January is like the kickoff to a whole new year of fun and adventures. Think snowball fights, building snowmen, and maybe even some sledding action. But it’s not all about the cold – January is also prime time for setting cool goals and getting cozy indoors.
Picture this: family movie nights, crafting sessions, and maybe a bit of hibernation with a good book. So, whether you’re a snow angel maker or a hot cocoa sipper, January’s got a little something for everyone to kick off the year right!
Here’s a list of 100 activities you can consider doing with your family in January:
- Build a snowman in the backyard.
- Go ice skating at a local rink.
- Have a family movie night with winter-themed films.
- Bake and decorate winter-themed cookies.
- Visit a local museum.
- Plan a winter picnic in the living room.
- Take a scenic winter hike.
- Have a board game night.
- Try indoor rock climbing.
- Visit a local library and pick out new books.
- Create a family scrapbook.
- Cook a cozy winter meal together.
- Take a day trip to a nearby town.
- Try a winter sport like skiing or snowboarding.
- Host a hot chocolate tasting night.
- Go on a photo scavenger hunt in your neighborhood.
- Visit a local ice festival.
- Try a new winter craft project.
- Attend a community theater performance.
- Go on a winter bird-watching adventure.
- Visit a planetarium.
- Plan a family game tournament.
- Have a family talent show.
- Attend a local sports game.
- Visit an indoor trampoline park.
- Try a new winter recipe together.
- Explore a local nature reserve.
- Have a family photo shoot in the snow.
- Visit a local aquarium.
- Build a blanket fort and have a family sleepover.
- Create a DIY puzzle and solve it together.
- Go on a winter bike ride.
- Visit an indoor water park.
- Take a day trip to a zoo.
- Attend a winter farmers’ market.
- Learn a new card game together.
- Have a karaoke night at home.
- Go snowshoeing in a local park.
- Visit a botanical garden.
- Try indoor mini-golf.
- Host a family book club meeting.
- Take a family yoga class.
- Explore a local science center.
- Go sledding in a nearby park.
- Attend a winter festival in your area.
- Try indoor ice climbing.
- Visit a historical site or museum.
- Have a family paint night.
- Go to a local arcade.
- Take a cooking class together.
- Visit a local art gallery.
- Try indoor go-kart racing.
- Have a DIY spa day at home.
- Attend a community lecture or workshop.
- Take a family swim at an indoor pool.
- Explore a local indoor botanical conservatory.
- Have a family-friendly game of laser tag.
- Visit a local farm and learn about winter crops.
- Take a pottery or ceramics class.
- Try indoor skydiving.
- Have a winter-themed photo booth session.
- Attend a local symphony or concert.
- Take a family cooking class.
- Visit a local fire station for a tour.
- Host a winter-themed costume party.
- Go horseback riding at a local stable.
- Have a family picnic in a local park.
- Visit a planetarium.
- Try indoor trampoline dodgeball.
- Have a family poetry night.
- Go on a winter stargazing adventure.
- Visit a local historical reenactment.
- Take a family painting class.
- Try indoor go-kart racing.
- Host a family trivia night.
- Visit a local pottery studio.
- Have a family astronomy night.
- Try indoor rock climbing.
- Go to a local comedy show.
- Visit a local science museum.
- Have a family dance party.
- Go to a local farmers’ market.
- Take a family bike ride.
- Try indoor archery.
- Visit a local wildlife sanctuary.
- Host a family DIY project day.
- Have a family picnic indoors.
- Try indoor golf.
- Visit a local historic house or mansion.
- Have a family-friendly poker night.
- Go on a winter nature walk.
- Visit a local arboretum.
- Try indoor skiing or snowboarding.
- Have a family storytelling night.
- Go on a local food tasting tour.
- Host a family-friendly cooking competition.
- Visit a local escape room.
- Try indoor surfing.
- Have a family music jam session.
- Go on a winter camping adventure indoors.
Feel free to adapt these activities based on your family’s preferences and the local resources available to you. Enjoy your time together!
