In this post, we’ll look at fifteen incredibly fun and clever indoor winter activities for toddlers to help you bust the cold day boredom and avoid unnecessary screen time!
Published: 10/5/24
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I’m not gonna lie on this one because I know all my toddler moms can relate when I say, sometimes the hardest part of parenting a toddler is keeping them from boredom!
Boredom isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact I think it can be healthy. But in the winter when it’s too cold to play outside, sometimes there’s just too much boredom.
Be prepared for the cold months this year by having a few easy ideas in your back pocket to get your toddlers engaged and moving when it gets frigid.
I’m the kind of mom that is easily deterred by activities that take too much prep or time to set up.
So I’ve compiled a list of the best indoor winter activities for toddlers that require little to no prep but are guaranteed to be fun for your little ones (and maybe even you too!)
Don’t be afraid of the cold days and early sunsets this winter!
15 Indoor Winter Activities for Toddlers
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1. Visit Your Local Mall
Credit: @scofield.mom
If you haven’t already discovered this one, your local mall is a gold mine for toddlers and small children.
Many malls have small play places throughout the building with different areas to climb and explore.
Even if your mall doesn’t have playgrounds, though, it’s still a large space where your toddler can walk around and look at different lights and displays!
2. Snow Sensory Bin
Credit: @raising_a_and_m
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Utilize what you can get for free and in excess in the middle of winter: snow!
Obviously, children love to play in the snow. If the temperatures are too chilly to have them safely outside, though, bring the snow inside.
All you need are a few shovels and “tools” to get them gleefully working elbows deep in a sensory bin full of snow. Pro tip: fill another bin with warm water and let them play around melting the snow!
3. Visit the Library
I vividly remember absolutely loving going to the library as a kid. There’s always something for children at the library!
Whether your cuddle up in the kids section with some new books to read through or attend a hosted event, your time at the library is bound to be educational.
I don’t know if they still have desktop computers at the library that you can check out, but I used to love playing computer games on those.
4. Wrapping and Unwrapping “Presents”
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Half the fun of opening presents on Christmas morning is simply tearing the paper away from the box!
At least that is probably half the fun for a sensory seeking toddler.
Everyone who’s parented a toddler knows that they have a certain destructive nature to them derived from sheer curiosity. Normally we can’t let them act on those impulses, but it’s nice to create circumstances where they can.
Just wrap some empty boxes or other strangely shaped things in pretty wrapping paper then let them tear and destroy to their heart’s desire.
5. First Saturdays at Home Depot
If you didn’t know, Home Depot has an incredible children’s workshop program that takes place at every store on the first Saturday of the month.
It’s for children of all ages and they get to build different projects and work with child appropriate tools.
Not only is this a super fun activity for little ones, but they’re also learning about and being introduced to very valuable life skills at a young age!
6. Club Style Dance Party
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One of my favorite things about my childhood and something I believe my parents did absolutely RIGHT was having weekly dance parties.
Every Sunday we would turn up whatever random music, sometimes the Lion King soundtrack, sometimes classical music, and just go nuts dancing.
It’s an amazing way or kids and parents to be silly together! Just buy some fun colorful lights then turn off any overhead lights for an extra fun “clubbing” dance party.
7. Indoor Gymnastics Gym
This may not be a viable option for those that live in more rural areas, but even where I live in South Dakota, our local gymnastics gyms host open gym time!
Every week there’s dedicated time for different age groups to come and play on the gymnastics equipment.
I know that toddlers love this because let’s be honest, what ADULT wouldn’t want to do this?
8. Floor Wash Ice Rink
Again, pulling from my own childhood on this one, but I had to include this because I remember loving this so much as a kid.
We had linoleum tile floors in our kitchen and my sister and I would ask to clean it with soap and water, but we’d actually just end up using the whole floor like a slip and slide.
Encourage knee pads and elbow pads as your kids “skate” from one end of the kitchen to the next in this makeshift indoor ice rink. Plus, the floor gets clean, so it’s a win win!
9. Grocery Store Sampling
Credit: @thatpunjabimom
Not all grocery stores go crazy on the samples, but if you live near a Costco or Sam’s Club and have a membership, then going sample shopping is a great afternoon activity.
What toddler doesn’t love snacks? And what mom doesn’t love free snacks for their toddler?
Not only can you get some grocery shopping done, but your toddler will also have the best time trying to find all the sample stations!
10. Create Christmas Decorations
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Crafts are always a go to in our household because my toddler loves them, and honestly so do I!
It’s a great way to get off my phone, get my hands busy, and spend some quality creative time with my little one.
Save money and create the festive nostalgic holiday home of your dreams by creating Christmas crafts that can double as decor! Think cut out paper snowflakes, felt Christmas villages, and clay snowmen.
11. Make an Indoor Jungle Gym
We’ve probably all been a part of the classic indoor fort creations, but let me introduce you to its better and more fun cousin, the indoor jungle gym.
My toddler LOVES to climb and I know he has a hard time in the colder months when we can’t go to the playground every day.
So I do my best to bring the playground to him by layering couch cushions, folded blankets, kitchen chairs, and whatever else I can find to make a living room play place!
12. Butcher Paper Table Cover
Credit: @developing.minds
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This idea is a classic but it’s something I somehow always forget about. Butcher paper is so cheap, but it can transform the way your family approaches craft time.
All toddlers ever want to do the moment they get a coloring utensil in their hand is make marks on all the furniture.
Instead of saying no and trying to control their experience, cover the walls and furniture in butcher paper so they can freely cover wherever they get inspired!
13. Bake a Sweet Treat
If you’ve never seen the videos on TikTok of the amazing mom creator Sam Mcdonald having “Ooh Baby Kitchen” time with her sweet toddler Maisie, then you’re missing out.
Baking with your child is a wonderful sensory, motor skill, and independence exercise for them.
The key is to go into it with a lot of patience. If you are already expecting to make a mess and not have things be perfect, then you won’t be frustrated when that’s the outcome!
14. Clay or Play-Doh Snowmen
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I’ve never met a kid that doesn’t love making snowmen. However, I have met plenty of winters that have just been too cold to allow that kind of ground play.
If the day is particularly frigid, then encourage your toddler to create snowmen out of clay or play-do!
You can frame it as “snowman practice” so they can perfect their form and technique before the real thing outside.
15. Stair Sledding
Credit: @erin.e.clark
Now I saved this idea for last because I KNEW that this would probably be a controversial idea. Hear me out, though.
We’ve all seen Princess Diaries 2 and wanted to recreate the mattress surfing scene down the stairs. I know your toddlers will be so excited to try something this seemingly daring.
In my opinion, there is definitely a safe way to do this! Helmets are probably a good idea as well as clothes with lots of padding. If you’re worried about stair railings, they can be covered in blankets and pillows.
It would also be wise to cushion the landing at the base of the stairs with pillows as well. After all, you know what they say about letting kids do dangerous things safely!
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