You’re looking for some great winter activities that you can do with your family and friends during the dead of the season.
Here, you’ll find over 30 productive, fun and intuitive ideas for great winter activities that you can do with your entire family. Notice that only one of them includes rolling up in a ball in your bed and hibernating.
I’m all for naps in front of the fire during Winter. But I love all the other great things that only Winter brings forth. There really are some good things to look forward to!
In this post, you get:
- A list of 30+ great winter activities that you can do with your family and friends.
- Non-boring categories for what to do when you are bored in Winter.
- Fun indoor winter activities for if you must stay indoors and you’re feeling stir crazy.
Winter is a season that gets a bad wrap but I hope this list of ideas for things to do in winter can help you embrace it a little bit more. These are all activities I enjoy in Winter, so I’m sharing them with you!
Fun Friend/Family Get-Togethers
Winter is a great time to come together as a family, friend circle or community. These 10 activities are just a few ideas for great winter activities that make for great fun when you and your favorite people can get together and make the cold winter days fly by.
Canning Parties/Harvest/Butcher Parties
These parties can be expanded to baking and meal planning parties as well. The possibilities are endless.
Basically, you can get your friends and fellow family members together and have a day putting up food for later. It’s especially great if you don’t know how to do this type of thing yet. Let other people you love and who are great at this skill teach you.
Check out these Water Bath Canning Tips here
Get the best Pressure Canning Tips here
Craft Nights
We all have a creative bone and this is a great way to express it. By getting people together for winter craft activities and just creating, we can make fun indoor winter activities something our friends and family looks forward to. Being creative is such a great way to let go of stress and now think about the weather outside (if it is frightful).
There’s a lot of different things you can do here. You could even have adult crafts and then another type of craft for kids. Nature crafts or using supplies you have on hand is a great way to cut back on cost.
Field Trips
For some, Winter is a great way to get away and have some fun. Road trip, Day Trip or longer, it’s nice to go somewhere and see new things.
Here’s some tips for taking a vacation when it’s hard for you to get away.
Book Clubs
Are you a book lover? You’re not alone!
Hint: Book clubs could also be great winter activities for school!
Start or join a book club. Find other in your community (either local or online) and read a book on your own time. Get together once a week and discuss the book. This is a great way not only get together with people, but to go deeper and get different perspectives on books, too.
Library time
Another one for book lovers. Our local libraries are valued resources. Take the family to the library and check out some books for free. There might also be book clubs or story times through your local library.
Check out my list of recommended books here
Community Activities
Rural communities commonly have events where people can get together and eat or play games or see entertainment. It’s a great way for you to serve your community and see other community friends that you may not have seen in a while.
I want to specify…I mean face-to-face. Not online. Get out of your house and off your phone/computer. It’s vital to your health that you interact with real people.
Family/Friend Game Night
Board games are a blast. There are so many options out there for games and you could have a game night every day of the week if you wanted to.
Here are a couple of our favorite family board games:
Farm-Opoly is similar to Monopoly but uses farm terms and prices.
Pictionary is a very fun game where teams can be creative. You and your family will laugh for hours.
Play in the Barn with Animals
If your family has livestock, they need interaction and care during the Winter. And if you’re planning to show your animals, it’s a good idea to work with them in the barn during winter.
Here’s some tips for Winter Goat Care
And some Winter Pig Care tips here
Movie nights
This is a fun one, of course. Movie nights with family and you can invite friends over, too! The perfect activity when you’re snowed in.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite family-friendly movies:
Ferdinand is a really cute movie that all ages will love. Yes…there are a few farm related inaccuracies but it is an entertaining story that will keep everyone laughing.
Rock Dog has a wonderful message of staying true to what you want and never giving up. It’s really cute and the music is great, too.
Ice Age is now a classic and is still hilarious. Once you watch this one, you have to get the other movies in the series!
Sing together
If you’re into music, singing is a great way to pass the time. You can also add in playing musical instruments and if you want to go big – Start a band!
Record yourselves and upload to YouTube or social media. This is sharing your talent with the world.
