We’re in the thick of winter. Here in central Canada, we have a longer winter than many worldwide. January and February are usually the coldest months of the year, which is why it’s important to keep our kids (and ourselves) active. Luckily, there are a number of winter activities for kids to stay active and entertained. These can be out in nature or indoors if it’s too cold out.
These kid-friendly activities are relatively easy to do and a great way to spend time together during cold winter days.
Sledding
When the weather allows, sledding is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and snow. Even though we’re surrounded by flat land, there are many hills to choose from in the city or country.
This year, we discovered a large hill nearby, perfect for winter sledding. We bring our sleds and our son loves going down the hill as many times as possible. Since this hill is big and steep, I went with him and got a ton of exercise climbing up that hill at least 20 times in a row! The fresh air feels so good, and when bundled properly, we can stay outside for a good length of time.
Another way we’ve gone sledding is in our own backyard. The slide in our play structure creates a makeshift hill, and we can go down incredibly fast. It’s fun to carve a path through the snow.
Ice Skating
This year, we got our son his first pair of ice skates (he had trainer skates before), and he was so excited to try them out.
We have a number of indoor and outdoor skating rink options, so if it’s nice out, we can skate outdoors. But if it’s freezing out, we can go to an indoor rink where it’s much more comfortable. It’s a great activity for families, and even if you’re not the best skater (like me), you can learn alongside your kids.
There’s an indoor rink nearby that we checked out recently, which offers free public skating at a certain time each week. It was a really fun time.
Our son had a blast! He motored around with his helpful skating aid to help him get used to balancing and moving his feet properly. The rink was full of families and friends skating, and we got to connect with people in our community.
Swimming
Surprisingly, swimming can be the perfect activity on the coldest days. It’s one of our favourite winter activities for kids. I’m not referring to swimming outdoors (we are not part of the polar club!), but there are many indoor pools that are available for public swimming.
There’s something about going from cold outdoor temperatures to swimming in a warm indoor pool that is so rejuvenating. The weightlessness of the water is soothing as you glide through the water. Kids usually love being in the water, so it’s fun for them to splash around, go down a slide, and get pulled around as they kick.
It’s also a great time of year to do swimming lessons. Smaller kids are encouraged to blow bubbles, learn to float, get their heads wet, and kick while being pulled around.
Water safety is so important, and this helps them get more comfortable in the water and learn basic skills. Even though our son won’t be in a lake without a lifejacket on, we can help him learn and practice at the beach and in our pool in the summer.
Indoor Playgrounds
Winter is a great time to check out local indoor playgrounds. These places are pretty amazing. The one that we go to is filled with wall-to-wall trampolines, with an area full of foam blocks to jump in, a massive play structure with huge slides (that you can go on with your child), and a rock wall for bigger kids.
It’s a great place for kids to burn off energy. As an adult, enjoy feeling like a kid again. Fly through the air on the trampolines and get lost in a maze to find the big spiral slide. If you can’t join them, simply supervise, and watch your kids have a blast.
We enjoy going with friends and family, and I think it’s my son’s favourite place in the world!
Dance Parties
Where would my son and I be without dance parties in the kitchen? I really don’t want to know because they are the best!
Our dance parties really kicked off during the initial Covid lockdown. Working from home full time with a two-year-old (until after he turned four years old) meant that dance parties were essential. We have a speaker in our kitchen, so I have different music playlists. We’ve created a list of our favourites.
Music and dancing can be very healing. They helped me burn off stress while my son burned off energy, together. Sometimes we hold hands dancing or do funny dances up and down the hallway. It gets us moving and laughing and is a nice break from any screens or real-world problems.
Wrapping It Up
While many complain about the winter weather and the inconvenience of snow, kids get really excited about getting outside. Having a young child has encouraged my family to lean into winter more. We now enjoy the many fun and different winter activities for kids that are perfect during this season.
Plus, after a day of activities, it’s even more fun to be home for a family movie night.