15 Fun Winter Activities for Homeschoolers
As the weather grows colder and days grow shorter, many parents are looking for fun winter activities to keep their children occupied. If you’re a homeschooling parent, this can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. In fact, there are many fun winter activities that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors.
This blog post will provide some ideas for how to make the most of winter with your homeschooling family.
Top 15 Fun Winter Activities for Homeschooling Children
Some of the most exciting and fun winter activities for homeschoolers are those that involve learning new skills. Some of the fun winter activities that your children can enjoy while learning include:
1. Build an Igloo
Building an igloo with your homeschoolers is a great way to practice science and engineering skills this winter season! The construction process is not only educational but also incredibly fun and rewarding. Have each of your children take turns packing snow into a pile before shaping it into walls, then use additional supplies like straws or sticks to hold up the structure.
When they’re done, they’ll have their very own unique igloo that will last through the cold months ahead!
2. Learn About Animal Hibernation
This winter activity is perfect for helping homeschoolers expand their knowledge about animals that hibernate during the coldest months of the year. Discuss which animals hibernate and why.
Do some research to find out what these animals do during their hibernation period and how long it lasts. You can also explore other winter animal adaptations, such as migration or storing food for winter. Additionally, you can try to set up a winter habitat for local wildlife in your yard.
3. Make a Homemade Snow Globe
This fun craft is easy to make with your homeschoolers, and you likely already have the supplies on hand! Start by filling a jar with water, adding glycerin or baby oil for sparkle, and glitter for an extra touch of magic.
Next, choose figures or objects that will go inside the globe — like toy soldiers or miniature figurines — then attach them tightly to the lid of the jar with glue before screwing on the top ring. Finally, fill the jar with glue and shake it until everything is sealed in place.
Through this activity, your homeschoolers will see the beauty of winter in their own snow globe!
4. Bake Holiday Treats Together
Baking is a great winter activity for homeschoolers, both indoors and out! Make gingerbread cookies and build your own gingerbread houses, or pull out grandma’s recipe book to try something new. Have your children measure ingredients, read instructions, and practice math as they go.
Not only will you have delicious treats to enjoy afterward — but you’ll also have learning opportunities along the way. This will also encourage them to explore their creative side.
5. Take A Sleigh Ride
If you live in an area where snow is abundant, consider taking the family on a sleigh ride this winter season! Sleigh rides can provide both fun and learning opportunities for your homeschoolers. Let them take turns driving and teach them about how to care for horses before and after the ride.
This can be an educational experience as it will give your children an opportunity to learn about horse safety, grooming, and feeding habits.
6. Create a Bobsled/Luge Course
If you have a large enough area and a few supplies, consider creating your bobsled course for homeschoolers! With some cardboard boxes, tape, and markers, you can transform your living room or backyard into an Olympic-style luge course.
Have children race down the track and time each lap to see who comes out on top. Notably, this will also give them an opportunity to practice counting, physics, and problem-solving skills.
7. Have a Snowball Fight
This classic winter activity is great for keeping kids active and having fun outdoors during colder weather. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity for your homeschoolers to practice conflict resolution as they work together and take turns playing different roles or teams.
When you’re done with the fight, you can use those snowballs to build a snowman together or even make some homemade hot chocolate to warm up afterward!
8. Visit a Local Ice Skating Rink
Head to the nearest ice skating rink and let your homeschoolers put their skills to the test! This can be an educational experience as it will teach them about balance, agility, and coordination — plus, they’ll have fun gliding around with friends or family members.
If your children are still learning how to skate, many rinks offer special lessons for beginners.
9. Make DIY Snow Globes Using a Mason Jar
Making a DIY snow globe is easy and fun to do with your homeschoolers this season! All you need is a mason jar, some water, glycerin or baby oil for sparkle, and glitter or other decorations.
Have your children design the jar by drawing a snowy landscape on the outside with paint, markers, or stickers. Then fill it with water, glycerin, and glitter before adding their tiny figures. Place the lid tightly to seal everything in, then let them shake it up for plenty of snow-filled fun!
10. Host a Winter Game Night
Game nights aren’t just for summertime! This winter, gather everyone around the kitchen table (or living room floor) and play classic board games — like Monopoly or Clue — or break out new favorites like Exploding Kittens.
Game nights are great learning opportunities as they encourage problem-solving skills and strategic thinking and provide plenty of entertainment for the whole family. Additionally, they can be used as a chance to practice good sportsmanship and take turns!
11. Make Homemade Snow Paint
Making homemade snow paint is a great way to get creative with your homeschoolers this winter season! All you need is some water, food coloring, and bottles or squirt guns for painting with the mixture.
Let your children explore the outdoors and create their own masterpieces in the snow — from colorful works of art to festive holiday decorations. Not only will they have fun playing in the snow — but they’ll also develop their artistic skills along the way. Plus, it’s an easy cleanup process when you’re done!
12. Take a Virtual Field Trip Together
Take advantage of online resources this season and let your homeschoolers explore the world from the comfort of their own home. There are countless virtual field trip experiences available, ranging from museums to historical sites to even outer space!
You can also find live tours of international cities or take a look at nature documentaries for an up close and personal view of planet Earth. These trips can be educational as well as entertaining — giving your children a unique perspective on the world around us!
13. Bake Winter-Themed Sweets Together
Teach your homeschoolers how to bake with some fun winter-themed recipes this season! Whether you’re making cookies, cupcakes, pies, or other treats — make sure to include plenty of special decorations like snowflakes and icicles.
Baking is a great way to teach your children important kitchen skills while also getting creative in the process. Plus, they’ll have plenty of yummy treats to indulge in afterward!
14. Build A Snowman or Snow Fort Together
Building a snow fort or snowman with your homeschoolers is sure to be a fun experience for everyone involved! After gathering up all the necessary supplies — like twigs and carrots — let them create their own unique masterpiece by giving it character and personality.
For an added challenge, you can even build a snow fort together — complete with decorations and tunnels for them to explore inside! This activity encourages teamwork and creative problem-solving skills while providing lots of entertainment on cold winter days.
15. Craft Winter-Themed Decorations Together
Making winter-themed decorations is a great way to bring some holiday cheer into your home this season! With just a few basic supplies — like construction paper, markers, and scissors — you can create all kinds of festive crafts with your homeschoolers. From wreaths and stockings to snowflakes and snowmen, the possibilities are endless!
These homemade creations will make perfect gifts or decorations throughout the house this time of year. It is also important to remember to make sure you are crafting these decorations with safety in mind. It is best to avoid using sharp objects or hazardous materials that could pose potential safety risks.
With these winter-themed activities, your homeschoolers will never run out of fun things to do! From making snow paint and baking sweets together to virtual field trips and crafting decorations — there are plenty of ways to keep the learning going while also bringing some joy into the household this season. So, get creative and have a blast with your homeschoolers this winter!
Final Thoughts!
Winter break is a great time to relax and recharge, but it can also be a fun opportunity for homeschoolers to explore new activities and learn something new.
Whether you’re looking for educational activities or just want to find ways to keep your kids entertained, we hope this list has given you some ideas.
If you’re looking for more ideas or want help getting started with homeschooling, contact High School of America today. With many years of experience in education, we can help your family find the right curriculum and learning approach to make the most of your homeschooling experience.
