15 Indoor Winter Activities for Kids

It can be much easier this time of year to throw the tv or a movie on for your little ones. If you are like me you are always trying to find ways to keep them busy other than screentime so you can get some things done without the guilt of too much tv. If you’re looking for some ideas on how to help toddlers and preschoolers independently play, than keep reading for 15 activities to do just that!

Why independent play?

The holidays are over, the cold has settled in, sicknesses have dragged on and the inconvenience of darkness is getting depressing. While it may be easier to use screens during this time, I notice immediate poor attitudes in my children after too much tv.

Without tons of vitamin D, fresh air and the ability to run around endlessly, sitting in front of a screen has such a negative affect on our kids. On top of that though, they stop playing nicely together or independently. This can be exhausting when you’re just trying to make a phone call and your child can not leave your side. This is especially if you are a stay at home mom with toddlers or little ones and have all day to map out.

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Results in Less Screentime

I recently went several days (and of course I admire greatly those who do no tv in their house at all!) with zero tv/screens and started to notice after the third day my kids started coming up with the coolest ideas. Their imaginations were going wild and they were building, working together and hardly fought at all. It also helps when I start the day with intentional time with them!

Also, as a side note – a huge help with getting through the winter with little ones involves actually taking them outside! But this is a whole separate topic – for now these are suggestions for the time spent inside:)

I definitely still have times that I utilize a show or movie but really love when I don’t need to or can save those times for when it’s truly needed. In order to do so I have to be ready with different activities for both of my kids to do. By setting up a couple of options each day it gives them a little direction rather than seeing so many options at once.

These are all things that I know they can do all on their own without needing my help and that will keep them busy for at least 20 minutes. I also hope for minimal mess to clean up with most of these ideas. While their may be cleanup it can be done by them and it is minimal.

Whether you use these ideas or have some others that work with your kids, it is important to have a list and a bin or place to keep all these ideas and materials. I like to set some things out at night so it is ready for them first thing. Or if I am losing my mind and need something I can just at the bin in the closet and grab something I know will keep him busy.

15 indoor activities

1. Kinetic Sand/Dirt
2. Dot Stickers on Name 
3. Dry Erase Board
4. Building Materials (Magnetic Tiles/Legos/Blocks)
5. Train Track (play train noise in background)
6. Sensory Bin (oats, sand, rice, beans)
7. Play doh and story time
8. Scissors
9. Trucks and tractors with objects to transport
10. Magnetic scene on cookie tray
11. Stamps!
12. Puzzle (two part)
13. New Book – active
14. Animals
15. Peg boards

1) Dot Stickers

Dot stickers are amazing. They are super inexpensive and I use them for SO many different activities. We recently just used them to decorate our Christmas tree on a poster. My 18 month old daughter moved the “ornaments” around for at least 10 minutes.

I love writing their names on a large construction paper and having them trace their names with the dot stickers. They also have printable worksheets for kids that are supposed to be used with dot markers but you can use them with these stickers instead! So many ideas and very little mess.

2) Kinetic Sand

There are so many kinetic sand kits out there that come with sand plus some kind of themed tools to play with. However, I usually just buy a large bag of sand and find tools around the house or trucks and other toys instead. It usually lasts longer and their own imaginations usually keep them busy longer too.

3) Dry Erase Board

My mom brought us these dry erase boards one day and they are hands down one of my favorite additions to our activities. The kids love to have their own board and own eraser. My daughter used it as an 18 month old in her highchair while I cooked dinner.

4) Building Materials (Magnetic Tiles/Legos/Wooden Blocks)

These probably should have been listed first. While a bit of an investment – these are extremely worth it and will be the toy you keep for years and years. I put them all together because there are so many options out there but the idea of building something is such an incredible learning activity. I am thoroughly impressed these days with what my children create. I was gifted the wooden blocks but they are from Lakeshore and are pricey. But hands down the best!

Duplo Legos and Magnatiles are also amazing and a great gift idea to give people since there are so many cute kits out there.

5) Train Track (play train noise in background)

We bought this train set for my son when he was 2 for Christmas but it didn’t become a favorite until he was 3. Since then it has been a go to for rainy days. We put “train noise” on in the background and it sets the mood:) He does need help with the bridges every now and then but could play for hours during quiet time building a large train track. This Melissa and Doug set was worth it because it is really versatile and comes with cute add ons.

6) Sensory Bin (oats, sand, rice, beans)

So, this one has the potential to get messy but it can be worth it if they are like my son who could play for an hour. My favorite way to do this is one of these plastic sensory tables. They are affordable and can be used on the porch or outside when the weather is better. However, you can just use one of the under the bed storage bins and fill it as well.

Our favorites to use are oats and rice! (If you want you can also buy a sensory bin prefilled for you to make it super easy!

7) Play doh

I know so many people don’t like play doh because it’s a mess. However if done right you can keep it manageable and if you add story time it really is great for that imaginations.

First the play doh is homemade so that’s something fun to do with your kids and it is ten times better than store bought playdoh! I always add an essential oil like peppermint too so it smells like the season. We only make one (two max) color at a time so you don’t deal with mixed colors and keep it in a large Ziploc bag that they can easily help clean up. It stays soft and fresh for so much longer than store bought.

8) Scissors

No link for this one and not too much description needed. Seems simple and obvious but just a little reminder of how exciting scissors can be for little ones (kids friendly of course). Just be monitoring safety and give them all different materials to cut or scissor skill worksheets. Great practice and keeps them very happy.

9) Lacing Beads

This activity was particular popular with the toddler age and although frustrating at times can keep them busy for awhile once they get the hang of it!

10) Stamps!

I am not sure why it took me so long to discover stamps! They are mess free and the kids have a blast. Of course Melissa and Doug is again my favorite, can’t go wrong:)

11) Peg boards

These color matching pegboards are super fun for toddlers and preschoolers! Whether they can match the colors yet or not they will enjoy snapping the pegs in and seeing the new pictures. An easy rotational activity that can be stored in the closet and brought out for a quick quiet time or morning activity.

12) New books

New books! This is very general on purpose. So many ways you can do this. I keep book rotation bins in their closets and our basement. I will just take out an old bin and open it up for them and it is like Christmas morning! They devour the books as if they’ve never seen them. I use small bins so I have several different ones and can use this throughout the month. If you’re not doing this – you need to start.

Another way to do this is go to the library and keep a stash they haven’t seen and put the pile out when you need 10 minutes or so. Most of the time these books are not read aloud books. They’re fun active books, board books, Where’s Waldo, etc.

13) Animals

These animal figurines were more expensive than I thought originally but they have been well worth it. If you take these out along with the wooden blocks, magnetic tiles or Legos your kids are sure to get creative with it!

14) Floor Puzzles

So floor puzzles start out as something to do as intentional time with your kids. I loved spending time with my toddlers doing floor puzzles – I also just love puzzles! However, once my son reached 3.5 he really started doing these on his own and just recently finished his first 100 piece puzzle and was SO proud. You really don’t need too many of these puzzles because they will love to redo the same ones and feel confident being able to do it all by themselves.

15) Story Player

While they play pick out a story from your iphone or use our favorite gift from this past Christmas, the Tonies box (people seem to love the similar Yoto boxes as well!). We did get a great black friday deal that came with 7 figures which helped. Both my two year old and four year old have loved using this. I bought it for my four year old’s rest time but having a story playing while they do play doh or another one of these activities has been a game changer!