Top 3 Winter Activities for Toddlers
We know that when schools are closed and children are at home for the holidays, it can sometimes be a challenge to come up with new, interesting ideas of things to do with your toddler. Here we have compiled a list of our three favorite winter-themed activities that consist of simple steps and only require materials that you probably already have around the house.
Cinnamon Dough Ornaments
This fun and easy recipe is a perfect way to engage with your toddler in the kitchen while also using some practical life skills like mixing, pouring, and strengthening hand muscles. All you will need is 1 cup of ground cinnamon and 1 cup of applesauce.
Mix the two ingredients together in a large bowl; add more cinnamon if the dough is too sticky or more applesauce if it’s too dry. Once a dark brown dough begins to form, take it out from the bowl and work it with your hands on a lightly floured surface kneading and shaping until a solid ball is formed. Roll out the dough to at least 1 to 1.5cm thick. Use cookie cutters to cut different shapes and place them on a baking tray. Be sure to make a small hole at the top using a toothpick or straw for your ornament to hang on the tree. Bake in the oven at 100 degrees C for about 2 hours or until dough is hardened. After cooling, you can add some ribbon or a small hook to the top hole and hang your creations on the Christmas tree. Your entire home will be full of the aroma of cinnamon surely putting the whole family into the holiday spirit!
Christmas Tree Gluing
Another simple activity using some basic materials found around the house is gluing and it will definitely keep your toddlers’ attention, even if only for several minutes! For this activity, you will need glue and a small brush or gluestick, green or white paper, and various small adornments like buttons, sequins, beads, or small pieces of cut-up paper.
If using white paper, you can color it with a green marker or crayon then using scissors cut out a small to medium-sized tree shape. Toddlers use our gluing box every day in the classroom so this is a great activity to repeat at home. They also enjoy collecting small objects with their hands so you can take this opportunity to practice language; discuss the different items comparing colors, shapes, and how they feel. Your toddler can apply the glue onto the paper tree and then place the various items on the tree. Be sure to use thicker paper as sometimes toddlers like to use a lot of glue!
Snowflake Painting
These beautiful snowflakes will be lovely decorations for your home and windows, plus it’s a great opportunity to let your child express themselves through art! We would recommend preparing several papers in advance so your toddler can repeat the painting multiple times while remaining engaged and concentrating.
First, fold a small square piece of white paper over on itself several times and cut various triangles around the edges to make a paper snowflake. You’ll probably have to help with using the scissors here because the paper can be too thick for a toddler to cut. Using tape or sticky tack, stick one or two snowflakes onto a piece of thick colored paper. Now for the painting! Mix different shades of blue, or blue and white together in a small dish, and your child can paint the snowflakes using a foam stamper or brush. Show them how to paint gently over each snowflake and older children can be encouraged to cover the entire paper with paint. After the paper has dried, you can carefully remove the snowflakes and your toddler can see the negative space where the snowflake was! Your child can then help you to decorate the whole house with snowflakes making it look like your own winter wonderland!
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