Catching Up on your Lists
When you have to stay indoors, it’s a good idea to have a list of things to do inside. This group is for you if you’re behind on tasks or want to get ahead, these are some really good ideas for great Winter activities.
Cooking/Baking
You can get ahead on meal planning and gifts now so you won’t be stressed for time later. Make freezer meals or prep for later meals for days when you’re outside working.
House projects indoors
Let inspiration and creativity strike while you’re stuck indoors. If you’ve been dying to redo a room or some furniture or some other kind of house project, now is a great time to accomplish your goals.
Quilting/Crafting/Sewing
I’m picturing someone sitting in front of a warm fire making projects. Winter is a great time to save this skill…especially a snowy and super cold winter when staying inside is just the best option.
Self-Care
A lot of these tips for great Winter activities could be self-care because they are things you love to do. The following are a few that are great ideas for wellness and doing what is best for you and your health.
Sleeping
My favorite form of self-care. Sleep is so important for a healthy life and the majority of us don’t get enough of it. I live for naps and Winter is a great time to get caught up on sleep. So, this one tops the list for me.
Working Out
Exercise is a great form of self-care. If you can’t get to a gym, just work out at home. There are lots of different ways you can get your heart rate up at home for 30 minutes each day.
And lots of workout DVD’s you can use at home. (Just please consult a doctor before you start anything).
Here are a few of my favorite workout DVD’s:
Gilad is great for those of us who need low impact cardio workouts. Plus, he’s cute!
Jillian Michaels is good for those of us who need a kick in the pants. If you’re in pretty good shape but want to get toned, this one is for you.
For those of us who need a mix of really good workouts. There is Beachbody on Demand. You’ll get instant access to hundreds of workouts all the time.
Gardening Indoors
Garden indoors through the Winter! You need to have a room full of sun light and proper temperature. Use good quality potting soil and water sparingly.
Go Here for Tips on Growing Transplants Indoors
Meditating
Try this before you knock it.
If you have big goals that you want to achieve or if you’re feeling anxious all through the winter, I highly recommend meditating.
Meditating is simply sitting in quiet undisturbed and just opening your mind. You’re concentrating on your breathing. Not thinking about anything or anyone. Just sitting there in the moment. No Pressure.
For me, meditating has been the biggest hope and change for my anxiety and depression. Deep breathing and practicing Not Worrying About Anything is the key here. It’s a true game changer.
For more tips on controlling those Winter Blues, Go Here
Outdoor Fun
When the weather outside is not so frightful, we CAN go outdoors. It’s good for us to go outside and enjoy some fresh air. These are some ways we can enjoy all the beauty and coldness of Winter outdoors.
Bon Fires
Winter is a great time to trim tree limbs and also cut out dead trees. After your work is done, you can start a bon fire and have s’mores and roast hot dogs while keeping warm.
Camping
And if you love the winter weather and want to stay out in it, then do it! You can camp outdoors through the Winter.
Hunting/Fishing
These are popular activities during winter. Just an idea of a couple of outdoor sports you might be interested in trying out.
Playing in the snow
This is a given during Winter. I know some of my readers may not get snow very often due to your climate, so if you do…go play in it!
Making snow ice cream
And while you’re playing in the snow, you might get hungry. If you have a lot of snow, this snow ice cream recipe is fun to make at your own risk. There’s a lot of talk out there about snow being polluted from the atmosphere, but if that doesn’t stop you from eating it – go for it. Definitely avoid the yellow snow, though. Snow should be white in color.
Here’s what you need for this 5 minute recipe:
- 1 cup milk (any kind)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 8 cups clean snow (more or less depending on the density of the snow)
- Sprinkles or Mini Chocolate Chips
- In a large bowl, whisk milk, sugar, vanilla and salt together until combined. Go scoop up some fresh (clean!) snow, and immediately stir it into the milk mixture until you reach your desired consistency. (The ice cream should be fluffy, not runny. )
- Top with sprinkles or other ice cream toppings if desired, and enjoy as quickly as possible before it melts!
