Physical Indoor Activities for a Snow Day

1. Set up an indoor obstacle course.

Use buckets, blankets, balls, and more to help your kids channel their inner ninja warrior.

2. Play balloon tennis.

Create paddles out of paper plates and popsicle sticks and try to keep a balloon in the air. It's harder than it seems!

3. Be a snow-day hero and set up a laser-beam maze.

All you'll need is yarn, some tape, and a hallway.

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Kitchen utensils make great armor for an indoor role-playing game. Photo by Anna Fader

4. Get moving with some fun indoor games.

Games like Follow the Leader, Freeze Dance, scavenger hunts, and role-playing are so much fun, kids won't even realize they're getting exercise.

5. Set up a game of indoor bowling.

Who needs a toy bowling set when you can use empty water bottles and a tennis ball?

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Simple science experiments with go-to kitchen ingredients can take up a few hours of a long day! Photo by Sara M.

STEM Indoor Activities for a Snow Day

6. Try some science experiments.

Create a tornado in a bottle, make a volcano, build a miniature windmill ... the possibilities are endless!

7. Learn to code.

Try one of these free or cheap websites that will teach kids to code.

Crafty Indoor Activities for a Snow Day

8. Create and launch marshmallow catapults.

Set up some targets and see how many you can hit!

9. Craft a toy parachute.

A plastic bag, a paper cup, and some yarn make a fine parachute.

10. Have an indoor snowball fight.

Make homemade snowballs out of paper and plastic wrap, then see who can win the snowball fight.

11. Paint with salt for a seasonal-themed snow day activity.

Draw a design with glue on paper, then add salt for a cool 3-D effect.

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Why buy Play-Doh when you and your kids can whip up a batch at home? Photo courtesy of Family Education

12. Knead your own play-dough.

This homemade play-dough recipe uses pumpkin spice, giving it a distinctly autumn smell.

13. Get a jump-start on your Valentines.

Come February, you'll be glad you did it!

14. Create snow paintings.

Bring a container of snow inside and use food coloring to paint on it. Hurry before it melts!

15. Make an ice lantern.

A glowing orb of ice? Yes, please!

16. Paint with bubbles.

This fun project is a little bit art, a little bit science, and a whole lot of fun.

17. Craft friendship bracelets from last summer’s tees.

It's fun and Earth-friendly.

18. Build a toy slingshot.

Bart Simpson isn't the only one who loves slingshots.

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Stretch it, roll it, cut it, and learn to make new kinds of slime—like unicorn slime. Photo courtesy of Michael's

19. Get messy with DIY slime.

It's worth it to see the smiles on your kids' faces.

20. Paint a 3-D snow scene with homemade puff paint.

Regular old painting is so yesterday.

21. Turn a pair of gloves into a bunny puppet.

Then you can have a puppet show!

22. Try one of these 50 cardboard box crafts and activities.

When it comes to occupying kids, nothing is quite as cheap, easy, and effective as an empty cardboard box.

23. Create homemade shrinky dinks.

It's a fun indoor activity with or without snow.

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Paper and scissors are all it takes for this snowy-day activity.

24. Make paper snowflake garlands.

The possibilities are endless, because remember—no two snowflakes are alike.

25. Draw on the windows with dry-erase markers.

While you're at it, draw beards and bunny ears on framed family photos!

26. Learn to fishtail-braid by making bracelets with the Rainbow Loom.

No more boring hair days for your kiddo.

27. A little glue, some colorful paint, and a few googly eyes can transform plain paper into almost anything.

The only limit is your child's imagination.

28. Paint kindness rocks. 

Spread kindness with messages on painted rocks that you can bury in the snow. Go looking for them this spring!

29. Craft clothespin animals.

It's a sweet snow-day activity for toddlers.

30. Freeze some ice suncatchers.

Hang them from tree branches in your yard.

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Keep your snow day baking project simple with a "cake in a mug." Photo via Pinterest

Indoor Cooking Activities for a Snow Day

31. Bake a cake in a mug.

Or, cook slice-and-bake sugar cookies and decorate them with food markers.

32. Give hot chocolate a fresh twist.

Make hot chocolate on a stick, or up your kitchen game with DIY hot chocolate bombs.

33. Make a batch of rock candy.

Kids will learn some science and get a tasty treat.

34. Make homemade ice cream.

Ice cream is not just for summertime!

35. Whip up some vanilla cinnamon steamers.

Kids will feel like they're really drinking coffee.

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Decorate marshmallows as snowmen or as anything the kids want!

36. Put together indoor marshmallow snowmen for a sweet treat.

They'll be so cute, your kids may not want to eat them.

37. Whip up some maple sugar snow ice cream.

Put out a bowl to catch some fresh snow to use for this cold treat.

38. Throw some apple chips in the oven.

They make for a crunchy, healthy, and delicious snow-day snack.

39. Burn some energy making butter like in the olden days.

Beware—your family may never want to go back to store-bought butter.

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Concentrate on a game of chess. Photo by Sara Marentette

Other Indoor Activities for a Snow Day

40. Beat boredom with one of these board games.

There are options for every age.

41. Host a living-room campout.

Who says camping has to be outdoors?

42. Make thumbprint-snowman cards.

Use them to write letters to friends and family.

43. Host a family stand-up session.

See whose jokes can get the most laughs!

44. Download a kid-friendly podcast.

Unlock a world of mysteries, folktales, and even relaxation.

45. Collaborate on story stones.

See how many fun stories you can make up with them.

46. Put on a play.

Raid the dress-up bin to help everyone get into character.

47. Build a fort.

Spend the rest of the day cozying up in it.

48. Set up a photo booth.

Invite the neighbors over for this group snow-day activity.

49. Have an indoor picnic, or throw a fancy tea party.

Your kiddo's favorite dolls and stuffies are invited. 

50. Finally, give in to the snow-day movie ... for everyone's sake.

Consider introducing your kids to one of your old favorites.

A version of this article was first published in 2015 but it has since been updated.