5 low cost winter activities to enjoy with your little ones

We know that sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to do with the little ones when the weather is a little chilly outside and the nights are dark and gloomy. But, not to worry! We have 5 fun low-cost winter activity suggestions for you that can help provide the perfect balance of fun, learning, creativity and of course, some special family time.

Go on a winter nature walk

We believe in outdoor play no matter the weather! That’s why wrapping up and going on a winter nature walk is a great activity which all of the family can get involved in. Nature looks very different in winter with ice and snow and all of the different smells, so head on outside to see what you can find!

Stargazing

Whilst the days are shorter and the evenings are darker, this is a perfect opportunity to stargaze with your little ones. The night sky is full of glistening stars before bedtimes in the winter, which means there’s extra hours for stargazing fun! Head to the bedroom window or make sure to wrap up warm if you’re heading outside and count how many different patterns and pictures you can spot in the sky.

Puddle jumping

Every little one loves this one! Puddle jumping is a great way to get outdoors in the fresh air, while also practicing counting! Head out to your nearest nature park and jump in as many puddles as you can (while keeping count of course!)

Make your own Pine cone bird feeder

Pine cone bird feeders are super easy to make and are full of fun! For this activity, you will need 4 ingredients – pine cones, twine, peanut butter and bird seed

1. Tie a small piece of twine in a line around the top of the pine cone
2. Spread your peanut butter around the pine cone with a spoon or a knife
3. Pour birdseed into a bowl and dip in the pine cones (make sure they are fully covered with lots of birdseed!)
4. Pop on your jackets and head outside to hang up on your pine cone bird feeders!

Image source: ourdayoutside.com

Painting rocks

If you fancy a cosy day indoors then why not decorate some rocks! You can turn a rock into any animal you would like, from spiders, to bees, to tigers – kids love coming up with new ideas so let their imaginations run wild and see what they create! All you will need is some flat rocks, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, a jug of water and newspaper to cover the table, and you’re ready to go. Our top tip is to paint the rock white first, so that your creations really come to life with all of the bright colours! Take a look at these ladybird rocks for inspiration…