Fun winter activities: Recreations that children can enjoy
We’ve gathered winter activities that kids can enjoy!
In addition to classic seasonal pastimes perfect for winter—like kite flying and spinning tops—we also introduce a variety of outdoor games and recreational activities that will warm them up.
Some children aren’t fond of playing outside because it’s so cold in winter.
On the other hand, some kids want to play outside a lot even when it’s chilly.
This article features both indoor and outdoor activities, so find the ones your kids want to try!
These are great for elementary school recreation, and we’ve also included fingerplay songs and traditional children’s songs, so feel free to incorporate them into early childhood care as well!
Fun Winter Activities: Recreations Kids Can Enjoy (1–10)
Finger-knitted scarf making
If you’re thinking, “It’s cold outside, and I want activities the kids can really enjoy indoors,” this is a must-see.
How about knitting your own scarf, a winter essential, this cold season? Knitting can seem difficult, but as long as you have yarn, there’s an easy method that uses just your fingers.
There aren’t any complicated steps requiring fine finger movements—it’s a simple, repetitive process, so kids quickly get the hang of it and can keep knitting more and more.
A scarf they make themselves is sure to be a favorite! It would be wonderful for parents and children to make matching scarves together, too.
They also make great gifts for friends.
Create a scarf you love and enjoy a warm, cozy winter.
Battledore and shuttlecock
Perfect for the New Year! How about enjoying hagoita, a traditional Japanese New Year’s paddle game, together with the kids? First, cut cardboard into the shape of a paddle.
We recommend using slightly thicker cardboard.
The shuttlecock can be easily made by folding origami paper.
It’s nice that you can enjoy it with everyday materials.
Try lots of play: two people can face each other and rally the shuttlecock back and forth, or one person can keep tapping it without letting it fall.
This is also a great chance to tell the children about the origins of hagoita.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year.
Non-melting snow play
A must-see for anyone who wants to enjoy snow-themed play with kids in the cold winter! Here’s a fun, melt-free snow activity with a fascinating, mysterious texture.
It’s super easy to make! First, put 100 g of baking soda on a tray.
Next, add a little hair conditioner to the tray bit by bit—use about the size of a 100-yen coin as a guide.
Be careful not to add too much conditioner.
Finally, squeeze it firmly in your hand; if it holds its shape, it’s done.
It’s great that you only need two ingredients.
Unlike real snow, it doesn’t melt, so kids can play with it over and over.
They can squeeze it to make dumpling shapes or rice balls, enjoy the crumbly texture, or even try adding color with paint—it all sounds fun.
Give it a try!
Christmas Ball Toss Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@kidssupport_nagoya/video/7045079319823027458Here’s how to play a Christmas ball-toss game that’s perfect for the holidays.
First, split into one Santa and several reindeer.
The person playing Santa walks around pulling a sled made from cardboard or similar.
The reindeer players throw balls aiming to land them in the sled.
In the video, there’s one Santa, but increasing to two or three would likely make it even more exciting.
You can adjust the difficulty based on age by having Santa move faster or by using a smaller sled box.
Playing Christmas background music will help boost the festive atmosphere! Give it a try for your holiday fun.
Making ice
Recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy winter-only play with children! Make the most of the cold and try creating different kinds of ice to play with.
The method is super simple: fill a bucket, play dishes, or food storage containers with water, then let the kids add leaves and petals however they like, and leave it outside for a day.
By the next day, the water in the containers will have frozen, and you’ll have unique, original ice creations full of the children’s personalities! Kids can touch the ice they made to enjoy its chilly feel, use it for pretend play, or even try little experiments—there are so many ways to play.
They’ll be excited to come to school the next day wondering, “Did our ice freeze?” Be sure to try making all kinds of ice with the children.
rubbing against each other; barely touching/scrapingKeropons & Ryuzo Fukuda
“Kosure Kosure” is the perfect song for a chilly day that warms both heart and body.
When skin rubs against skin, you feel warmth from body heat and friction, right? In this song, to the lyrics “kosure kosure” (“rub rub”), you can rub your hands together or even rub a friend’s back, so you can enjoy not just moving yourself but also interacting with friends.
The lyrics and movements are very simple, and the tempo is easy to pick up, so even first-time listeners will be smiling in no time! It’s a short song, so it’s great to use before outdoor play or to fill a little bit of spare time.
Tag
When it comes to the simplest games kids can enjoy, tag is probably at the top of the list, isn’t it? Tag doesn’t require any equipment and has no complicated rules, so even young children can have fun with it.
And unlike hide-and-seek, it’s a game that warms you up even in the cold winter, so it can be considered a good activity—almost a sport—from a health perspective for children.
