your friends). Learning to identify trees without their leaves sharpens a child’s observational skills as they explore botany and the changing seasons.
37. Have a comfort food campfire
Elevate your campfire cooking game with a few homemade tasty treats made right over the fire. Preparing hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls (in an orange peel!) over a campfire is a delicious cooking skill learning experience – and way more fun than a microwave.
38. Find a family sit spot and observe the winter solstice
Choose a special outdoor spot to sit, reflect, and watch the shortest day of the year. It’s a peaceful way to connect with nature and a great excuse to get outside and take a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Neighborhood Winter Games for Kids
Winter: the season for reindeer games! Keep kids’ outdoor winter play fun with one of these game ideas, guaranteed to warm up your kiddos and keep them moving all winter long…
39. Go on a different kind of winter scavenger hunt
Use colored ice cubes for a unique winter scavenger hunt (like an Easter egg hunt in January!). A vibrant, sensory-rich activity, it’s not only a delightful way to brighten a wintry day, but also an excellent tool for enhancing color recognition (and a simple yet effective way to turn a regular backyard into a kaleidoscopic wonderland).
40. Perfect your aim with a snowball target throw
Grab some cardboard boxes, empty cans, or even a cute laminated seasonal free printable for snowball target practice! This classic winter pastime is a fun way to improve hand-eye coordination, and always a hit.
41. Go on a winter scavenger hunt in your neighborhood
Bundle up and embark on a neighborhood expedition. It’s like a mini-adventure, and who knows what cool winter wonders you’ll find!
This exploratory activity is a splendid way to foster curiosity and observational skills. It transforms a simple walk into an educational adventure, perfect for young explorers eager to discover the hidden wonders of their wintry world.
42. Go ice bowling
Swap out the bowling alley for frozen snowballs, containers filled with a little water, and your frozen backyard. It’s all the fun of bowling, with *more* layers, but *fewer* questionable rental shoes.
43. Play igloo, or tree branch fort-building games
Who doesn’t love a little winter fort-building? Though it looks like child’s play, building these structures is a fab exercise in creativity and engineering.
44. Take sledding to the next level with sled relay races and sled pulls
Supercharge your sledding with these competitive twists. It’s a great way to get the heart pumping, promote teamwork, and see who the true sled champions are.
45. Go on an icy treasure hunt outside
X marks the spot where the frozen treasure lies! Combine the thrill of treasure hunting with the beauty of a winter landscape for winter treasure hunts – a unique approach to outdoor play that kids to embrace their sense of adventure and sparks imagination.
46. Challenge your kids to a race with a set of DIY snowshoes
The fastest way to turn a regular race into a hilarious challenge? Add a pair of DIY snowshoes to the mix. This inventive challenge not only encourages physical activity but also teaches children about adaptation and movement in different terrains.
47. Make a snow or ice block maze.
Turn your yard into a winter labyrinth with a stack of homemade ice blocks. Designing and navigating this maze is an excellent exercise in spatial awareness and creative problem-solving. It’s a unique and engaging way to transform a familiar space into a winter wonderland of discovery.
48. Organize a backyard winter obstacle course.
Set up the ultimate winter challenge right in your backyard. It’s a fantastic way to keep active and have a blast in the colder months.
49. Turn shoveling into a game with driveway snow shovel races.
Who knew shoveling could be fun? Race to see who can clear their section of the driveway first. It’s a win-win: the driveway gets cleared, and everyone has fun.
Transforming a mundane chore into a thrilling game is a clever way to teach children about teamwork and the value of hard work, all while enjoying the outdoors and having a blast.
50. Hold your own Winter Olympics
Who needs a big city or Olympic village when you can host your own Winter Olympics right from the comfort of your own backyard. It’s a great way to celebrate the season, get some exercise, and maybe even light a competitive spark. Let the winter games begin!
More Seasonal Outdoor Play Inspiration
For outdoor play in every season, visit our collection of spring gardening activities for kids, find a more eco-friendly backyard summer water game, stop by our collection of over 100 summer kids play ideas, check out our autumn outdoor play activity list, or learn about Shinrin-Yoku and simple ways to start practicing with your kids.
