There’s something magical about a snow day. The world slows down, the air turns crisp, and a blanket of fresh snow transforms your surroundings into a winter wonderland. Whether it’s a surprise day off from school, an unexpected snowstorm, or a cozy weekend, snow days are a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with the family. But once the excitement of the first snowfall fades, the question becomes: What can we do to make the most of a snow day?
Fortunately, snow days offer a wide array of activities that can be both fun and engaging for everyone—from toddlers to adults. Whether you prefer outdoor adventures, indoor crafts, or just relaxing with hot chocolate and movies, this blog post will provide you with essential snow day activities that the whole family will love.
1. Build a Snowman (or Snow Family)
One of the most classic snow day activities is building a snowman. It’s simple, creative, and offers endless fun. Start by gathering the kids (or even the whole family) outside to roll large snowballs for the body, adding smaller ones for the head. You can get creative with your snowman’s accessories—use a scarf, gloves, and even buttons or buttons for eyes. Don’t forget to top it off with a hat and a carrot for the nose!
If you’re in the mood to create a snow family, consider building a snow mom, dad, or even pets. Add snow animals or a snow fort for extra creativity. For a twist, challenge each other to make a snow sculpture, whether it’s a snow dog, a snow castle, or something else entirely. This is a great way to engage everyone in the family, and the outdoor time will keep you all active and energized.
2. Snowball Fight
What’s more fun than a friendly snowball fight? It’s an excellent way to get everyone outdoors, burn off some energy, and share a few laughs. Gather a group of family members or friends and divide into teams for an epic snowball battle. Set up some snow forts or barriers for added strategy and fun. Just be sure to keep it light-hearted—no ice or hard-packed snowballs!
For an even more competitive edge, organize a snowball-throwing target challenge. Use trees or a snowman as targets and see who can hit the most accurately. Remember to set ground rules before the fight begins to keep things fun and fair for everyone, including younger children.
3. Go Sledding or Tobogganing
Sledding is a snow day staple that brings out the inner child in everyone. If you live near a hill or have access to a sledding area, grab your sleds, snow tubes, or toboggans and race down the slopes for some fast-paced fun. The thrill of speeding down a hill, wind in your face, is enough to bring smiles to anyone’s face.
For younger children, make sure to choose a hill that is not too steep or fast, and always supervise them closely. Sledding is also an excellent bonding activity for parents and kids—parents can join in on the fun or help younger kids learn how to navigate their sleds safely. If you don’t have access to a proper hill, even a small slope in your backyard can offer a lot of fun.
After sledding, take a break to enjoy some hot cocoa or warm up in the house to recharge before heading back outside for another round of snow day fun.
4. Winter Nature Walk or Snowshoeing
If you prefer a calmer way to explore the winter landscape, take a winter nature walk or try snowshoeing. Bundle up in warm clothes and take a stroll through your neighborhood, local park, or a nearby nature reserve to experience the winter wonderland firsthand. You can make it educational by discussing the different types of trees, animal tracks in the snow, or how winter changes the landscape.
Snowshoeing is another great way to explore your surroundings and get some exercise. Snowshoes allow you to walk on top of deep snow, making it easier to venture off the beaten path. If you don’t have snowshoes, you can still enjoy the walk by using boots with good traction. It’s an excellent outdoor activity for the whole family, and it gives everyone a chance to get some fresh air while taking in the beauty of the season.
For added fun, create a scavenger hunt for the kids. Hide objects or leave clues in the snow, and have them search for them during the walk. This activity keeps little ones engaged while allowing you to enjoy the outdoors together.
5. Winter Arts and Crafts
When it’s too cold to stay outside for long or the snow starts to fall heavily, bring the fun indoors with some winter-themed arts and crafts. Crafting is a great way to spend time as a family while fostering creativity.
You can make snowflakes out of paper or use craft supplies to create snowmen, mittens, and other winter decorations. Create a winter wonderland scene with cotton balls, glitter, and construction paper. You could also make homemade holiday ornaments or snow globes to decorate your home or give as gifts.
Another fun idea is to make “snow paint” by mixing baking soda and shaving cream for a fluffy, snow-like texture. The kids will love using it to decorate pictures or create designs. Or, try salt painting by sprinkling salt on a wet painting, which creates a cool, crystallized effect resembling frost or snowflakes.
For a more sustainable craft, gather pinecones, twigs, and other natural materials from outside to make rustic ornaments or winter-themed sculptures. These eco-friendly projects not only look beautiful but are a great way to teach kids about using materials found in nature.
6. Hot Chocolate Bar
Nothing says “snow day” like a cozy cup of hot chocolate. Set up a hot chocolate bar in the kitchen with all the fixings: marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, candy canes, and flavored syrups. Let everyone build their own perfect cup of cocoa and add fun toppings to make it special.
If you want to elevate the experience, serve your hot chocolate with a side of freshly baked cookies or warm muffins. You could also add a little twist by making flavored hot chocolate variations—like peppermint, caramel, or white chocolate—to keep things exciting. For an extra special treat, use a slow cooker to make a large batch of hot chocolate that everyone can enjoy throughout the day.
While sipping on your cozy drinks, you can settle down with a good book, play games, or enjoy a family movie marathon.
7. Family Movie Marathon
After a day of playing in the snow, nothing feels better than curling up on the couch for a family movie marathon. Pick a selection of family-friendly films that everyone will enjoy—think animated classics, holiday favorites, or snowy-themed movies that will match the winter vibes.
Set up a cozy movie nook with blankets, pillows, and dim lighting to create a comfortable atmosphere. Don’t forget the snacks! Pop some popcorn, prepare hot cocoa, and get ready for a relaxing afternoon or evening of entertainment. If you have young children, include a few interactive movies where they can sing along or participate.
If you’re feeling creative, you can even make it a themed movie marathon. For example, watch all the “Frozen” movies for a winter wonderland experience or choose films that feature snowy locations, like “The Polar Express” or “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
8. Indoor Obstacle Course or Scavenger Hunt
Keep the kids entertained indoors with a fun and active indoor obstacle course or scavenger hunt. You can create a simple obstacle course using furniture, cushions, and blankets—encourage the kids to crawl under tables, jump over pillows, and complete challenges to reach the finish line. Set up a prize at the end to motivate them!
For a scavenger hunt, hide winter-themed objects or clues around the house and give the kids a list of items to find. You can tailor the difficulty depending on their ages, creating riddles for older children and easier clues for younger ones. This is a great way to keep the kids moving and engaged without having to step outside into the cold.
9. Bake Together
If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, why not bake something together on a snow day? Baking is an excellent way to bond as a family, and you can make fun winter-themed treats like snowman cookies, gingerbread houses, or snowflake-shaped cakes. Kids will love helping with mixing, decorating, and, of course, tasting the final products.
You can also make a family baking competition, where everyone creates their own winter-themed treats and presents them for tasting. A bake-off is a fun way to introduce a little friendly competition into the day and gives everyone a chance to be creative.
Conclusion: Enjoy Every Snowy Moment
Snow days are an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the beauty of winter, and make lasting memories with your family. Whether you’re outside building snowmen and sledding or cozying up inside with hot chocolate and movies, these activities will ensure that everyone has a fun and fulfilling day, regardless of how much snow falls. So when the next snowstorm rolls in, embrace the day and make the most of every snowy moment with your loved ones!