What are some snow activities we can do as a family?
Snow activities can be a lot of fun for families! Here are some snow-filled activities you can enjoy together:
- Build a Snowman: Classic and always enjoyable, gather snow and build a snowman in your yard.
- Snowball Fight: Organize a friendly snowball fight. Make sure to establish some ground rules for safety.
- Sledding: Find a nearby hill for some sledding excitement. Bring your own sleds or tubes.
- Snow Angels: Lie down in the snow and make snow angels together.
- Snow Sculpture Contest: Have a family snow sculpture competition. Get creative with your designs.
- Snowshoeing: If you have access to snowshoes, explore local trails together.
- Ice Skating: Find an outdoor ice skating rink and spend the day gliding on the ice.
- Winter Nature Hike: Bundle up and take a winter hike through a snow-covered trail.
- Snow Painting: Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring to paint the snow.
- Winter Picnic: Pack a thermos with hot cocoa and some snacks, and have a winter picnic in the snow.
- Snow Castle Building: Instead of sandcastles, build snow castles.
- Winter Camping: Set up a tent in your backyard and experience winter camping.
- Ice Fishing: If conditions permit, try ice fishing on a frozen lake.
- Winter Photography: Capture the beauty of the winter landscape with a family photo session.
- Snow Maze: Create a maze in the snow for family members to navigate.
- Cross-Country Skiing: Explore cross-country skiing on groomed trails.
- Snowboarding: If you have the equipment and a nearby slope, try snowboarding as a family.
- Snowy Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of winter items for a snowy scavenger hunt.
- Frozen Bubble Fun: Blow bubbles outside and watch them freeze in the cold air.
- Winter Bird Watching: Set up a bird feeder and observe winter birds from your window.
- Dog Sledding: Experience the thrill of dog sledding if it’s available in your area.
- Ice Sculpture Carving: Try your hand at ice sculpture carving if conditions allow.
- Snow Volleyball: Set up a volleyball net in the snow for a chilly but fun game.
- Ice Skating on a Frozen Pond: If it’s safe, enjoy ice skating on a frozen pond.
- Snowflake Catch: Cut out paper snowflakes and see who can catch the most in a set time.
Remember to dress warmly and stay safe while enjoying these winter activities with your family.
What are some snowman arts and crafts projects to try?
Creating snowman arts and crafts projects can be a delightful and creative way to celebrate the winter season. Here are some fun and festive snowman-themed craft ideas for you to try with your family:
- Paper Plate Snowman:
- Materials: Paper plates, paint, construction paper, googly eyes, buttons.
- Instructions: Paint the paper plates white, let them dry, and then decorate with construction paper accessories.
- Sock Snowmen:
- Materials: White socks, rice, rubber bands, buttons, fabric scraps.
- Instructions: Fill a sock with rice, secure it with a rubber band, decorate the sock to create a snowman face and attire.
- Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornaments:
- Materials: Popsicle sticks, paint, glue, googly eyes, ribbon.
- Instructions: Paint popsicle sticks, glue them together to form a snowman shape, add eyes and a ribbon for hanging.
- Snowman Mason Jar Luminary:
- Materials: Mason jars, white paint, black paint, orange felt or paper, tea light.
- Instructions: Paint the jar white, add a snowman face with black paint, create a carrot nose from orange felt, and place a tea light inside.
- Cotton Ball Snowman:
- Materials: Cotton balls, construction paper, glue, googly eyes.
- Instructions: Glue cotton balls onto paper to form a snowman, add construction paper accessories, and googly eyes.
- Snowman Handprint Ornament:
- Materials: White ornament bulbs, acrylic paint, ribbon.
- Instructions: Dip your child’s hand in white paint and make a handprint on the ornament, add details to turn it into a snowman, and let it dry.
- Felt Snowman Busy Bag:
- Materials: Felt sheets, googly eyes, buttons, ribbon.
- Instructions: Cut out various snowman parts from felt and let your child assemble and decorate the snowmen on a felt background.
