13 Winter Activities for Kids That Don't Require Snow
January hits different when you're a parent. The holidays are over, the decorations are down, and somehow the days feel twice as long even though it's dark by 4:30. The kids are bored, you're exhausted, and everyone's a little stir-crazy from being cooped up inside.
And if you live somewhere that doesn't get reliable snow, you don't even get the easy win of sending them outside to play in it. No sledding, no snowmen, no "go tire yourselves out in the yard." Just you, the kids, and a whole lot of winter left to get through.
The good news is you don't need snow to make winter fun. You don't need elaborate supplies or Pinterest-perfect setups either. Most of these winter activities for kids use stuff you already have, and they actually work when you're running on empty and need something that buys you a few minutes of peace.
These are the kinds of january crafts and projects that don't require a trip to the craft store or three hours of prep. Some are messy, some are calm, and all of them can be pulled together in under five minutes with stuff from around the house. That's the whole point, really, because nobody has the energy for complicated right now.
1. Cotton Ball Snowman
Grab some cotton balls, glue, and a piece of paper. Let them build a snowman by gluing cotton balls in a snowman shape, then draw on a face with markers.
Why it works: It's the kind of winter craft preschool teachers have been doing forever because it actually holds attention. The glue and cotton ball texture keeps little hands busy, and there's no wrong way to do it.
If you have googly eyes or buttons, even better. But markers work fine.
2. Ice Excavation
Freeze some small toys in a container of water overnight. The next day, give them warm water, spoons, and salt to excavate their treasures.
Why it works: There's a mission, and missions are everything at this age. They'll chip away at that ice way longer than you'd expect, and watching the ice crack and melt is genuinely satisfying.
Use a baking dish or plastic container you don't care about. The mess stays contained if you set it up in the sink or on a towel.
3. Paper Plate Penguin
A paper plate, some black paint or construction paper, and an orange triangle for the beak. That's it. Fold the plate in half if you want it to stand up, or leave it flat.
Why it works: Penguins are winter without needing snow, and this one's simple enough that even frustrated kids can finish it. The folding and gluing gives them something to do with their hands while you drink your coffee.
If you're already running low on ideas and it's only January, the Winter Activity Finder will help. You answer a few quick questions about what kind of day you're having and it gives you something that actually fits, no scrolling through Pinterest required.
4. Shaving Cream Snow
Squirt shaving cream on a tray or in the bathtub. Let them spread it around, draw in it, hide toys under it.
Why it works: It feels like snow, smells interesting, and provides sensory input without actual mess cleanup being a nightmare (especially in the tub). This is one of those preschool art activities winter teachers swear by.
Dollar store shaving cream works perfectly. Avoid the gel kind.
5. Snowflake Window Clings
Mix equal parts glue and dish soap, add a drop of blue food coloring if you want. Paint snowflake shapes on wax paper and let dry overnight. Peel off and stick to windows.
Why it works: They're making something that actually goes somewhere and stays there. Looking at their creation on the window for the next few weeks matters to them more than we realize.
6. Frozen Sidewalk Chalk Paint
If you have liquid sidewalk chalk or can mix up chalk and water, freeze it in ice cube trays with popsicle sticks. Paint on paper or cardboard with the frozen cubes.
Why it works: The cold melting chalk thing is weirdly fascinating to them. It combines winter art projects with something tactile and different from regular painting.
Works best on dark paper so the colors show up.
7. Pinecone Bird Feeders
If you've got pinecones from fall (or can find some outside), roll them in peanut butter and birdseed. Hang them outside and watch for birds.
Why it works: It's a project with an outcome they can see over days, not just minutes. Watching birds come to something they made is the kind of thing kids actually remember. This is one of those snow crafts that doesn't need actual snow.
Check for nut allergies first. Sunflower butter works too.
8. Indoor Snowball Fight
Crumple up white paper, old socks, or use cotton batting. Have a snowball fight in the living room.
Why it works: Burns energy, requires zero skill, and ends in laughter instead of tears. The cleanup is just picking up paper balls, which they can do themselves.
Set boundaries first about where you can and can't throw, or it escalates fast.
9. Winter Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with cotton balls, white pom poms, fake snow, silver pipe cleaners, and small winter figurines. Let them dig around and play.
Why it works: Sensory bins work because there's no right way to use them. Some kids sort, some kids bury things, some kids just run their hands through it. All of it counts as playing.
A shoe box works if you don't have big plastic bins.
10. Salt Painting
Draw a design with glue, pour salt over it, shake off the excess. Then drop watercolor or food coloring mixed with water onto the salt lines and watch it spread.
Why it works: The color spreading along the salt is almost magical to them, and this is one of those january crafts that looks way more impressive than the effort it takes. Good for when you want something that feels special without being complicated.
11. Mitten Matching Game
Trace mitten shapes on paper, cut them out, and draw matching patterns on pairs. Mix them up and let them find the matches.
Why it works: It's a game you can make in five minutes with stuff you have. They're practicing matching and patterns without it feeling like homework. Make more pairs to increase difficulty.
12. Hot Cocoa Playdough
Make regular playdough and add cocoa powder until it smells like hot chocolate. Give them rolling pins, cookie cutters, and small cups to "make" cocoa.
Why it works: The smell alone changes everything. Suddenly regular playdough becomes a whole new activity. They'll run a pretend hot cocoa shop for longer than you'd think possible.
Don't worry if they taste it. It's safe, just not delicious.
13. Hibernation Fort
Build a blanket fort and fill it with stuffed animals who are "hibernating." The kids' job is to keep them cozy and quiet.
Why it works: It gamifies being calm and quiet, which is basically sorcery. They're invested in the pretend narrative, and you get some actual peace while they tend to their sleeping animals.
Works best mid-afternoon when everyone needs a reset.
The Bottom Line
Winter doesn't need snow to be fun, and it doesn't need you to be the Pinterest parent either. Some of these will work great, some will flop after five minutes, and that's just how it goes with kids.
You're not failing because you're out of ideas by January 4th. That's just winter. These winter activities for kids exist because we've all been there, staring down a long cold afternoon with nothing planned and no energy to figure it out.
Tomorrow might be a great activity day. Today might be a "throw paper snowballs and call it good" day. Both count.
For When Things Settle Down
After all the glue and shaving cream and paper snowballs, sometimes you need something calm.
The Smart Sketch Workbook turns quiet time into actual skill-building. It's reusable, erasable, and keeps them busy tracing and creating without a screen.
"We went through three activities before she finally settled down with this. Twenty minutes of silence."
Thousands of parents use this for screen-free calm.