7 Indoor Games & Activities to Keep Kids Active and Engaged During the Winter
Written by Pakhi Rewri | October 22, 2025
Introduction
Every new season brings a plethora of opportunities to learn, explore, and make memories of a lifetime. With winter approaching very soon, it's time for parents to think of out-of-the-box ideas to make this season full of creativity and fun. While staying outside and playing in the cold winter air can be fun, it may also expose a child to the risk of catching health problems.
Hence, one of the best ways to keep kids entertained is to plan some intriguing indoor activities. Kids can stay cozy yet indulge in fascinating games and activities that teach them new skills and help them avoid boredom. It's also one of the best ways to keep kids away from using mobile phones while watching TV for a long time.
Indoor Games to Keep Kids Active and Engaged
Winter calls for warm sweaters, hot drinks, and lots of fun. The transition from summer to winter has already begun, and it's time to shift one's routine according to that. Other than modifying dietary preferences and taking out sweaters, it's also important to take care of your child's engagement. Since winter may restrict outdoor play a little, parents may incorporate the following indoor games into their child's routine to keep them active and engaged.
Ice Excavation
This is a fun activity that can be extremely engaging for preschoolers. Parents can freeze some small toys overnight by immersing them in water and keeping them in the refrigerator. The toys may include small cars, seashells, and anything else that's available at home. Now in the morning, parents may take these ice blocks out and then set them up on a table. Parents may give some excavating tools to their child, such as a rolling pen, a plastic hammer, or a spoon. Parents may also give a squeeze bottle of warm water to their children which can help in softening the ice and freeing the items.
Make Hot Cocoa Drink
There is nothing like a sweet and warm cup of hot cocoa, especially on a cold winter evening. This can be a special treat for a child. Moreover, it may also offer parents the opportunity to spend some bonding time with their child. To make this experience even more special, parents can try making a hot cup of cocoa with their child at home. This may also help the child learn basic cooking. One can also add lots of whipped cream and marshmallows to make it more decadent.
Build Cozy Forts
A cozy winter activity can be building a small fort at home, using pillows and lots of cushions. It can be the ultimate hideaway for one’s child and ensure a lot of fun and creativity. A child may assemble different types of pillows and put them all together to create a tall fort. One may also use some bedsheets and a bamboo stick to assemble the fort properly. In this fort, one can put in a torch to make the fort look beautiful.
Winter Storytime
When it comes to different types of indoor activities, nothing can beat the charm of a classic storytime session. For this, kids can snuggle in a blanket and read a stack of winter-themed books. Kids may also choose various types of characters to build stories of their own. Parents may read classic tales like Peter Pan, Cinderella, Akbar and Birbal to enhance a child's imagination and also vocabulary. This can be a great alternative to watching TV as it's equally or even more fun.
Obstacle Course
To create an obstacle course at home, parents may use pillows, small furniture like chairs and tables. This is the best way to utilize a child's energy and discourage a sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, parents may also use different types of plastic toys to decorate the obstacle course. Simple challenges, such as jumping over the snow bank or climbing the pillow mountain, can be created at home. It doesn't require anything fancy, and with a little bit of creativity, kids may be able to do wonders.
Musical Jam
A musical jam can be a great way of experimenting with the family to do something fantastic and entertain the toddlers. If one doesn't have a lot of instruments at home, they can be created using different items. For example, one may use a pot and a pan to make a drum. Jars can be filled with rice to make shakers. Similarly, one can use clapping and stomping to create other musical sounds. All the family members can assemble to create a jam and even authentic songs that can go with these musical instruments.
Winter Art
Winter art and craft activities are a perfect way to keep the child engaged for longer hours. One can arrange different types of stationery such as blue, child pencils, painting, colours, and more. Kids may make small snowflakes, penguins, and mittens to decorate. Moreover, if one doesn't have a lot of art supplies at home, then with simple coloured pencils in a drawing sheet, one can go a long way. They may draw their favourite cold climate creatures and beautiful scenery as well.
Conclusion
These are some of the best ways to keep your child engaged during winter. Such activities may promote a lot of fun, learning, and let your child utilise their time constructively. The best part about these activities is that they can be done indoors, so your child doesn't have to stay out in the cold for long hours.