Fun + Easy Things for Kids to Do During Winter Break (With Helpful Resources for Parents!)

Why Winter Break Doesn’t Have to Be Chaotic

Winter break always sounds dreamy in theory — cozy mornings, slow days, hot cocoa, kids playing peacefully while you finally catch up on… everything. And then reality hits. The kids are home 24/7, the routine evaporates, and suddenly you’re Googling “activities for kids before I lose my mind” while hiding in the pantry with a cookie.
The good news is: winter break doesn’t have to feel like survival mode. With a few simple, low‑prep activities (and a couple of sanity‑saving tools), you can keep the kids entertained and carve out pockets of calm for yourself. I’ve rounded up my favorite creative, screen‑free ideas — plus some helpful pintables from my Etsy shop and a few Amazon finds I swear by — to make this winter break feel a little more magical and a lot less chaotic.

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Creative Indoor Activities to Beat the Winter Boredom

When the weather outside is “absolutely not,” indoor activities become your best friend. The trick is keeping things fun and low‑prep — because no parent wants to spend winter break hot‑gluing 47 tiny pieces of felt together. Here are a few easy wins that keep kids entertained while you sip something warm and pretend your house isn’t slowly being taken over by socks.

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✅ A. Printable Activity Packs & Christmas Coloring Pages

Kids love having something new to do — and pintables are the ultimate instant‑fun solution. No shipping. No setup. No “Mom, where’s the tape?” Just print, hand over, and enjoy a few blissful minutes of quiet.

this is a perfect place to mention my Christmas Activity Pages for Kids – Printable Holiday Worksheets. 100 pages of mazes ,word searches , dot-to-dots , coloring pages and more fun quite time activities. perfect for snow days , quite time , family holiday travel , or “mom needs 5 min ” emergencies. Grab my Christmas Activity Pack for Kids — the easiest way to keep little hands busy while you sip something warm. You can thank me later.

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✅ B. DIY Craft Time (With Amazon Helpers)

Crafting doesn’t have to be messy or complicated. A few basic supplies can turn a boring afternoon into a creativity explosion.

Here are some of my favorite amazon finds you might want to check out like i did…..

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✅ C. A Little Something for You (Because Parents Need Breaks Too)

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❄️ Outdoor Adventures (Even If It’s Chilly!)

Fresh air works miracles — even in winter. Kids burn energy, moods reset, and you get a tiny break from the indoor chaos. The key is keeping outdoor time simple, fun, and low‑prep so you’re not out there building an Olympic‑level snow fort when all you wanted was ten minutes of peace.

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✅ A. Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt

Grab my Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt printable — it turns a simple walk into an adventure and keeps kids busy longer than you’d think and best part is that its FREE!

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✅ B. Backyard Obstacle Course

If leaving the house feels like too much (relatable), turn the backyard into a mini obstacle course. It doesn’t need to be fancy — kids will happily jump over anything if you call it a “challenge.”

HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO USE TO MAKE YOUR BACKYARD OBSTACLE CORSE:

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✅ C. Quick Outdoor Games That Don’t Require Prep

Sometimes you just need something fast. A few easy ideas:

• “Find something red/green/round”
• Timed races
• Snow painting (spray bottles + food coloring)
• BINGO

HERE ARE SOME FUN BINO OPTIONS I FOUND ON AMAZON:

Check out some of these Bingo Card sets and turn outdoor time into a fun family challenge.

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✅ C. Simple STEM Activities

STEM doesn’t have to be complicated. A few household items can turn into a mini science lab.

Ideas you can include:

• Build a marshmallow-and-toothpick tower
• Make “snow” with baking soda + conditioner
• Create a sink-or-float experiment
• Try a simple magnet scavenger hunt

Here are some cool STEM activities i found on amazon we can all try out during winter break this year:

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❄️ Family Bonding Activities

Winter break is the perfect excuse to slow down and actually enjoy time together — the kind of cozy, memory‑making moments kids remember long after the decorations come down. And the best part? Family activities don’t have to be complicated, expensive, or Pinterest‑perfect. A little intention (and maybe a printable or two) goes a long way.

