Winter officially begins December 21, and we know you might miss some indoor and group activities you\u2019ve enjoyed in past years. But even if you\u2019re socially distancing to keep you and your loved ones safe, you can still find many ways to enjoy the winter season with the family.<\/p>\n
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Have a snowman challenge with your family or neighbors. Give out prizes for the most creative and best-looking snow person.<\/p>\n
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Watch your favorite movies from your childhood and introduce them to your kids. Or try an \u2018Everyone\u2019s Favorite Movie\u2019 marathon. Each member of the family selects their favorite film to watch in a day-long marathon. Whip up some popcorn and fun treats and snuggle up together!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for a way to get creative, try making a wintry blizzard in a jar. Creating\u00a0mason jar snow globes<\/a>\u00a0can be done in a matter of minutes with just a few materials.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though the ice rinks may be closed, you can try\u00a0building your own backyard ice rink!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some people go all out during the holidays to decorate their home. Go for a family walk or drive and try to find the best house in your neighborhood. Pack some popcorn and turn on holiday tunes for the ride!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Making\u00a0snowman pancakes<\/a>\u00a0is a hands-on activity that you can do with early risers. If you\u2019re the cooking type, check out these\u00a0hot winter breakfast ideas.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gather the whole family together and learn about your shared history. Call or video chat grandparents and relatives tell stories about their childhoods. This engages both kids and extended family and forges a deeper generational connection. You can even write down their stories to pass down to future generations.<\/p>\n Here is a fillable family tree template for kids!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Explore a nearby park. Use it as a learning opportunity by looking for animal tracks, taking pictures, collecting items you find, and\u00a0making a collage<\/a>. Research the items you pick up or photograph and include their descriptions in your final piece.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Try making your own\u00a0winter wreath<\/a>! Hang it on the front door or over your fireplace. This serves as both a fun activity and a way to spruce up the house for the holidays. Wreathes are also a great gift idea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If weather allows, snow forts are a great way to get out of the house, get some exercise, and inspire little imaginations. For a warmer option, use pillows and blankets to\u00a0make a fort in the living room<\/a>! Challenge each other to make the best fort and have a cozy slumber party.<\/p>\n Dig out your pile of board games and challenge each other to Clue, Candy Land or a good ol\u2019 fashioned Checkers tournament.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Devote an entire day to doing good deeds. Help out at your local\u00a0food bank<\/a>, volunteer to walk dogs at your local animal shelter, or shovel an elderly neighbor\u2019s driveway. But first, look up any relevant COVID-19 restrictions for your local volunteer organizations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Create your own face masks, lotions, and soaps to use for a DIY spa day. Here are some\u00a0easy body scrub recipes<\/a>\u00a0for a fun and relaxing day at the “spa.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Use some\u00a0clear, plastic ornaments<\/a>\u00a0to get crafty with your kids. Choose from various craft materials, like glow-in-the-dark beads and puffy paint, to make one of these DIY ornaments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Find the best hill in your area and go tobogganing! Don\u2019t forget to bring hot chocolate in a thermos to warm up later.<\/p>\n If your city allows,\u00a0set up a backyard fire pit\u00a0<\/a>and start a winter campfire, complete with s\u2019mores and scary stories. The sound of the fire crackling is enough to make it worthwhile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Work alone or as a family to make some beautiful\u00a0cross-stitch art<\/a>\u00a0for holiday decorations or gifts.<\/p>\n Bring the wintery wonderland inside with\u00a0paper snowflakes<\/a>! Try adding some food coloring for a tie-dye effect or use colored construction paper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hit the neighborhood hills with your little ones and enjoy an outdoor adventure sure to burn off some energy!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pull the family together to make your favorite cookie recipe. Or ask friends and family members for their favorite cookie recipe and try it out. If you don\u2019t have any, then start your own family cookie traditions!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Put treasured mementos such as photos, ticket stubs and postcards in a shoebox or photo album. Hide it somewhere in the house or in the backyard. If your family is feeling adventurous, take a drive to your favorite place and hide it there.<\/p>\n Enjoy an entire day and evening in your pajamas\u2026 really shake things up and have breakfast for dinner!<\/p>\n Prepare your little ones for the cold with these super cute\u00a0monster gloves<\/a>. The kids can decorate them however they want using felt, pompoms, googly eyes, and more!<\/p>\n Encourage the kids to put on their favorite outfits or costumes and perform a show to their favorite songs. Don\u2019t forget to pull out your camera to record their performances\u2026 these will be memories you\u2019ll want for the future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Giving back is always important, especially during the colder months. Make your own blanket by using a\u00a0chunky knit blanket tutorial\u00a0<\/a>or buy a new one for people in your community who need some extra warmth. Be sure to ask family and friends to pitch in and give winter coats and blankets, too. Then go together and donate them<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Make a simple homemade bird feeder using\u00a0pine cones<\/a>, peanut butter, birdseed and a little bit of string. Or try out this\u00a0bird feeder craft<\/a>, then hang them up and spend an afternoon bird watching. See if you can identify which birds come to visit!<\/p>\n Here are a couple easy to use bird guide apps to download:<\/p>\n Try your hand at a creative\u00a0gingerbread house idea<\/a>\u00a0for a sweet, seasonal decoration that you can make with your kids. To simplify things, try using one of these\u00a0gingerbread kits<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Send some cheerful holiday greetings to your loved ones with one of these personalized\u00a0Christmas card ideas\u00a0<\/a>or a New Year’s card. Make\u00a0greeting cards<\/a>\u00a0for residents of a local nursing home to send holiday cheer for those missing loved ones during the pandemic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you choose to scavenge inside or out, it makes no difference! Set up clues for the kids to follow to find the treasure (maybe it leads to another activity on this list). Or have the kids set up their own scavenger hunts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Try this\u00a0easy homemade caramel corn recipe<\/a>! It is super yummy and easy to make!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gather everyone together and talk about goals for 2021. Then creatively\u00a0display those goals<\/a>\u00a0around the house.\u00a0Here are a few ideas<\/a>\u00a0if your family needs help with writing resolutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whip up one of these\u00a0creative drinks<\/a>, and build a hot cocoa bar with whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, cherries and everything else to make for a fun night of indoor sipping.<\/p>\n\n
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