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!
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- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
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Fun winter activities: Recreations kids can enjoy (71–80)
Spinning tops
Spinning tops are a classic indoor activity for kids, aren’t they? It’s fun not only to spin them, but also to compete with others to see whose top spins the longest and to try various tricks.
You can also get everyone excited by drawing on store-bought tops to create your very own original designs.
sledding
If your family doesn’t have time to go skiing or skating, how about enjoying some sledding instead? It’s easier than skiing or snowboarding, and it’s safe because kids can ride together with an adult.
Just be careful not to go too fast, as it can lead to injuries.
two-person cat’s cradle
When it comes to classic indoor winter games, ayatori (string figures) is a favorite.
Here we introduce the two-person version, “Futari Ayatori.” You and your partner take turns forming shapes like a boat, rice field, diamond, and more.
Once you remember how to take the string and the order of the shapes, it’s a game even young children can enjoy.
On winter days when you can’t play outside, try it with family, siblings, or friends.
The key to two-person ayatori is to keep the string taut so your partner can grab it easily.
If the string is slack, it’s harder to take and you’ll likely make mistakes, so be careful.
Big Game Hunting
“Let’s Go on a Beast Hunt” is a recreation activity that not only gets kids moving but also strengthens their sense of unity.
The game consists of two elements.
The first is everyone singing and dancing together while imitating the teacher.
The second is forming groups based on the number of syllables in the animal name the teacher calls out.
In the latter, it’s important for children to think about others and cooperate.
That said, depending on the prompt, some children may be left out, so the teacher should carefully calculate the syllable counts to make it work smoothly.
Making a snowman
If it snows in winter, why not make a snowman? It may be familiar in areas with heavy snowfall, but in regions where it doesn’t snow much, children will surely have a great time making snowmen.
Start by rolling small snowballs and gradually make them bigger.
When making the eyes and nose, use natural items like small stones or a carrot—then, when the snowman melts, it won’t cause trouble in the neighborhood! Try making a unique, original snowman at home or at school.
mochi pounding
When it comes to classic New Year’s foods, mochi is a staple, but how about making it from glutinous rice for a change? These days, fewer households do mochi pounding, so it’s a valuable experience for children.
The pounding itself is fun, and freshly pounded mochi is really delicious.
Snowball fight
When it snows, the classic go-to activity has to be a snowball fight, right? In areas where it doesn’t snow often, many people probably seize the chance to have a snowball fight when it finally does! You don’t need any equipment—just pack snow into balls with your hands and throw them at your opponent.
The rules are simple, but everyone can get excited.
If you play seriously, your body warms up nicely too—two birds with one stone! With a larger group, it’s fun to split into teams as well.
It’s also great for school recreation, so feel free to use this as a reference.
In conclusion
There were lots of activities unique to winter, like playing in the snow and traditional New Year’s games, as well as outdoor play to warm up the body and indoor games using winter-themed items. Did you find any activities that your child might enjoy? Winter can make us feel reluctant to be active, but please try finding some fun-sounding activities and give them a try!