Exciting Winter Activities for Toddlers

Discover fun and engaging winter activities to keep your toddlers entertained and educated during the chilly season. This blog aims to provide readers with an overview of our educational activities for the month, along with some directions on ideal activities to do at home, and some reading lists that can reinforce what we're learning in school

Winter-themed Sensory Play

Winter-themed sensory play is a great way to introduce your toddlers to the wonders of the season. Create a sensory bin filled with fake snow, ice cubes, and winter-themed toys. Encourage your little ones to explore different textures and temperatures as they play. You can also use scented playdough in winter scents like peppermint or pine to engage their senses even further. This activity not only provides entertainment but also helps develop fine motor skills and sensory awareness.

Another fun idea for winter-themed sensory play is to freeze small toys or objects in ice cubes. Give your toddlers a tray of ice cubes and let them use warm water or toy hammers to melt the ice and discover the hidden treasures within. This activity promotes problem-solving skills and encourages curiosity and exploration.

Some Baby Room Board Books to Buy

Kipper's Snowy Day, by Mick Inkpen - Kipper loves the snow, so when he sees great white snowflakes tumbling down one morning, he can't wait to go outside! His friend Tiger is outside too, and together they have lots of fun playing in the snow. Making snow angels, having snowball fights, and building a wonderful snow-dog. Purchase via the link.

Winter by Allie Busby - There’s something special about each season of the year, wherever we live in the world. Follow the children in this book as they discover and explore the unique character of winter, through indoor and outdoor play. Sensory, detailed and child-centred, this is the perfect introduction for young children to the cycles of the year.

Winter Dance, by Marian Dane Bauer - Snow is coming, and it's time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the fox do? Each animal advises the fox that its own plan is best, but the fox thinks otherwise--yet it's not until he meets a golden-eyed friend that he finds the perfect way to celebrate the snowfall.

Winter Babies (Babies in the Park), by Kathryn O Galbraith  - Spirited, rhyming text and colorful, graphic art introduce an energetic cast of babies having an action-packed day of play in the park on a cheerful winter day.

No Two Alike, by Keith Baker - No two snowflakes are alike, almost, almost . . . but not quite. Follow a pair of birds on a snowflake-filled journey though a gorgeous winter landscape to explore how everything, everywhere is wonderfully unique--from branches and leaves to forests and trees to friends and loved ones.

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes - This picture book about winter celebrates the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. From Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes and acclaimed painter Laura Dronzek, the bestselling and award-winning creators of seasonal favorites When Spring Comes and In the Middle of Fall.

Snowman Building and Decorating

Building a snowman is a classic winter activity that toddlers can enjoy with adult supervision. Bundle up your little ones in warm winter clothes and head outside to build a snowman together. Show them how to roll snowballs and stack them to create the body and head of the snowman. Let them decorate the snowman with buttons, sticks, and a carrot for the nose. This activity promotes gross motor skills, creativity, and teamwork.

If you don't have access to real snow, you can create a snowman indoors using materials like cotton balls or white playdough. Provide your toddlers with various materials for decorating, such as googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and construction paper. They can use their imagination to design their own unique snowman.

One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth - Percy the park keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives. But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them.

Snow Bears by Martin Waddell - Imagine - three little bears, a game of snowballs, and hot toast by an open fire. These are the magical ingredients brought together in this wonderful family game of play and pretence.

Robin's Winter Song, by Susanne Barton - The forest was bustling with activity. As the red and orange leaves swirled in the wind, Robin started to worry. Something was changing. Finch was flying south, because Winter was coming. Squirrel was burying food, because Winter was coming. Even Owl was making his nest warm. Why? That's right - because Winter was coming. Robin decided he didn't like the sound of Winter one little bit. But that was before the snow.  

One Winter's Day by Christina Butler - When Little Hedgehog's nest is blown away in a terrible storm he wraps up warmly and sets off for Badger's house. On his way Hedgehog meets lots of animals shivering in the wind and snow. One by one, he gives them his cosy mittens, hat and scarf. But will Little Hedgehog make it through the storm to safety?