- Snowman Suncatcher:
- Materials: Contact paper, tissue paper (white, black, orange), scissors.
- Instructions: Cut out snowman shapes from contact paper, fill the shapes with torn pieces of tissue paper, and hang them in the window.
- Snowman Wreath:
- Materials: Styrofoam wreath, white yarn, felt, buttons.
- Instructions: Wrap the wreath with white yarn, add felt accessories to create snowmen, and glue buttons for decoration.
- Snowman Handprint Card:
- Materials: Cardstock, paint, markers.
- Instructions: Paint your child’s hand white and make a handprint on cardstock. Turn it into a snowman by adding features with markers.
Remember to tailor these projects to the age and skill level of your children, and have fun creating your own winter wonderland of snowman crafts!
What are some snowflake activities to make?
Creating snowflake activities can be a wonderful way to embrace the beauty of winter. Here are some snowflake-themed crafts and activities for you and your family to enjoy:
- Paper Snowflakes:
- Materials: White paper, scissors.
- Instructions: Fold paper into a triangle, cut out small shapes along the edges, and unfold to reveal unique snowflake designs.
- Snowflake Window Clings:
- Materials: Puffy paint in white and blue.
- Instructions: Create snowflake designs directly on plastic sheet protectors or wax paper. Once dry, peel off and stick them to windows.
- Beaded Snowflakes:
- Materials: White and blue beads, pipe cleaners.
- Instructions: Thread beads onto pipe cleaners to create beautiful snowflake designs.
- Snowflake Stamps:
- Materials: Craft foam, scissors, paint, paper.
- Instructions: Cut snowflake shapes from craft foam, dip them in paint, and stamp onto paper to create snowflake patterns.
- Snowflake Garland:
- Materials: White paper, string, scissors.
- Instructions: Cut out multiple paper snowflakes, then string them together to make a beautiful snowflake garland.
- Snowflake Painting:
- Materials: Blue and white paint, paper, brushes.
- Instructions: Use paint and brushes to create snowflake-themed paintings on paper.
- Snowflake Cookies:
- Materials: Sugar cookie dough, snowflake-shaped cookie cutter, icing, sprinkles.
- Instructions: Bake and decorate snowflake-shaped cookies with white icing and edible glitter or sprinkles.
- Snowflake Bracelets:
- Materials: Pipe cleaners, beads.
- Instructions: String beads onto pipe cleaners to create snowflake bracelets.
- Snowflake Puzzles:
- Materials: Craft foam, scissors.
- Instructions: Cut out snowflake shapes from craft foam and then cut each one into puzzle pieces.
- Snowflake Crown:
- Materials: Blue and white construction paper, scissors, glue.
- Instructions: Cut out snowflakes from paper and glue them onto a paper crown to create a snowflake crown.
- Snowflake Stencils:
- Materials: Cardstock, scissors, craft knife.
- Instructions: Cut out snowflake stencils and use them to create snowflake patterns on various surfaces.
- Snowflake Wreath:
- Materials: Paper plates, paint, glue, glitter.
- Instructions: Cut out the center of a paper plate, paint it white, add glitter, and attach smaller snowflakes around the edge to create a wreath.
- Snowflake Mobile:
- Materials: White paper, string, scissors.
- Instructions: Cut out multiple snowflakes, attach them to string, and hang them from a hoop or dowel to create a snowflake mobile.
- Snowflake Ice Cubes:
- Materials: Snowflake-shaped ice cube molds, water, food coloring (optional).
- Instructions: Freeze water in snowflake-shaped molds, and use the ice cubes in your drinks.
- Snowflake Popsicles:
- Materials: Yogurt, blueberries, popsicle molds.
- Instructions: Create snowflake-shaped popsicles by filling molds with yogurt and adding blueberries for decoration.
These activities are not only fun but also provide a great opportunity to explore creativity and celebrate the winter season. Adjust the difficulty level based on the age and preferences of those participating. Enjoy your snowflake-themed crafting!
