A mother, father, and their two sons sit outside on a winter day, bundled up in winter clothing and laughing.
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The ultimate guide to winter activities for kids

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Ahhh, winter. Here in Canada the days are shorter, the temperatures are colder, and the skies are usually a bit greyer. But the snow! Oh, the snow! There are so many opportunities to revel in the white gold of the season.

While some might want to hibernate, snuggle under blankets and wait for warmer temperatures, the winter provides a whole range of unique ways to enjoy the great outdoors. And when it’s a day for indoor play, there are lots of activities for your kids or even the whole family to enjoy. 

No matter what the season, it’s important for kids to keep moving all year round. Check out these budget-friendly activities and get ready to enjoy one of the best seasons of all. In this guide we’ll cover:

The importance of winter activities for children

Staying active at any time of year is important for your child’s confidence, for instilling a love of movement, and for developing skills including balance, coordination, and strength. In winter, this is no less so.

The benefits of children staying active in winter

Traditional winter activities: When can my child sled, ski, or snowboard?

At what age can my child go sledding?

Tobogganing down snowy hills is an invigorating activity enjoyed by everyone from kids to adults. Keeping everyone safe needs to be a priority and, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society, kids under the age of five should never go down a hill alone. SickKids Hospital, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, gives the following safety tips:

  • helmets should always be worn
  • long scarves or loose clothing should not be worn—they can get caught on obstacles
  • avoid hills with trees or poles or hills with roads or bodies of water at the end

At what age can my child go skiing?

It’s not uncommon to see kids as young as 18 months zipping down hills. But most ski schools recommend that a child starts skiing between the ages of three and five. At these ages, kids have the basic skills, such as balance and coordination, necessary to ski. They can follow instructions and are excited to learn new things.

At what age can my child go snowboarding?

As with skiing, a child needs the necessary balance, coordination, and lower body strength to learn to snowboard. And with both sports, it’s critical that kids are never left alone on a hill when they’re young. 

Important tips for all three activities

To keep your kids safe, ensure that they’re on a hill that matches their skill level, stay with them, check to make sure no one is speeding down the hill towards them, have them pay attention to signs, and discuss with them the importance of staying in the areas marked safe. Encouragement, telling your child how proud you are of them, and just being together are the best parts of the learning process!

A girl toboggans down a hill with a smile on her face, while her father and younger sibling watch from the top of the hill.

20 fun outdoor winter activities for kids and families

Embrace the uniqueness of the winter weather and head out with your kids to soak it all in. Here are some great activities to try.

Outdoor winter activities for 1 year olds

Snowy walks: Bundle your baby in a warm stroller with a weather shield and go for a winter stroll. Take time to allow your child to get out and walk when you come across a fun place to explore.

Tummy time: Lay a waterproof blanket on the snow, and let your baby feel the texture of the snow while staying warm and dry.

Sensory snow bottles: Fill clear bottles with water, glitter, and natural elements like leaves and snow for babies to shake and explore.

Snow peek-a-boo: Gently sprinkle small amounts of snow near your baby for a sensory experience, ensuring it doesn’t touch their face.

Snow sweeping: Provide your child with a child-sized broom or brush to clear off areas, make patterns in the snow, or just have fun moving the snow around.

Outdoor winter activities for 2 year olds

Snow forts: Use small buckets and shovels to build castles, forts, or simple walls.

Snow painting: Fill spray bottles or squeeze bottles with coloured water for creative snow art.

Winter scavenger hunt: Use this handy winter scavenger hunt [PDF] to look for items such as pine cones and leaves, spot a winter bird or empty nest, or find a frozen puddle. (Not all birds head south for the winter. Check out which birds stick around during winter before you head outside. Maybe your toddler will be able to name the birds when they spot them!)

Ice bubbles: Use regular old bubble juice or make a special formula to see how beautiful bubbles look in the cold. Watch as the icy globes land on surfaces or see if your kids can catch the bubbles before they pop.

Snow angels: Have your child lie in the snow and move their arms up and down along the snow from their heads to their legs and their legs out and back. Help them get up carefully and admire their angel creation.

And for even more great ideas, check out this complete list of outdoor winter activities for 2 year olds.

Outdoor winter activities for 3 year olds

Snowball target practice: Set up targets (like a bucket, a hula hoop, or a snowman) for kids to hit with snowballs.

Snowshoeing adventures: Use kid-sized snowshoes to explore trails or your backyard.

Winter animals movements: Before you head outside, watch a short video about winter animals. Can your child hop like a snow hare? Crawl like a bear? Flap their arms like a snowy owl? Waddle like a penguin? Check out more fun movement ideas here.

Mini winter obstacle course: Use snow tunnels, small mounds for climbing, and cones for zigzag running or crawling.

Snowy rolling: Find a hill of whatever height you and they are most comfortable with. Have them cross their arms around their body and set themselves a-rollin’!