The Wild Girl by Christopher Wormall - This is the story of a little girl and her small brown dog. They live all alone in a little cave high up on the mountainside in the middle of the great wide wilderness. Then one day in the bitter cold of winter, as they are returning to their cave, they see bear tracks in the snow . . .

Hibernation by Robin Nelson - Hibernation is a cycle that some animals go through every year. Most people know that bears hibernate. But why do they hibernate? And what other animals hibernate?

What can you see in winter? By Sian Smith Books in this series introduce emergent readers to the four seasons. In Winter, children are taken on a tour of things they can see in winter including typical winter activities and changes in the natural world. Beautiful photos, very simple repeated text, high frequency and decodeable words and strong photo-to-text matching make this a perfect book for early readers to enjoy.

Indoor Winter Crafts

When the weather is too cold to go outside, indoor winter crafts are a perfect way to keep your toddlers entertained. Set up a crafting station with materials like paper, glue, scissors, and crayons. You can provide templates for winter-themed crafts like snowflakes, mittens, or snowmen, or let your toddlers create their own masterpieces.

Another fun indoor winter craft is making paper snowflakes. Show your toddlers how to fold a piece of paper and cut out different shapes to create unique snowflake designs. Hang the paper snowflakes on windows or walls to add a festive touch to your home. This activity helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and spatial awareness.

Guess how much I love you in Winter by Sam McBratney  - Big and Little Nutbrown Hare, from the multi-million-selling picture book Guess How Much I Love You, return for Winter. The captivating story is seasonally themed and beautifully illustrated.

William’s Winter Wish by Gillian Shields - William longs for it to snow. Maybe if he makes a wish on Grandpa's snow globe it will really happen. But disaster strikes when William drops the globe and breaks it! How can he say sorry to Grandpa, and will his wish ever come true?

A Little Bit of Winter, by Paul Stuart - It is autumn and time for Hedgehog's annual sleep. He asks Rabbit to save him a little bit of winter, so that when he wakes up he can see what it's like. But Rabbit is a forgetful animal. Will he keep his promise?

The Snow Globe Family, by Jane O'Connor - Oh, when will it snow again? wonders the little family who lives in the snow globe. They long for a snowstorm? if only someone in the big family would pick up the snow globe and give it a shake. Baby would love to. She notices the little family, but the snow globe is too high for her to reach. But then Baby is alone during a snowstorm. Will the snow globe family get a chance to go sledding, too?

The Snowflake, by Benji Davies - High, high up in the clouds a tiny snowflake is made. Perfectly small, fluffy, crystal and white, it tumbles and bounces inside the cloud. But then she begins to fall

A Thing Called Snow, by Yuval Zommer - A gorgeous Christmas picture book that's destined to become a festive classic. Fox and Hare were born in spring, grew up in summer, and were best friends by autumn. When winter comes, they can't wait to jump, leap and, bounce in this thing called snow. But what exactly is snow? Join fox and hare on an Arctic journey as they ask all their friends to help them find

Winter, by Sian Smith - What do animals do in winter? Read this book to find out what happens in winter. Books in this series introduce children to the four seasons. Each book uses simple, repetitive text to teach children basic vocabulary, and includes stunning photographs to show the changes that take place during each season. In Winter, children learn about typical winter activities and changes in the natural world

Outdoor Winter Adventures

If the weather allows, take your toddlers on outdoor winter adventures to explore the beauty of the season. Go for a walk in a local park or nature trail and encourage your little ones to observe and touch the different elements of winter, such as frost on leaves or icicles hanging from branches. You can also go sledding or have a snowball fight if there is enough snow.

Remember to dress your toddlers warmly and provide them with appropriate winter gear like hats, gloves, and snow boots. Outdoor winter adventures not only provide physical exercise but also stimulate curiosity and appreciation for nature.

