Winter Indoor Activities for Kids at Home (Screen-Free & Simple)

I need to preface this by saying: we live in Florida.

There’s no snow here. No sledding or snow days. But having lived in Singapore f

or seven years before moving 

to Florida, where the seasons were essentially hot or hotter, this winter has still been a shock to our sun-chasing family.

Cold looks different depending on where you live, but when it’s cold enough to limit outdoor play, the result is the same everywhere: more time indoors with kids, and a lot more hours to fill.

When Winter Break Ends and Real Life Begins

At the start of January, just after school and work went back, my daughter was home sick for three days.

During the school winter break, when I also had time off, life felt blissful. I genuinely loved having the kids home and being able to focus on them without juggling work at the same time. It was also the first Christmas we didn’t travel, which meant we really slowed down and fully recharged as a family.

But a child home sick when you need to work full time? Very different story.

We did what we needed to do to get through those days, and for us that meant a big increase in screen time. Totally understandable in the moment, but once she was better and ready to head back to school, the attitude shift was unreal.

Short fuse. Big emotions. A level of overstimulation that was hard to ignore.

That was our cue to reset, and we’ve been on a screen detox ever since.

Cue: Cold Winter Days (Yes, Even in Florida)

Once screens were off the table, the next question became obvious:
What do you actually do with kids inside all day during winter?

Whether you’re dealing with a full snow day or a chilly Florida winter day, having a few simple, screen-free indoor activities for kids makes all the difference.

Here are a few of the low-stress ideas we’ve been using during our screen-free January.

Family Dinner Party

This was one of our favorite winter indoor activities because it became a day-long project, not just something to fill an hour.

I told the kids in the morning that we were going to have a family dinner party that night - complete with shopping, cooking, setting the table, and making menus.

We started by deciding what we were going to cook and serve, then made a shopping list. (If you’re stuck at home, you can easily “shop” from your pantry instead.) We went to the supermarket with our list and picked up our supplies, plus a small gift for each place setting and some flowers.

Back at home, the kids:

• Made menus and place settings
• Arranged the flowers into vases
• Set the table
• Helped cook dinner

They were so proud of the end result and honestly, it was so much fun. It slowed the whole day down and gave them something to talk about and look forward to.

Bringing Outdoor Sensory Tables Indoors

My son is obsessed with his 'dinosaur world' sensory table, which usually lives outside because dinosaur play tends to involve a lot of mud and water.

For an indoor winter alternative, we brought the idea inside using:

• IKEA Trofast bins
• Rocks and Gems
• Pom Poms and craft items
• Small toy dinosaurs
• Warm water (because dinos gotta swim)

We placed a towel underneath, and that was it.

This works for almost any obsession - dinosaurs, unicorns, cars, safari animals - and it’s a great way to keep kids engaged indoors without screens.

Reusable Coloring Mats

And of course, our winter days at home wouldn’t be complete without our easiest, lowest-stress go-to: reusable coloring mats.

I love setting one up at the breakfast table so the kids can jump straight into coloring when they wake up. It takes less than 10 seconds to prep and gives us around 30 minutes of calm, engaged play - and when they’re done, we wipe it clean and use it again.

Reusable coloring mats have been a lifesaver during cold winter days at home because they’re mess-free, familiar, and something the kids can return to again and again.

A Slower Winter at Home

Winter indoor days don’t need to be filled with elaborate activities or constant entertainment.

Sometimes, simple, screen-free activities - like cooking together, sensory play, or coloring at the table - are enough to slow the day down and bring a sense of calm back into the home.

Whether winter means snow or just cooler mornings where you live, having a few easy indoor activities for kids can make this season feel more manageable, and even enjoyable.

And honestly, that’s all we’re aiming for.