Some of the best memories from my childhood involve snow days. There was nothing that made me and my sister more excited than when our mom told us the schools were closed. No classes. No homework. Just playing in the snow with our friends all day long.
Nowadays, as a mom, it’s a whole different ball game. On one hand, snow days can be so much fun and truly special, especially when your kids are young and love playing in the snow. On the other hand, boredom hits fast when it’s time to come inside to warm up, especially if one snow day turns into two, or three, or a whole week! Your to-do list gets tossed aside and you basically have to play activities coordinator for the household. Snow days can quickly become pretty draining.
That is why we’ve come up with a list of 50 simple indoor and outdoor activities that will keep your kids engaged, beat boredom and help you stay sane on any snow day!
Outdoor Activities
- Go Sledding. Get out your sleds and saucers and ride some hills!
- Build a snowman.
- Have a snow ball fight.
- Make snow cones. Yes, you can use actual snow to make delicious snow cones! Check out this recipe here.
- Make snow angels.
- Go for a peaceful walk in the snow at night.
- Shovel. Not always super fun, but necessary. Offer the kids a couple of extra dollars to help out.
Indoor Activities
8. Make Hot Cocoa. Use the premade packets or whip up your own recipe. Let your kids get creative by adding sprinkles, chocolate chips, marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint sticks, crushed oreos, or whatever toppings you have on hand.
9. Bake your favorite cookies.
10. Popcorn and a movie!
11. Have a board game marathon.
12. Scavenger hunt. This could be done indoors, outdoors or a combination of both.
13. Have a day at the beach. Set up beach towels, umbrellas and beach chairs inside and pretend you’re at the beach! Wear your bathing suits and sunglasses while you enjoy a picnic in the warmth of your home. Play tropical music to really set the mood.
14. Take a bubble bath. Kids love water and bubbles, so let them play in the tub for awhile.
15. Host a family talent show.
16. Get crafty. There are tons of online resources to help you find fun crafts you can do at home. Crayola.com is one of my favorites. They have hundreds of free coloring pages and craft ideas.
17. Make a family newspaper. This is so much fun. Assign each family member a “section” to create: headlines, sports, comics, even classifieds! You will be amazed at what you family will create. Bonus points if you mail it to relatives!
18. Have a “chopped challenge.” Set up bins or baskets with random ingredients and see what crazy concoctions your kids can create. You’re the judge, so be prepared!
19. Color! Head to mondaymandala.com to find thousands of coloring pages your kids will love, from popular TV shows and movies to books and sports stars. Just print and color!
20. Build a fort indoors! Use blankets, pillows, couch cushions, sleeping bags, whatever you have that will work! To make it extra cozy, add Christmas or fairy lights inside.
21. Create an obstacle course. Use balls, brooms, step stools, chairs, etc. When you’re done setting it up, time your kids as they dash through it.
22. Make a spider web. If you’ve got lots of yarn on hand, weave it throughout your living room, dining room, bedroom, anywhere in your house. Let your kiddos try to make their way over, under, and out of your web.
23. Play Balloon Tennis. Got an extra balloon or two? Blow them up and keep them in the air as long as you can! Use your hands, create your own paddles or grab a couple of fly swatters and start swatting!
24. Set up a smoothie station. Healthy snacks are a must and smoothies are a great way to get your kids eating their fruits and veggies. You can find tons of smoothie recipes online.
25. The Floor is Lava. Need I say more?
26. Have a reading hour (or half hour). Have everyone pick a book of their choice. Cuddle up on the couch and start reading.
27. Have a family workout session. Everybody get moving! You can create your own workout or find a workout online that everyone can follow.
28. Play card games, or even better, learn some card tricks and put on a magic show.
29. Make an art gallery. Everyone chooses their favorite crayons, paints, and pencils to create their own masterpieces! When you’re done, pick a wall, get the masking tape, and start hanging your new works of art.
30. DIY BINGO! Make your own BINGO boards, turn on your favorite 30-minute TV show and start playing. Make sure your BINGO cards center around whatever show your family chooses and be ready with fun prizes (candy, chocolate milk, you get the idea).
31. Have a dance party! Crank up the tunes and start dancing.
32. Closet cleanout! Since you’re stuck inside, you might as well put that time to good use and start cleaning out your closets. Get the kids involved! Have them go through their toys and books and choose some they would be willing to donate.
33. Start your Spring cleaning. Obviously, we know it’s still winter, but now is a great time to get a jump start on Spring cleaning. Let your kids take on chores they can handle.
34. Educational worksheets. Find some fun writing and math worksheets online to keep your kids engaged.
35. Take a nap (or at least have an hour of quiet time).
36. Write letters! Have everyone choose a relative to write a letter or send a drawing to. Let the kids bedazzle the envelopes to make it really special.
37. Make your own puppets. Have old socks lying around? How about brown paper lunch bags? Create some cute puppets and have a puppet show!
38. Paint your nails.
39. Play party games like Heads Up, Charades or Pictionary!
40. Make a bunch of different greeting cards. These come in so handy throughout the year and they have a personalized touch. Use glitter, stickers, stamps, washi tape, and any other craft items you have to create all kinds of cards!
41. Make your own play-doh. There are several recipes you can find online and you probably have all of the ingredients hanging out in your pantry.
42. Start planning your summer vacation. Nothing makes you want to go to a tropical paradise more than a cold, gray snow day. It is the perfect time to get your family in on summer vacation planning.
43. Make an activities jar. Have everyone write down two or three indoor or outdoor activities on slips of paper, fold them up, toss them in a bowl or jar and choose one at random every hour or two. This will break up any boredom and monotony your crew may be feeling.
44. Break out the family photo albums. You probably have some old family photos stored somewhere in your house. Pull them out and look at them together as a family. These will surely bring on plenty of belly laughs and sweet stories.
45. Have an Easter egg hunt. Still have those Easter eggs from last year? Pull them out, hide them around the house and let your kids start hunting. Add some coins or fruit gummies to the eggs if you’re feeling generous! For an even bigger challenge, hide them outside in the snow.
46. Play video games with your kids. It’s a snow day. You have permission to play video games. Let them teach you so you can say you learned something new…on a snow day…from your kid!
47. Play hotel. Have your kids pack a suitcase and travel to your own 5-start hotel. Have a check-in desk. Give them a “key” to a room. Offer room service and be sure to leave a chocolate on their pillow.
48. Play some trivia. This can be loads of fun, especially if you have older kids/teens.
49. Make paper snowflakes. Once you’ve cut them out, tape them to your windows or string them up and hang them around the house.
50. Make fruit and veggie chips! These are a favorite in my house. Slice up some vegetables (root vegetable are best) and fruits (apples, pears, bananas) into thin rounds, stick them in the oven or air fryer and voila! You’ve got healthy “chips” to munch on. Here is a great recipe to try!