Tiger in the Snow by Nick Butterworth- Tiger the kitten has lots of friends…usually. It isn’t hard for Tiger to find someone to play with…usually. But one day, when everything is covered in a chilly white blanket of snow, Tiger’s friends are too cold or too busy to go out and he has to play by himself. Until he finds something very unusual buried in the snow…

Snowy Day by Mick Manning - Aimed at children 3-6 years, the titles in t he early worm range provide youngsters with an introduction to weather. Illustrated throughout, Snowy Day looks at white trees, snowman, scarves, boots and hats.

The Mitten, by Jan Brett - When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing. One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.

The Big Freeze by Pippa Curnick - Shama and Bahama Llama can't wait for winter - skating, snowballs, hot chocolate . . . and best of all, the Winter Woolly Party! But when The Big Freeze suddenly arrives they discover that their jumpers are in a sorry state! Cue a MAJOR PANIC as everyone sets out on a wild race to Granny Brock's Jumper Shop to nab the perfect woolly jumpers.

A Dot in the Snow by Corrine Averiss- A little polar bear, Miki, wanders away while his mother is diving for fish. He sees a dot in the snow and rushes towards it. Readers discover that the dot is a little girl. But Miki has never seen a human before and the little girl has never seen a polar bear. They discover more about each other as they play in the snow but then the perils of the polar landscape impel Miki to take the little girl home before undertaking the long journey to find his own mother. 

Snow by Same Usher - Every child loves a snow day - no school and snowball fights galore! But Sam has to wait for his Grandad. Trying to hurry him up, Sam tells Grandad all the other kids have gone to the park... and all the local dogs... and all the zoo animals! Only when they finally arrive does Grandad see Sam was telling the truth - and both of them get stuck in having fun on their snow day!

The Frost Goblin by Abi Elphinstone- In Bertie Crash-Wallop's noisy family, it can sometimes feel like there is no room for a quiet boy like him. But when Bertie meets a family of goblins on the night of the deepest frost, is it possible he might make some magic and discover his own place in the world?

Winter Story Time

Cozy up with your toddlers and enjoy winter-themed storybooks during story time. Choose books that depict winter scenes, animals, or holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah. You can also incorporate props or puppets to make the storytelling more engaging for your little ones.

Encourage your toddlers to interact with the story by asking questions about the illustrations or characters. This activity helps develop language skills, imagination, and a love for reading.

Elmer in th Snow by David McKee- At the first hint of a chill in the air, Elmer's friends start complaining about the cold, so Elmer decides to show them what cold weather is really like. They set off for a walk up a mountain, and the higher they get, the colder it gets. A good snowball fight at the top warms them all up, but the elephants agree that compared with the freezing mountain top, their home is not really that cold at all. With his typical sense of mischief and fun, Elmer shows how hot and cold are only relative.

The Boy & the Bear by Tracey Courderoy- When a lonely little boy receives an invitation to play written on a paper boat, it seems that he has found the best friend he's been longing for – at last! But Bear isn't quite the playmate the boy had imagined. If only he knew how to play games properly!

Snowball by Sue Hendra- A lonely young snowball, stuck at the top of a mountain, decides to visit the local town for a bit of fun – but on his way he trips, falls, and starts to roll . . . and when a snowball rolls through snow, we all know what happens! This snowball picks up not only snow, but a myriad of other odd things on his way down – a sheep, a line of washing, a bicycling bear, ending up in the Zoo.

Once Upon A Snow Storm by Richard Johnson - The story of a father and his son who live by themselves in a cosy cabin in the woods. But, one day they are separated out in the beautifully falling snow. The boy is lost and falls asleep. When he wakes up he is surrounded by blinking eyes, a rabbit, a fox, an owl and all manner of other creatures have surrounded him! But with a bear hug he and the woodland animals become best of friends! But soon he misses his dad and so the animals bring him back home. The father opens up his heart and home, and lets nature and love envelop their previously lonely existence.

Travel through the Seasons: Wintertime by Annabel Griffin - Winter Time: See how habitats change during the coldest months of the year, and why you see less of the cute and furry creatures than in other seasons. Discover the science behind glittering snowflakes and leafless trees. Spy winter birds, and animals going into hibernation. A playful, humorous, engaging look at the science behind winter, with bright and vibrant illustrations, of animals and habitats.

