10 fun and creative DIY activities to try with your kids this Winter

Winter is here, and that means snow days, chilly evenings, and the perfect excuse to get creative with the kids. If you’re looking for ways to keep them entertained (and away from screens), these 10 creative DIY activities are just what you need.

These ideas, including both indoor and outdoor activities, will help you make the most of the season and create memories together. So grab some basic supplies, gather the little ones, and prepare for some winter magic. Let’s make this season a creative one!

Indoor Activities

1. Snow Shovel

• What you’ll need: Small plastic cups or containers, cotton balls or pom-poms.

• How to play: Set up a “snow” scooping station using cotton balls or small white pom-poms and give each person a spoon or mini shovel. The challenge? They’re blindfolded! They must scoop as many “snowballs” as possible into a bowl within a set time—without using their hands! It's a simple but hilarious game that gets everyone moving.

Source: TikTok

2. Reindeer Hoof

• What you’ll need: Solo cups, marshmallows, timer.

• How to play: Each player puts a solo cup on each hand, making “hooves,” and has 30 seconds to gather as many marshmallows as possible without using their fingers. The limited grip makes this game a hilarious test of creativity and coordination!

Source: TikTok

3. Rock & Roll

• What you’ll need: Small balls, plastic cups, small prizes, markers for labelling points.

• How to play: Set up cups across a table, each labelled with different points and prizes. Players roll a ball across the table, aiming to land it in a cup. The one with the most points at the end wins! It's a fun mix of skill and luck, perfect for friendly competition.

Source: TikTok

4. Flip Cup Tic Tac Toe

• What you’ll need: Plastic cups and a Tic Tac Toe board (drawn on paper or a table).

• How to play:  Each player places a cup slightly over the edge of the table, facing down. Using their fingers, they try to flip the cup so it lands face-down. Once a player successfully flips a cup, they place it on a square of the tic-tac-toe board. The aim is to get three in a row! This unique spin on a classic game encourages patience and precision as players compete to mark their spot.

Source: TikTok

5. Siblings Telepathy Game

• What you’ll need: A scoreboard (or paper to keep score), questions, and for the second version, a bowl of small coloured balls and a divider (like a cardboard screen).

• How to play: 
  
  Version 1: Siblings take turns answering questions about each other—like favourite colour, favourite snack, or funniest memory. If the sibling being questioned gets the answer right, they score a point. Continue through as many rounds as you want and tally the points to declare a winner, who gets a small prize.
  
  Version 2: For a telepathic twist, set up a bowl of small coloured balls with a divider between the siblings so they can’t see each other’s picks. One sibling picks a coloured ball, and the other has to guess the colour. If they guess correctly, they earn a point. Keep track of scores to see who has the best sibling “telepathy” skills!

Source: TikTok

6. Create a DIY Snow (Shaving Cream + Baking Soda)

• What you’ll need: Shaving cream and baking soda

• What to do: Mix the shaving cream and baking soda to create a soft, moldable, snow-like substance that kids can play with indoors. It’s a fun sensory activity that feels just like real snow! For a bonus science experiment, pour vinegar over the DIY snow at the end and watch how the two ingredients react. It's a simple, exciting home science project that amazes kids!

Source: TikTok

Outdoor Activities

7. Build a Snow Fort or Igloo

• What you’ll need: Snow, shovels, and buckets.

• How to Build: Gather everyone to help build a cosy snow fort or igloo. Whether you’re creating walls, tunnels, or a roof, it’s the perfect snowy adventure. Once it’s built, it becomes the ideal spot for hours of outdoor play and chilling. You can even compete to see who can create the most creative structure!

8. Backyard Toy Hunt 

• What you’ll need: Toys or items hidden in the snow.

• What to do: Hide small toys in the snow and challenge the kids to find them. Set a timer and see who can uncover the most toys in a set amount of time. This outdoor scavenger hunt is perfect for a winter adventure, with the added thrill of snow to make it extra exciting!

9. DIY Winter Wondermobile 

• What you’ll need: String, sticks, a bowl or baking pan, water, and natural finds like pinecones or leaves. 

• What to do: Arrange the sticks inside a bowl or baking pan and pour water over them. Place the string(s) so that only half of each string is submerged in the water, with the other half hanging outside the container. Leave the setup outside to freeze. Once frozen, gently remove the ice from the container and hang it on a tree or yard. The strings help support the ice, creating a beautiful, icy mobile that adds a magical winter touch to your outdoor space.

10. Build a DIY Backyard Ice Rink

• What you’ll need: Wooden boards, stakes or supports, a large tarp or strong plastic sheet, and water.

• How to Build:  First, build a simple frame using wooden boards and secure them with stakes or any strong supports. The frame needs to be sturdy enough to hold water without bending. For the liner, use a large tarp or thick plastic sheeting to cover the inside of the frame. Make sure it’s big enough to fit over the edges of the frame for a good seal. The most important part is to ensure the ground is as high as possible—this helps the water freeze evenly.
  
  Once your frame is ready and the liner is in place, fill it with water. Depending on the size of your rink, it can take a few hours to fill up, so be patient. After it freezes, you’ll have your very own backyard ice rink, perfect for winter fun!

Source: TikTok

Conclusion

Winter is the perfect time to get creative and make the most of the chilly days with these fun and imaginative DIY activities. Whether you're indoors or braving the cold outside, these activities are a fantastic way to bond with your kids, learn something new, and make lasting memories. 

From crafting snow forts to experimenting with DIY snow, each activity offers a chance to enjoy the season in a unique way. So, gather your supplies, embrace the winter wonderland, and let the fun begin! Which activity are you most excited to try first? Let us know!