Other Themes To Consider
Kids during the winter season often find joy and inspiration in various themes that spark their creativity for arts and crafts projects. Winter animals, like penguins and polar bears, are perennial favorites, allowing little artists to explore the adorable and fuzzy side of the season.
Sparkling icicles, cozy mittens, and even the magical world of winter fairies can also captivate the imaginations of young artists, providing a delightful array of winter-themed arts and crafts projects to keep the creativity flowing all season long.
10 winter-themed children’s books to read
Here’s a list of 10 winter-themed children’s books that are perfect for cozying up with during the winter season:
- “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
- This classic picture book follows a young boy named Peter as he explores the magic of a snowy day in the city.
- “The Mitten” by Jan Brett
- A charming story about a lost mitten and the animals that seek shelter inside it on a cold winter day.
- “Winter is Here” by Kevin Henkes
- This beautifully illustrated book captures the wonders of winter, from snowflakes falling to the joy of a snow day.
- “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen
- A poetic and enchanting tale of a father and daughter’s winter nighttime journey into the woods to spot owls.
- “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg
- Join a young boy on a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in this beloved holiday classic.
- “Snow” by Uri Shulevitz
- A simple and heartwarming story about the anticipation and arrival of the first snowfall in a city.
- “Bear Snores On” by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
- Follow Bear and his friends as they seek refuge in his cave during a winter storm, and discover the warmth of friendship.
- “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner
- Ever wondered what snowmen do when no one is watching? This imaginative book explores the secret lives of snowmen.
- “The Hat” by Jan Brett
- A delightful story about a hedgehog who discovers a cozy hat stuck on his spines and the curious reactions of the other animals.
- “Blizzard” by John Rocco
- Based on the author’s own childhood experiences, this book tells the story of a massive snowstorm and the adventures it brings.
These books not only capture the magic of winter but also provide great opportunities for discussion and bonding with young readers. Enjoy these cozy reads with your children!
What are some family goals to set in January?
Setting family goals in January is a wonderful way to start the year with intention and create a sense of unity among family members. Here are some family goals you might consider:
- Establish Family Routines:
- Set regular routines for meals, bedtime, and quality time to create a sense of stability and predictability.
- Family Health and Wellness:
- Set health-related goals, such as incorporating more fruits and vegetables into meals, scheduling regular family walks or exercise sessions, and ensuring everyone is up to date on health check-ups.
- Digital Detox:
- Set limits on screen time and create designated tech-free times or areas in the house to encourage face-to-face communication.
- Quality Family Time:
- Schedule regular family outings, game nights, or movie nights to strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories
- Learning Together:
- Set a goal to learn something new as a family, whether it’s a new language, a musical instrument, or a craft.
- Volunteer as a Family:
- Choose a local charity or community project to support and dedicate time to volunteer together as a family.
- Home Organization:
- Declutter and organize living spaces. Set a goal for a monthly family clean-up day to keep your home organized throughout the year.
- Read Together:
- Set a goal to read a certain number of books together as a family each month. Create a cozy reading nook in your home.
- Cook and Eat Together:
- Plan and cook meals together as a family. This not only promotes healthy eating but also creates opportunities for conversation and bonding.
- Communication Goals:
- Set goals for improving communication within the family. This might include holding regular family meetings or encouraging open conversations.
- Celebrate Achievements:
- Create a family achievement board or journal to celebrate each family member’s accomplishments, big or small.
- Gratitude Practice:
- Establish a family gratitude routine, such as sharing what you are grateful for at the dinner table or keeping a gratitude journal.
- Plan a Family Vacation:
- Set a goal to plan and take a family vacation during the year. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; the focus is on spending quality time together.
- Expressing Love and Appreciation:
- Set a goal to express love and appreciation for each other regularly. This could involve leaving notes, saying “I love you” more often, or finding other creative ways to show gratitude.
Remember that family goals should be realistic, achievable, and flexible. Regularly check in with each other to assess progress, make adjustments as needed, and celebrate your successes together.