Winter is upon us, and the kids will soon be stuck inside for days of snowy weather. Here are some ideas for games to play with your children during bad weather.
Board Games
Trouble – A classic game that requires no reading skills. It can be played by two or more players, so younger siblings can join in easily.
Scrambled States – This game gets kids thinking about geography, and they can learn more than 50 state capitals along the way. It’s easy to learn, fun to play, and perfect for family night.
Clue – Kids will enjoy solving the mystery of who stole “the _______.” There are several different versions of Clue, so there is always something new to try.
Battleship – Any version of Battleship will bring hours of fun! There are also several variations on the game, like Star Wars and Disney themed sets. This game can be played by up to four players, which means more kids can join in.
Guess Who – Guess Who is a fun game that requires no reading. Kids practice facial recognition, and expand their vocabulary as they try to guess what other players have based on asking yes or no questions.
Candy Land – Candy Land is a great first board game for children as young as three years old. The board features pictures instead of words, so kids can learn the rules without help.
Snow Sculptures
Create a snow sculpture for kids to enjoy. All you need is some scrap pieces of wood and some strong glue. Make sure the sledding hill is free of obstacles like trees or rocks, and that there are no cars coming down the road.
Snowflake Painting
Pour some paint into cups with water, then have your child use a paintbrush to create snowflakes on a sheet of paper. You can add glitter for extra sparkle.
Sledding Races
Make up different sledding races and see who can win! Make them as creative as you want; let children decide what type of race it should be (down and back, or through an obstacle course). Whoever gets to the bottom of the hill first wins!
Winter Scavenger Hunt
It’s easy to turn an old-fashioned scavenging hunt into a winter one. Hide items like scarves, mittens, or even coins in the snow. Make sure that kids are wearing their warmest clothes, and give them a basket with a thermos of hot cocoa and some mugs to use during the hunt. If your child is old enough, they can even write their own list of “snowy things.”
Snowball Fight
This type of game may not be appropriate for younger children, but older kids will love it! This works best if there are at least three people. Have your kids stand in a line, then have them each pick up snowballs to use as ammunition. They try to hit the person standing across from them with their snowball, trying not to miss! Whoever is “out” first gets an extra snowball for being such a good shot.
There are so many great games for wintertime; these are just some of them. Remember to get creative with new ways to enjoy a snow day at home with kids by using our ideas and morphing them into new ones that work for your family’s interests.