Snow Tubing
One of my all-time favorite outdoor snow activities. This can be done with a tractor or ATV and a round saucer sled or lake tube.
Use a strong rope to tie the sled or tube onto the back of the ATV or tractor. Then, load up the kids (or adults) and someone pulls them around the yard, pasture or wherever there’s a lot of show to slide on.
Snow shoeing/Hiking/Nature Walks
Another fun activity is walking through the snow. This burns a lot of good calories and is a really good workout.
Be sure to take your camera along for great photos.
Snow painting
Another great snow activity where you can be super creative. Use food coloring, paints or spray paint to draw pictures in the snow. Works best for packed snow.
Building Snow Forts/Snowman
Another great way to use packed snow is to build a snow man or wall. This is one of those great winter activities I remember enjoying as a kid.
Sporting Games Outdoors
Football, hockey or skating, it’s fun to get family and friends together to play.
Check out this list of warm winter wear for women
Planning for Warmer Weather
Some people really don’t like Winter. If this is you, then you might just want to stay indoors and think about spring. You can start planning for things you want to do and one of those could be the garden.
Planning the gardening
Go here for some tips on efficiently planning your vegetable garden
Creating Something New
One of the ways to stay fit in your mind is to stay creative. Making something from nothing is probably the most rewarding thing you could do. Your mind will find happiness if you keep it working all through the season.
Take pictures of Winter
Grab your phone or camera and just snap photos. It doesn’t matter if your a pro or a newby. The more you practice, the better you’ll be.
Make Your Own Version of Reese Peanut Butter Cups
This homemade candy just might make Winter taste just a little sweeter. If you’re a Reese’s fan like me, you will LOVE these homemade candies.
Here’s what you need:
- 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar.
- 1/3 cup brown sugar.
- 1 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 stick melted butter
- 1 1/3 cup peanut butter.
- Mix ingredients in a large bowl until blended well.
- Press firmly into a 9×13 inch sprayed pan.
- Place chocolate chips into a microwave safe dish and microwave on high 30 seconds. Stir well.
- Then, continue microwaving at 15 second intervals, stirring well each time until completely melted.
- Spread chocolate over the peanut butter layer.
- Place in the refrigerator for an hour of until set. Cut into squares and enjoy. Or keep in the refrigerator until time to enjoy.
Bird Treats
Make a simple treat for the birds that can be fed in a suet feeder.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 Cup Quick Oats
- 1/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds
- 1 Cup small birdseed of your choice
- 3/4 Cup Cornmeal
- 3/4 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Peanut Butter
- 1/2 Cup Water
- Mix all ingredients into a large bowl. Add more water if necessary to make a stiff dough.
- Spread in a 9×13 in. pan. Use a knife to cut into 2 x 4 inch bars.
- Bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- Leave in the pan to cool.
Set one bar out at a time. Keep the remaining bars refrigerated until needed.
Learning a New Skill
It’s never too late or too early to learn something new. We are all ingrained to discovery and yearn for learning. Winter is a good time to just try your hand at something new. Any of these great winter activities I’ve listed would be great to try if you have never tried them before.
Serving Others
If you want to make a difference in the world, it only takes a little bit of time to do so. And you don’t have to go very far away to locate a need for service where you can volunteer your skills.
Volunteer locally where needed
Your local community has a ton of options for volunteering. Not just in your community – but in your church if you attend one. Just look around and you can find a need that you can use your skills to accomplish big change in your very own local area.
Winter Giving through Minimizing
We have too much at our house. I have no idea how my girls accumulated so many toys and clothes and books!
Winter is a great time to give to others who would greatly appreciate these items. And, it’s a win-win because you are minimizing all the clutter in your space that you just have to step over (or step on). And giving it to someone who is going to want it and use it.
Here are some more ways to give back when you have little to give
Embrace Winter!
Yes, I agree it can be brutal. But there really are a lot of fun great winter activities we can all enjoy through the long winter.
I’ve given you plenty of ideas for what to do when you are bored in Winter. Active, productive and creative ways to stay fit in your mindset and body so you can survive those Winter Blues that hit.