Outdoor winter activities for 4 year olds

Snow volcano: With just a few simple ingredients, your kids can have an erupting good time. Build a small hill or mound of snow, hollow out a small hole in the top, and insert a cup or other small container. Fill the container with a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of food colouring. Have your child pour in vinegar and then stand back to watch the “lava” flow. As the bubbling starts to slow, add more vinegar and baking soda (you can stir up the baking soda from the bottom of the cup too) to get the volcano erupting again.

Ice sculpture creations: Search with your kids in your backyard or neighbourhood for natural materials like leaves, berries, twigs, and nuts. Have your kids place them in containers with water alone or with food colouring. Freeze the containers overnight, either outside or in your freezer, and let your kids place them outdoors to make a beautiful display.

Build a snow creature: For kids who might not be tall enough to build a classic snowman, how about a number of large snowballs pushed together to make a snow caterpillar? Could they create a snow turtle? Or a creature of their own imagination?

Animal tracks: Head out for a hike and look for animal prints. Bring along a list and photos of which animal belongs with which prints and see how many you can identify.

Balance beam: Create your own beam with packed snow. Working with the space and amount of snow you have, you can create a long beam, a beam that has turns, or a beam that has step-ups to different heights mid-walk. Can your child walk forwards? Backwards? Walk while holding three snowballs?

Plus, find a whole list of great outdoor activities for 4 year olds here.

20 fun indoor activities for kids and families

When you feel like you need some indoor time (because let’s face it, sometimes it’s just TOO cold out!) it’s great to have some ideas on hand that involve movement, creativity, and family bonding. Keep your kids moving indoors in the winter with some fun games and activities.

Indoor winter activity activities for 1 year olds

We’ve got this great list of indoor activities for infants, but if you’re looking for even more, here are a few fun ideas:

Tummy time with mirrors: Place a small mirror in front of your baby during tummy time to encourage movement and exploration.

Soft ball rolling: Roll a soft ball back and forth to promote reaching and coordination.

Sensory bins: Use safe materials like measuring spoons, soft toys, pieces of material, or textured objects for sensory play.

Toy rescue: Using a roll of painter’s tape (it won’t leave marks on walls or other surfaces!), tape your child’s small toys—such as cars, stuffed animals or dinosaurs—to your floors, the legs of a table, the walls, or other sturdy spots. Have your child rescue them by removing the tape.

Strike up the band: Provide your child with music-making objects from around your home such as pots, spoons, keys, an empty container filled with dry beans, muffin tins, etc. Their creativity will take off as they explore the many sounds they can make.

A toddler sits in his living room, banging pots and pans with a wooden spoon.

Indoor winter activity activities for 2 year olds

Dance parties: Play upbeat music and let toddlers move freely or imitate simple actions like clapping or stomping.

Indoor fort building: Use blankets, pillows, and furniture to create cozy spaces for imaginative play.

Keep the balloon up: Your child can play this with you or by themselves. How long can they keep a balloon in the air without letting it touch the ground?

Hammer time: Stick several golf tees partway into a styrofoam block or shoe box and have your child use a kids’ hammer to pound them all the way in.

Indoor snowballs: Crinkle up some old newspaper or regular paper into “snowballs” and provide your child with a target to throw at or into. 

And if you have an energetic 2 year old (who doesn’t?), here’s a great list of energy-busting indoor activities for 2 year olds.

Indoor winter activity activities for 3 year olds

DIY obstacle course: Create a course with tunnels, cushions, and hula hoops to crawl through, jump on, or balance on.

Bowling: Line up items such as empty paper towel rolls, toy bowling pins, or empty tennis ball containers in a bowling pin configuration. Have your child use soft balls to kick or roll over the items. If it gets too easy, line up the items further away or further apart.

Car wash: Fill a sink or plastic tub with water and some dish soap. Provide sponges, scrub brushes, and cloths and let your kids wash their waterproof cars, animals, or balls.

Stuffed animal hide & seek: Have your child pick out a favourite stuffie and take turns hiding it. How quickly can you each find it? 

Dress-up: Pull together a collection of clothing items and accessories for your child to use from their or your closet. Kids love pretending to be different people using scarves, sunglasses, purses, ties, suit jackets, boots, aprons, etc. 

Plus even more: Indoor activities for 3 year olds

Indoor winter activities for 4 year olds

Long jump: Using painter’s tape as the starting line, have your child start from there and see how far they can jump. 

Pillow walk: Set up a path of pillows on your floor and have your child walk from one end to the other. Their balance will be tested but the challenge will be fun!

Skating: Bring the outdoor winter activity in! Give your child two washcloths or paper plates and have them use these as their “skates.” Watch as they glide across the floor!

Be the weather: Even if you’re out of the weather, you can still be part of it! Talk to your kids about the different types of weather and act them out together. Sway like the wind, make a crashing noise like lightning, pitter patter with your feet like raindrops or spin like a tornado. 

Frisbee throwing: Bring this fun, spinny sport indoors! Reduce the chances of broken items around your home by using a paper plate or a lid from a yogurt container and get throwing! 

