30 Wintertime Activities for Quarantined Kids (Part 1)

We are in a season that none of us have experienced before! However, we can still find moments of joy and have FUN with our kids.

Wintertime PLUS quarantine has forced us to slow down and spend time together. So, if you are looking for some ideas of what to do with the extra time…keep reading!

Here are 30 activities that your children can do to survive this winter in quarantine.

This is PART 1 of a 3 part series of “Wintertime Activities for kids in Quarantine!”

Part two is 30 FREE ideas for Winter in Quarantine – Click here to read that post.

Part 3 is 41 final family activities for winter in quarantine! For a total of 101 ideas for you and your kids!

1. A Gratitude Journal

A gratitude list or journal is EXTREMELY valuable in uncertain times. Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

Research suggests that keeping a gratitude journal can boost your health and happiness.

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2. Balloon games

• It’s crazy how much joy a simple balloon can bring.
• Use a string/rope/crepe paper across the living room and play “tennis” or “volleyball.”
• This balloon rocket from Amazon has brought us so much joy! We’ve been using it for years – I bought refill balloons recently.

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3. Nerf guns and target practice

• Make or buy nerf targets for your kiddos

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4. Read a book

• I recommend reading Little House on the Prairie out loud. I was surprised at how similar the “Little House” life is to our life in quarantine right now.
• I have a four boys and find it challenging to read to all four at the same time unless they are playing with play doh, eating, or have something that can keep them from wrestling.
• I like finding a book my child will love and reading with them one-on-one.
• Most early readers (and pre-readers) enjoy graphic novels. 
• We enjoy the “Who Was” series!

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5. Blank Journal

I love using blank journals. They can use this as a gratitude journal, nature journal, or anything else!

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6. Dino Dig

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7. Puzzles

• Do a Puzzle together
• Puzzle races: 1. Time your kids and see how fast they can put a small puzzle together. 2. If you have two small puzzles, race to see who can put them together faster.
• Optional Money-saving tip: Trade puzzles with your neighbors or buy some used ones!
• Gift your family with a new puzzle from Amazon.

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8. Bocce Ball

My boys and I play this in our living room when it’s too cold to play outside.

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9. Don’t Eat Pete Game

What you need:

Any small snacks (cereal, candy, tiny crackers, peanuts, raisins)

1 piece of paper and a writing utensil

To do:

1. On a sheet of white paper, draw a large grid – nine squares. 
2. Put a number on each square.
3. Put a small snack on each square. 
4. Have ONE person leave the room. 
5. Have another person choose which square is “Pete.”
6. Ask the person who left the room to come back. He or she eats one snack at a time. When they grab the snack that is “Pete,” everyone screams: 

“DON’T EAT PETE!”

Their turn is over. 

Repeat as many times as your kids are interested!

Click here to watch and learn.

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10. Hot Potato Pig

This is a fun and simple games for all ages. Push the pig’s belly, then pass the pig around while he sings. Whoever is holding the pig when he TOOTS, is out. Prepare for lots of laughter as you play.  

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11. Make homemade gifts

Friendship bracelets are BACK!

These take time and creativity.

You can find lots of friendship bracelet string (floss) on Amazon by clicking here.

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12. Learn Creative lettering and calligraphy

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13. Paint by sticker

This sticker book has over 5000 5-star reviews! I am getting one for my son for Christmas.

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14. Build an arcade game out of boxes.

• Watch this cool video with your kids.
• Click here to read my post about what my boys built.

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15. Play with Cheerios

• Allow your kids to string Cheerios or Fruit Loops for an edible necklace
• Stack cheerios on Spaghetti noodles
• With older kids – turn this into a race!

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16. Have a Spa Day!

Paint nails, do hair, give back or foot massages.

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17. Spike Ball

My son Clark just got this game for his 11th birthday. My boys love it. It’s best for ages 8 and up.

When it’s too cold to play outside, this game can be played in a living room or basement.

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18. Watercolor Painting or Paint by Number

If you have a budding artist, the paint by number kits are fun!

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19. Play a board game  

• How many board games do you have that you NEVER play? NOW is the time to blow off the dust and play! 
• The boys received “No Stress Chess” as a Christmas gift a few years ago. This set helped them learn how to play – Now they love the game.
• We also enjoy Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Monopoly, Sorry, Rummikub, and Guess Who?

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20. Learn a few magic tricks

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21. Take an online class

George just finished a Chess class through Outschool and loved it. Next, they’ll be doing a class to learn how to invest in the stock market. Paul will try a nature class. Clark is going to take a class on investing.

CLICK HERE for for $20 off your first Outschool Class!

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22. Learn to Crochet, Cross Stitch or Knit

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23. Make or Buy Kinetic Sand or Play Doh

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24. Have a conversation

Has 9 months of quarantine left you with nothing else to talk about than how bored you are? Then you NEED this set of cards.

Each card asks interesting questions for your family to answer or discuss. My kids ask for us to pull the cards out whenever we sit down to eat. One time my kids were eating alone and my oldest son pulled the questions out to ask his little brothers. I LOVED listening to their conversation!

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25. Make a blanket for your family or one to donate!

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26. Make stained glass window art

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27. Perler Beads

This Star Wars set has over 1000 5-star reviews!

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28. Laugh together

Get a joke book from the library, buy one, or search for kid’s jokes on the internet and entertain each other.

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29. Mad Libs

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30. Try an Activity Book

I just purchased this activity book: 101 Outrageously Fun Things To Do and plan to use it over the next several weeks.

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I hope this inspires you.

Click here to read 30 FREE quarantine activities!

Click here for part 3 – 41 final family actives for wintertime in quarantine!

If you want more, click here for a post I wrote in March that includes 55 quarantine ideas for your kids.

Share your ideas in the comments and I might include it in a future post.

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