Indoor and Cold Weather Activities: Keeping Kids Engaged When It’s Too Cold to Go Outside
When colder temperatures, snow, ice, or winter rain keep everyone indoors, families and nannies often need fresh ideas to keep children active, engaged, and learning. Cold weather days do not have to mean endless screen time or restless energy. With a little planning and creativity, indoor days can be just as enriching as outdoor play.
At TLC Family Care, we believe indoor activities should support development, encourage creativity, and still allow children to move their bodies and explore their world safely.
Why Indoor Activities Matter
Indoor play supports cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, emotional regulation, and creativity. It also gives children opportunities to practice independent play, problem solving, and collaboration. Cold weather is a perfect time to slow down, connect, and try activities that often get overlooked during busy outdoor seasons.
Movement Matters Even Indoors
Children still need physical movement, even when the weather keeps them inside. Try creating indoor obstacle courses using pillows, tunnels, painter’s tape, or furniture arranged safely. Dance parties, yoga for kids, freeze dance, and simple stretching games help release energy and improve coordination.
For younger children, activities like crawling through boxes, rolling balls down hallways, or playing follow the leader provide both movement and fun.
Creative and Sensory Play
Art and sensory activities are ideal for cold weather days. Painting, drawing, collage making, or crafting with recycled materials allow children to express themselves while strengthening fine motor skills.
Sensory bins filled with rice, pasta, kinetic sand, or water beads can keep children engaged for long periods. Always supervise closely and adjust materials based on age and safety.
Learning Through Play
Cold weather days are a great opportunity to incorporate learning in a relaxed way. Puzzles, board games, building sets, and pretend play encourage problem solving and social skills. Cooking or baking together helps build math, science, and life skills while creating meaningful connection.
Reading together, acting out stories, or creating a homemade book also supports literacy and imagination.
Independent Play and Quiet Time
Indoor days are a good time to encourage independent play. Setting up inviting activity stations allows children to choose what interests them while building confidence and focus. Quiet time with books, audiobooks, or calm music helps balance high energy activities and supports emotional regulation.
Tips for Families and Nannies
Communicate expectations ahead of time for cold or inclement weather days.
Keep a rotating list of favorite indoor activities to prevent boredom.
Balance active play with calm activities throughout the day.
Allow flexibility. Some days will be more energetic, others more relaxed.
Remember that connection matters more than perfection.
Indoor days offer an opportunity to slow down, be creative, and strengthen relationships. With thoughtful planning, cold weather can become a season filled with meaningful moments and joyful play.
If you would like help creating age appropriate activity plans or finding the right caregiver to support your family year round, TLC Family Care is always here to help.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.