Fun Indoor Activities for Preschoolers During Winter (or Anytime!)

Families with preschoolers often prepare for long stretches of indoor fun with their 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds during winter months. But by the time March hits, many Coloradans get tricked into thinking spring weather and activities like playing at the park are here to stay. The reality is that March is typically the snowiest month of the year for Denver and many other places throughout Colorado. Just when families start to get spring fever, cold temperatures, snow, ice, or windy conditions force activities indoors for much longer than many families anticipate (or welcome). 

Denver Preschool Program knows that entertaining preschoolers indoors for yet another weekend can be challenging for even the most-prepared family. That’s why we put together these ideas for fun indoor activities for preschoolers. Try these indoor gross motor activities for preschoolers or crafts with your child. 

Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers 

Preschool children generally need to move … a lot! Gross motor activities are any activity where children (or adults) move their large muscles in a coordinated way, like running, jumping, kicking, dancing. Here are five fun indoor gross motor activities to get your child moving: 

• Dance party–regardless of how much space you have, a dance party offers fun in any form. Let your child pick out a song to play or choose something that gets you all grooving. Try a fun dance routine like Wiggle, Freeze, Spin + More. Or, check out fun song and dance videos from The Kiboomers Kids Music Channel on YouTube. 
• Seek and find–have your child race to find certain objects in your home (i.e. something red, something round) and bring them back to a central location. To add more challenge, pick out objects for them to find in different places throughout your home. 
• Obstacle course–over and under and through, oh my! Nothing says indoor fun like a homemade obstacle course. Use blankets, pillows, and safe toys and have your preschooler navigate the unique obstacle course. For extra fun, time them going through the course. 
• Ball toss–while throwing balls in the house is not always allowed, this fun indoor activity could be an exception to the rule on a cold day. Find different objects (trash bin, toy box, bowl, hamper) and set them up in an area of your house where throwing a ball is okay (like a hallway or basement). Use soft foam balls or even socks that are rolled up. Award different numbers to each container your preschooler successfully throws a ball (or sock) into. Having different “rounds” and moving the goals into new places can keep the game interesting. 
• Simon Says–help your preschooler improve on their listening skills all while having fun and moving. Simply repeat one of these 141 Fun Simon Says Command Ideas (or one of your own) and turn your indoor day into a memorable learning experience. Many preschoolers will want to create their own Simon Says commands–the sillier, the better! 

Relay races, hopscotch, the floor is lava, et act like an animal are all fun indoor games that promote gross motor skills and get your preschooler moving. 

Create or Craft with Preschoolers 

Arts, crafts, baking, and playing indoors are all fun activities to enjoy with preschoolers. Please be aware that many of these activities require a little preparation and purchasing of supplies in advance. 

• Make playdough– Did you know that marshmallows and Jello can be fun ingredients to make playdough with at home? Check out these 5 ways to make playdough. Mix up your own creation and let your preschoolers’ imaginations go wild. 
• Bake–These 34 fun things to bake at home from Taste of Home can both entertain and fuel your preschooler. Pick and choose recipes based on your patience level and appetite. 
• Create paper plate bugs–Bring the outside indoors with these fun creepy crawler paper plate bugs. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the supplies–improvise with what’s on hand. 
• Get creative with water–Whether you have an outdoor water table that you can bring indoors or create your own water world with bowls in the bath tub, water can be fun year-round. Just be sure to have lots of towels on hand! These indoor water play ideas can set you and your preschooler up for fun. 
• Make a sensory bin–Dry rice, pasta, or beans make a great start to a sensory bin. Have your preschooler help you find other objects to include in the bin. This easy guide to creating a sensory bin will get you off to a great start. 

Reading books, building forts, painting, coloring, and putting on mini plays are also good ways to spend a cold day indoors with your preschooler. 

Looking for more ideas and inspiration for your preschooler? Sign up for our quarterly newsletter Family Dispatch. We share tips for helping your preschooler learn while having fun (inside and outside)!