Today I am sharing some fun things to do outside with your kids in the winter when there’s no snow. Even when it’s cold, you can still enjoy getting outside as a family!
After the snow melts but before spring fully arrives, it can sometimes feel tricky to adventure outside. The “no-snow but not quite spring” waiting season can feel so long. Too cold and muddy for full-on spring adventures, but no snow to play on.
Getting the kids outside during this time can be a challenge, but it’s still so important! So, to make the most of these in-between weeks while we hold out for warmer days, I’ve put together a handful of fun and creative ideas to embrace still trying to get outside during the shoulder season.
1. Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of winter-friendly treasures like pinecones, dried leaves, or interesting rocks, and let the kids explore. It’s a great way to have kids be entertained, even on a simple neighborhood walk. Make it easy on everyone and write the list on a brown paper bag so they have their list and collecting bag all in one.
You could also have snag some paint samples cards from your local hardware store and have them try to find something in nature that matches the shade of paint.
2. Fly a Kite on a Windy Day
Head to a park or open space and take advantage of gusty winter days. This highly rated kid-friendly kite from Amazon can make for a fun and easy experience on a windy day!
3. Go for a Bike Ride (Bundle Up!)
Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean it’s too early to pull the bikes out for the season! Dress everyone up in warm layers, gloves, and hats under their helmets if needed, and head out for a ride. If you’ve got little ones who aren’t quite ready to ride on their own, a good bike trailer can make all the difference. We love the Thule bike trailer—it’s pricey, but incredibly versatile. If you’re in the thick of raising young kids and plan to use it for years to come, I’d say it’s well worth the investment.
4. Create a Backyard/Driveway Obstacle Course
Set up challenges using whatever you can find around your garage, or better yet-have kids design it. Pull out hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, or whatever you have on hand. Draw hopscotch, outdoor tracks for cars, or different stations with a task to complete. For older kids, they might enjoy tracking officially the time it takes to complete the course. You can snag these easy to use timers to add some competition to the obstacle course.
5. Collect and Paint Rocks
Another idea is to take a walk and gather interesting rocks, then bring them home to paint. If you have little kids, using a watercolor set to paint rocks can be relatively mess free, and older kids could use acrylic paints. You could even take the decorated rocks out and re-hide them around the neighborhood.
6. Make a Bird Feeder
A classic DIY bird feeder is always a hit at our house. It’s super simple- try to find a big pinecone, smear it with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it outside with string. Then, watch as your backyard becomes a buffet for birds. We like to make a couple, and hang them by a place the kids can see easily from a window. Michael’s or Hobby Lobby usually have cute wooden bird house that are not expensive and ready to be painted. Amazon also has this cute four-pack that comes with paint if you have multiple kids like me.
7. Go on a Photography Walk
If you’re feeling brave, you could lend your phone as a camera or use a kid friendly camera for a photography walk. You could challenge them to find cool textures, colors, or patterns in nature, or let them snap photos whatever they’d like as you spend some time outside. My kids also love to take their binoculars to spot things on outdoor walks!
8. Embrace the Mud
No snow? No problem! Grab rain boots and waterproof gear and embrace the mud. Jump in puddles, let your kids build mud castles, and get their hands dirty—literally. A sand shovel or bucket can be used as great mud toys too. Here is where I get all of my kids rain gear from! I also love this inexpensive rain suit from Amazon (it runs a little big!).
9. Visit the Zoo
If you’re in the SLC area, you can never go wrong with an outing to Hogale Zoo. Bundle your crew up and spend a few hours exploring the exhibits. Amazon has these universal wind/rain covers that fit most strollers and help with comfort for any little riders. I’d recommend these when the weather might not be great, but you still want to get out and enjoy! The Zoo is launching something that sounds pretty cool, called Zooluminate where the zoo will be open until 10 starting on March 28-May 26th. You can check out their website for further info!
10. Build a Fire
Sitting by a fire can be a great way to enjoy being outside even if it’s cold outside. If you have a backyard fire pit, you could plan to read books, chat, or roast hot dogs by the fire. If you’re up for something more adventurous, some trails have designated fire rings to enjoy—just make sure to check the local fire regulations before you start one.
I hope this post is useful in getting some outside time in before spring officially arrives. Let me know in the comments how your family is spending time outside!
For other active kid resources, check out my posts on winter hiking with kids!