And even more: Indoor activities for 4 year olds to enjoy

A mom and her son and daughter make cookies in the kitchen, with cozy fairy lights shining in the background.

Hygge winter activities for families with small children

Hygge (pronounced who-guh) is a Danish and Norwegian word that defines the feelings of coziness, contentment, comfort, unwinding, taking things slowly, and creating, or being in, atmospheres that bring well-being. It means being connected with the people you love. 

Feelings of hygge can be created and enjoyed all year round but coziness and comfort are especially appealing during winter’s cold temperatures and shorter periods of sunlight. So how can we encourage hygge in families with small children?

  • Create cozy reading corners with blankets and pillows to snuggle into after active play.
  • Enjoy warm, healthy snacks like soups after outdoor adventures.
  • Combine hygge moments with gentle indoor movement such as stretching or gentle yoga movements. 
  • Take a break from screens and enjoy family time together playing board games. 
  • Have a meal by a cozy fireplace.
  • Cook or bake some favourite recipes together.

Winter break activities for families

When you have kids of varying ages, it’s fun to do activities that all can enjoy. Play outside or inside—or head out for fun activities all kids will love. 

Library: Trips to the library don’t always include reading and book-borrowing anymore (although who doesn’t love a good book?). Across the country, libraries have craft clubs, exercise classes, music classes, multicultural celebrations, and SO much more.

Rock climbing: Keep your kids from climbing the walls at home and take them rock climbing. People from age two to 92 can participate! Here’s how to get started.

Star gazing: Once the sun sets, bundle everyone up, bring out blankets and chairs, and gaze at the sea of twinkling lights overhead. Point out constellations like the Big Dipper or let your kids find their own patterns in the sky. 

Go to the zoo: From winter animals roaming outdoors to indoor fish and alligators, there’s always lots to see. 

Go skating: Find a local indoor or outdoor rink and glide together!

Winter animals: Build bird feeders for feathery friends that don’t head south for the winter or go for a hike and look for prints in the snow. 

Go swimming: Find out when your local pool has family time and head over for some fun in the sun water!

And if you’re looking for activities for just your older kids, we’ve got you covered there too. 

Four kids lie in the snow on a sunny winter day, laughing and making snow angels.

What winter gear to buy for children?

When gearing up your kids for outdoor winter fun, keep in mind that once a child sees snow, there’s a very high chance that they’ll want to interact with it. They’ll roll in it, make snow creatures and snow forts with it, and slide in it.

  • Rule #1 for dressing your kid for the winter: Aim for waterproof clothing.
  • Rule #2 (just as important!): Keep them warm. We know that we lose most of our heat through our extremities so it’s important to keep your child’s hands, feet, and heads protected from the cold and wind.
  • Rule 3#: Layer, layer, layer!
  • Rule #4: Avoid cotton shirts as a base layer. Cotton retains moisture, so when your child ends up sweating (as they do when they’re running and climbing), it will trap the moisture, making your kids colder.

With all these rules in mind, the following items are essential for keeping your kids warm, protected from frostbite, and comfortable enough to want to remain outside.

  • Waterproof gloves or mitts
  • Warm coat or parka
  • Snow pants
  • Hats or balaclavas 
  • Warm boots
  • Thick socks
  • Neck warmers (often better than scarves, which can get caught on playground equipment)
  • Insulating base layers made of moisture-wicking material such as merino wool, bamboo, polyester, or nylon
Dressing kids for winter printable

Canada is known for having an amazing range of winter activities, festivals, installations, and celebrations. Whether you’re staying local or travelling within the country during the winter, check out these fun activities the whole family will enjoy:

Vancouver winter activities

Edmonton winter activities

Banff winter activities

Calgary winter activities

Ontario winter activities

Toronto winter activities

Ottawa winter activities

Montreal winter activities

  • Explore the dazzling creations at the annual Lumino celebration
  • Toboggan, skate, cross-country ski. or snowshoe at Angrignon Park

Quebec City winter activities

Halifax winter activities

A mother, father, and their two children snowshoe along a winter trail through a snowy forest.

Important winter safety reminders

As with any time of the year, winter comes with a need to stay safe. We recommend:

  • Dressing in layers for warmth and mobility. Here’s more on how to dress for the weather in every season.
  • Staying hydrated even in cold weather.
  • Wearing sunscreen, because snow can reflect the sun’s rays. The Canadian Dermatology Association recommends protecting your skin between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Staying away from frozen ponds or other bodies of water without knowing exact ice thickness.
  • Keeping an eye on the temperature to protect your child from frostbite. The Canadian Paediatric Society suggests keeping kids indoors when the temperature or wind chill is -27°C or lower.
  • Staying away from snow plows, Zambonis, and other snow-related machinery 

Stay warm this winter and have fun!

Winter is an ideal time to develop physical literacy, bond as a family, and enjoy the outdoors. Stay warm, stay safe, and have fun!

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