10 Indoor Winter Activities for Toddlers

It’s about this time of year when I start hoping for spring. The excitement of the holidays (and new toys) has worn off, we haven’t gotten any really good snow in a few weeks, and we’re all getting a bit of cabin fever. I decided, therefore, to see if I could put together a list of ten low-cost, indoor activities that would get us through the winter. I wanted some for when the weather was too bad to go out, and others that would at least get us out of the house. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Go to the library. Most local libraries offer a toddler story time. Even if they don’t, you can make your own, by yourself or with a friend who has a toddler.
2. Go to a bookstore. Many Barnes & Noble and Borders stores (among others) have a story hour at least once a week. (Find times through the links above.) Even at other times, most have a colorful reading area for kids. Most Barnes & Noble stores also have a Thomas the Tank Engine play table. This seems to be of great interest, even if one’s child has a plethora of Thomas trains at home.
3. Go to the firehouse. Most are more than willing to give kids a tour, especially if you call first to ask about an appropriate time.
4. Draw “thinking of you” cards for friends and family, then go to the Post Office, buy stamps, and mail them. (You can use stamps you already have, but the whole Post Office experience can be fun, too, especially if you go when it’s not crowded, and your toddler can pick the stamps she/he likes.)
5. Go to a supermarket that has the small “Shopper in Training” shopping carts for kids. You know, the ones you usually try to avoid because they make buying a quart of milk take half an hour. Well, it’s a dreary winter day. Think of herding Junior and cart as an activity in itself, and have fun.
6. Bake bread. It’s not that hard, low in sugar, and keeps the house warm. Kids can pour ingredients into the bowl, then help knead. (Roll up those sleeves!) Use the recipe on the back of the flour bag, or try the King Arthur Flour site for ideas.
7. Throw a sheet over the kitchen table. A classic activity, but still a winner. Now you have a camping tent, a train, a doctor’s office, or anything else you can imagine. This was a favorite during my childhood.
8. Dry pasta. Glue. Cardboard.
9. Throw a birthday party for a stuffed animal. Use leftover themed plates, napkins, and streamers from your child’s last real birthday party. I’ve even made a fake cake from a wide, overturned plastic canister, which my son “slices” with gusto using a plastic spatula.
10. Have a spontaneous playdate. Chances are, some other parent is sitting at home wondering what to do, too.