Winter Fun To Enjoy As A Family

With plenty of dry sunshine and special kids’ activities at local sites, it’s straightforward to fill days in the summer holidays. Winter, however, with its gloomy weather, presents more of a challenge, especially after the new year once festivities are at an end. Get ahead of the game and prepare to beat the seasonal boredom this year with these fun experiences to enjoy as a family.

1 Explore outdoors

We all know how fresh air can transform your mood. Getting outside and enjoying the scenery could turn a tantrum into smiles in seconds, so don’t overlook a simple stroll through your local park or woodland when you’re stuck for things to do. 

Encourage children to notice seasonal changes, like glittering frost and icy puddles or birds flocking together as they fly south to warmer climates until the spring. You could create ‘I-spy lists’ with common winter sightings so they can tick off what they see as they go. A flask of hot chocolate to share halfway round will help ensure it feels like an outing with a purpose rather than an aimless amble. 

2 Try Winter Sports

Do you have older children or teenagers? Combine classic winter walks with exhilarating seasonal sports for their time outside. Easy sports to do locally include sledging and skating. When sledging, ensure children are wearing appropriate clothing and a safety helmet and going feet first down gentle slopes. Avoid big hills where dangerous speeds can be reached in seconds.

If you want a bigger adventure, look at family ski holidays in Europe at Christmas or during February half-term. Challenge children to learn new skills, skiing or snowboarding and enjoy other memorable sub-zero adventures like snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Even beginners can make progress quickly, which keeps motivation high and ensures everyone has a fun holiday. Ski resorts have indoor entertainment, including sports centres and spas, so you’ll have a good time even if you get bad weather. 

3 Cosy Creativity

Sometimes the right thing to do in the winter is to stay inside and keep cosy. This doesn’t have to mean hours in front of the TV, however: there’s a host of creative things you can do to keep kids occupied and spark their imaginations. 

With just some paper and coloured pens, pencils or paints, children can create pictures of winter scenes. You could transform these into Christmas cards if you want to minimise waste or put them up around the house for seasonal cheer. Around Christmas time, little ones will love making paper snowflakes or glittery place cards for the dinner table. For a longer-term project, invest in some chunky wool and blunt needles and spend evenings teaching them how to knit.

4 Seasonal activities

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you can take advantage of all the seasonal activities that pop up each year during December. Visiting a Christmas market, whether in your own town or a nearby city, is a treat for all the senses, with sparkling lights, mouthwatering cuisine and stalls selling traditional gifts from around the world. Gardens will have illuminated walks or special trails that kids can complete in the late afternoon once the sun has set.

If you prefer something calmer, a family film night with a seasonal classic can be equally enjoyable. You could also get the children involved with Christmas baking, whether that’s stirring the Christmas cake mix, placing the pastry tops on mince pies or making the elements of a gingerbread house.