It’s that time of year where the weather is dreary and the days are short. Kids (and adults) still need to be engaged in play and be out in the community especially in seasons like these. That’s why I wanted to share some of my favorite winter activities for families on a budget.
My child and I started out on our own when he was just 2 years old and had oodles and oodles of energy. I didn’t have nearly as much money as he had energy though. It seemed like every dollar I earned was being paid to the lawyers to help keep us safe. It was stressful for me and that made it super important to have fun activities to do with my little boy; to keep the fun alive!
BIG FAMILY FUN – FOR FREE
Join a toy lending library
Most communities have one of these. For no cost at all, you can sign out one or a few toys to bring home for your littles to enjoy for a few weeks. When kids are little, they don’t need many toys to be happy and they certainly don’t care where they come from. If you can’t find one near to home, then you could always pick a few friends to swap toys with for a period of time.
Attend free community festivals and events
Whether it’s a free skate with Santa or a New Year’s or Easter party hosted by your community or a service group, these are packed with fun and are generally free. Some will have items for sale but there are always free booths to enjoy too. The bonus is that you will connect with others in your community so there will be plenty of kids to play with and adults to chat with while you’re there.
Your library is one of your best resources
We have enjoyed weekly story times and lego parties and Star Wars and Bug Zoo events. You name it, they are all free and easily accessible. While you are there, you can stock up on a fresh batch of books to read together, movies to watch or even video games to play if you have older kids. They also often have passes to local museums, art galleries and more that you can access. Just ask your librarian.
Keep your eye out for community days
Local art galleries, museums, ski hills, movie theaters, and more tend to have one or two days a year where they offer free admission. It will mean that these places will be busier than you might like but it does grant access and can be a fun and educational outing with the kids.
Volunteer (with the kids)
We found a few great opportunities when my boy was little and then when he was older where we could volunteer together. When I was involved with our local chamber of commerce, we would host pancake breakfasts and other regular events. He was little then so he wasn’t much help but he sure was happy and entertained all the other volunteers and had plenty of fun in the process. As he grew into his pre-teen years, we volunteered at a food bank every week where he could break down boxes and talk to people. What was great about that is that there was also a university student dinner at the same venue on the same evening so he got to know so many inspirational young adults at a critical time in his growth.
Do the park circuit
There is always one park that’s closest to home and the kids like it well enough, but it’s so incredibly fun to rotate through all the parks in town. While this sounds like a summer activity, there’s also so much fun to have in parks in the wintertime. Snow covered park equipment poses new challenges and can be quite entertaining (but remember safety). There will be other kids to build snowmen with, or jump in puddles if you’re in a moderate climate that has rainy winters.
Break out the board games
Winter is the perfect time to play board games or card games. They are great for developing math and critical thinking skills all while having fun together. Again, if you’re tired of the ones that you have on your shelves, you can find these for very little in thrift stores or for free on “Buy Nothing” type groups on social media. Or, just swap with friends.
It’s craft time!
Is it just me, or do we all have oodles of markers and crayons and paper in our houses just waiting to be used? Get out the glue and sprinkles. Google a few ideas or just put it out for the kids to play. Big and little kids. Do a collaboration where you draw something, then they add to it, then you, then them. It’s quite fun to see where it takes you and they love the attention and together time.
Cook and bake together
This is amazing whether your kids are tiny or big, but especially if they can reach the counters. This can be a great way to let your kids develop their kitchen skills. When you’re in the quieter months of January or February, these are great ways to connect with your bigger kids.
Bonus: Get out in nature
Spending time in nature is good for your body and soul. Dress warmly and head out. Pull a sled up a nearby hill, strap on some skates and hit a lake (already proven to be safe) or an outdoor rink. On the really cold days, you may not initially want to do this but, especially if the sun is shining, it can be absolutely magical to spend time in nature.
One final thought.
We are led to believe that we need to spend a ton of money on our kids for them to be happy but that is absolutely not the case. Wipe those thoughts right out of your mind. Kids want and need your attention and love. Neither of these cost a dime but come with rich, rich rewards.
If you were to curate your most wonderful winter day with your kids, what would it look like?