My First Chanukkah - In My First Chanukah, Tomie dePaola's gentle text and understated artwork provide insight and background into the holiday for young readers. Eye-catching foil lights up the cover!

Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story - Moishe receives a gift himself—a pan that magically produces all the latkes anyone could wish for. . . . enough to feed the whole village! But Moishe is supposed to be the only one who can use the miraculous pan. When Baila tries to use it for her own benefit, she cooks up some big trouble—in this beautifully illustrated holiday story featuring a visiting rabbi, a talking cow, lots of laughter, and some delicious

Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf - Shmelf is one of Santa's most important elves. He's part of the List Checking department, and he makes sure all the good boys and girls get their presents! But when Shmelf finds out that some children are missing from Santa's list, he goes to investigate. What Shmelf uncovers is Hanukkah, a wondrous and joyful holiday that Jewish families celebrate each year. As Shmelf observes a family lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and hearing the Hanukkah story, he sees how special the traditions of the holiday truly are--and he wants to be a part of it! Luckily, Santa                                        just might have a special role in mind for Shmelf . . .

Hanukkah Bear - Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village, and on the first night of Hanukkah, the scent of her cooking wakes a hungry, adorable bear from his hibernation. He lumbers into town to investigate, and Bubba Brayna--who does not see or hear very well--mistakes him for her rabbi. She welcomes the bear inside to play the dreidel game, light the menorah, and enjoy a scrumptious meal.However, after her well-fed guest leaves, there's a knock at the door--it's the rabbi, and all of Brayna's other friends, arriving for dinner. But there are no latkes left--and together, they finally figure out who really ate them.

Story of Hanukkah - Hanukkah is a wonderful time filled with games, food, family, and fun. It's also the celebration of an ancient miracle, and retelling and remembering the story of that miracle is an essential part of the holiday, for young and old. The story of the courageous Maccabees is retold in simple yet dramatic text, accompanied by vibrant paintings of the battle, the Temple of Jersualem, and the oil which miraculously burned for eight long nights.

Pick A Pine Tree - From Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth creator, Jarvis, and author Patricia Toht, comes a beautiful, irresistible Christmas gift book that all begins with … picking a pine tree! Brimming over with the excitement of being with family at the festive season, a gorgeously rhythmical, read-aloud narrative accompanied by warm, joyful art celebrates all the familiar rituals of decorating the tree – from digging out jam-packed boxes of trimmings, stringing tinsel, to, at last, turning on those twinkly fairy lights.

Robin's Winter Song - The forest was bustling with activity. As the red and orange leaves swirled in the wind, Robin started to worry. Something was changing. Finch was flying south, because Winter was coming. Squirrel was burying food, because Winter was coming. Even Owl was making his nest warm. Why? That's right - because Winter was coming. Robin decided he didn't like the sound of Winter one little bit. But that was before the snow . . . A beautifully tender story of a little robin's first winter from the enormously talented creator of The Dawn Chorus.

Christmas Lights - Join one little girl and her father on their drive home for Christmas. Lift the flaps and spin the wheels to watch stars shoot past and fairy lights twinkle. With a lyrical text and beautiful art by The Ride-by-Nights illustrator Carolina Rabei, this book makes the perfect Christmas gift, and will capture the hearts of the whole family.

The First Christmas - From Rod Campbell, the creator of the bestselling Dear Zoo, The First Christmas is a simple, warm retelling of the Christmas story and has easy-to-follow sentences and bright, appealing artwork, making it perfect for young children. Sure to become a family favourite, this is a nativity story to be shared and loved at Christmastime year after year. Presented in a sturdy cased board book, with a beautiful shiny star that toddlers will love on the cover.

The Night Before Christmas - "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
This classic Christmas verse is well known to every parent and child preparing for Christmas and this beautifully illustrated new edition is the perfect Christmas gift for young and old.