Winter can be a difficult time for children. Signing up for winter sports like basketball and ice skating can help them get their energy out, but there are still many indoor weekends and after school hours that fall on your shoulders.
Luckily for you, there are lots of great winter crafts and activities that you can set up and enjoy with your family when the weather is cold. We’ve outlined some of our favorites below, but you can also head to Sawyer to see what educators in your neighborhood and online are offering!
Winter crafts for kids
Busy hands make for busy minds. If your child is bursting with energy, they could probably benefit from physical and mental stimulation. Arts and crafts are a great outlet for children (and adults! You might find you enjoy these activities as much as your child does). Try some of these winter crafts for kids next time the weather outside is frightful.
Popsicle stick snowflakes
Break out the popsicle sticks, paint, glitter, glue, and any other decorations you can find. This is an easy winter craft that will bring the joy of snow inside. Have your child paint and decorate popsicle sticks, then help them glue 4 of them together in the shape of a snowflake. You can then put these snowflakes in your windows or attach them with string and hang them!
Cotton ball winter scenes
Cotton balls are the perfect material for winter crafts! Your child can use them to represent clouds or snow or put them together to build snowmen, snow bunnies, and so much more. They can glue their cotton balls to paper and draw or paint winter scenes around them or glue them together to create 3D winter magic.
Frozen bubbles
This craft combines art and science! However, you need to be outside for it to work, so make sure you are all layered up. On a day where the air is below freezing, trek outside and bring a bubble wand. Because of the cold air, the bubble will freeze in the air when you blow it, creating a beautiful science experiment and temporary art piece. This is a fun science project that your children will want to do over and over again.
Hot cocoa jars
If you have extra mason jars around, you and your child can decorate them and then create hot cocoa jars for yourselves or to give as gifts. Let your child paint or draw winter scenes on the sides of the jar. Then, fill the jar with hot cocoa powder, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and more! Save them for winter movie nights or give them to family and friends for gifts.
Winter crafts for toddlers
Toddlers are learning and developing so much so quickly! They might not be the most nimble fingered, but they still love making crafts, getting messy, and trying their best. Successful crafts for toddlers need to be on the simpler side so they don’t get too frustrated. Get started with these winter crafts for toddlers.
Paper plate snowmen
Take the difficulty lever down a notch with paper plate snowmen! This is the perfect craft for tiny hands. Glue 2 paper plates together in the shape of a snowman and then let your little one go wild with decorating! Give them buttons, yarn, pipe cleaners, extra paper, paint, and anything else they could want to give their snowman personality.
Fingerprint winter scenes
No toddler can resist the joy of fingerpainting. Help your little one create a winter scene on paper and then let them dip their fingers in paint to add snow, snowmen, leaves, pinecones, and whatever else they want to include! Just make sure you have a lot of water and paper towels nearby to keep the mess at bay.
Natural mixed media art
This craft includes inside and outside time. First, bundle up and head outside to find objects in nature that they can use in their art. Then, set them up with paper, glue, glitter, paint, markers, and anything else they need to let their inner Monet out with great nature crafts for kids. Mixed media art helps children expand their creativity. This is one of our favorite winter crafts for toddlers especially because of the many benefits of art for kids who are developing their motor skills.
Decorated cookies
Baking and cooking together as a family is a great way to bond, increase your child’s interest in good food, and help them develop stronger math and language skills. Plus, it’s just fun! Break out the premade cookie dough (trust us, it will be easier this way) and roll it out with your toddler. Use cookie cutters to make fun winter shapes and then bake. When they are cool, decorate with sprinkles, frosting, chocolate chips, and more! Finally, the best part: Enjoy!
Winter crafts for kids near me
If you are looking to sign your child up for art activities in your neighborhood or even online, look no further than Sawyer! There are thousands of educators who offer wonderful activities like painting, comic book drawing, mixed media art, pottery, and so much more. Get ready to explore this winter and beyond!