✅ A. Family Game Night (The Low‑Stress Version)

Game nights are a classic for a reason — they’re fun, they get everyone laughing, and they don’t require you to leave the house or put on real pants.

Here are some of my favorites you can try out for yourselves:

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✅ B. Baking Together (Messy but Worth It)

Kids love baking — measuring, mixing, sneaking chocolate chips when they think you’re not looking. And winter break is the perfect time to whip up something sweet together.

Here are some supplies i put together for you to help make it fun and easy

You can add your family recipes and your shopping list for your baking fun all in my ultimate Christmas planner. pages for your cooking and baking and so much more you’ll need to plan for a perfect holiday!

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✅ C. Family Movie Night (With Built‑In Quiet Time)

Movie nights are a winter break staple — cozy blankets, popcorn, and a chance for everyone to unwind.

Here are some ideas to make movie might extra magical:

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✅ D. A Little Something for the Grown‑Ups

Once the kids are in bed (or at least pretending to be), winter break is also a great time for parents to decompress.

After a full day of family fun, my adult cuss‑word coloring books are the perfect way to unwind. Think of it as stress relief… with attitude.

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❄️ Screen‑Time Ideas That Are Actually Productive

Let’s be honest: screen‑free days are adorable in theory… and a complete fantasy by day three of winter break. Screens aren’t the enemy — chaotic, overstimulating, “why is this YouTuber screaming?” screen time is the enemy. With a little intention, you can turn screen time into something that’s fun and enriching (and gives you a moment to breathe).

✅ A. Educational Apps Kids Actually Enjoy

There are tons of apps that sneak learning into playtime. Think math games disguised as adventures, reading apps with cute characters, and creative tools that let kids build, draw, and explore.

Here are some useful things to pair with screen time:

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✅ B. Kid‑Friendly Documentaries & Shows

Winter break is the perfect time to introduce kids to fun, educational shows that don’t feel like school. Nature documentaries, space videos, animal shows, and kid‑friendly science episodes are always a hit.

If your kids like to stay busy while watching, my Christmas coloring pages pair perfectly with documentaries — they can color while they learn.

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✅ C. Creative Screen Time (Not Just Watching)

Not all screen time is passive. Kids can:

• Follow drawing tutorials
• Learn simple coding
• Try kid‑friendly cooking videos
• Do guided craft projects
• Explore virtual museum tours

✅ D. A Quick Break for You (Because You Earned It)

While the kids are happily absorbed in something educational, this is your moment to recharge.

If you need a little grown‑up quiet time too, my adult cuss‑word coloring books are the perfect stress‑relief companion while the kids enjoy their screen time.

If you need a little grown‑up quiet time too, my adult cuss‑word coloring books are the perfect stress‑relief companion while the kids enjoy their screen time.

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❄️ Wrap‑Up

Winter break doesn’t have to feel like a marathon of “What are we doing next?” With a mix of creative indoor fun, quick outdoor adventures, cozy learning moments, and a little screen time that actually works in your favor, you can turn these weeks into something memorable — for your kids and for you.

Whether you’re looking for easy activities, quiet‑time helpers, or a few sanity‑saving tools, you’ve got options. And if you want to make things even smoother, don’t forget to explore the resources I’ve created for you:

• Christmas Activity Pages for Kids — instant fun you can print today
• Winter scavenger hunts, game sheets, and planners — perfect for keeping the break organized
• My adult cuss‑word coloring books — because parents deserve a little stress relief too
• Amazon finds — craft supplies, cozy essentials, STEM kits, and everything that makes winter break easier

A little planning and a few well‑chosen activities can transform winter break from chaotic to cozy. You’ve got this — and I’m cheering you on every step of the way.