The winter season invites us to slow down and unfortunately, when you have children, the days leading up to Christmas and beyond can be filled with busyness and lots of chaos. It's important to try to take a step back from that when we can and embrace the slow living lifestyle that winter calls for. When the winds rattle at the windows and the sky hangs low and grey, we’re gently encouraged to stay indoors, draw the curtains early and enjoy the soft, simple comforts of home. These are the kinds of days I’ve always loved as a mother, the ones where the children stay in their pyjamas, we cosy up for movie marathons and time seems to stretch in the loveliest way.
If you’re looking for wholesome ways to keep little ones happy and entertained while the weather does its own wild dance outside, here are some of our favourite cosy indoor activities which are all gentle, nostalgic and perfect for making winter memories together.
1. Candlelit Storytime & Winter Books
There’s no cosier way to spend a winter afternoon than curling up with a stack of stories.
We light candles around the room (out of reach of little hands of course), pull blankets onto the sofa and read together.
Some magical winter-themed stories we love include:
• Any of Shirley Hughes Christmas-themed stories
• Christmas by Dick Bruna
• Christmas treasuries with stories such as The Nutcracker and poems such as The Night Before Christmas
There’s something special about reading by candlelight, it slows everything down and makes even the simplest story feel enchanted.
2. Watercolour Painting Afternoon
Watercolour is one of the most forgiving, calming crafts for children. On winter days when the rain lashes against the windows, I set out:
• a palette of soft winter colours
• thick paper
• a cup of clean water
• brushes in gentle sizes
Children love painting winter scenes with robins, snowy trees, bare branches, tiny cottages and frosty gardens.
There’s something very soothing about watching the colours drift and swirl across the page. It’s a gentle, mindful activity for kids (and for us too).
3. Create a Winter Nature Tray
Even if you can’t get outside, you can bring winter in.
On our kitchen table, I often place a tray filled with:
• pinecones
• twigs
• smooth stones
• dried berries
• a few sprigs of evergreen
• winter treasures from recent walks in the woods
Children adore arranging them, making little “forest scenes,” or simply exploring the textures.
This kind of tactile, nature-connected play feels timeless, something every child deserves.
4. Baking Something Sweet & Simple
Winter baking is comfort itself.
I tend to keep things uncomplicated with children by baking things like gingerbread stars, oat cookies or warm cinnamon apple slices baked in the oven.
There’s joy in letting kids roll dough with tiny rolling pins, use cookie cutters, sprinkle sugar or simply stir the bowl.
The scent of baking drifting through the house is one of childhood’s greatest comforts.
5. A Quiet Afternoon of Simple Crafts
Winter lends itself beautifully to nostalgic crafts, the kind our own parents and grandparents might remember:
• wool-wrapped sticks
• clay ornaments
• homemade winter garlands
• pinecone bird feeders
• paper snowflakes
Crafts don’t need to be perfect; they just need heart.
The best part is pinning their creations around the house so they can admire their own winter wonderland.
6. Winter Slow-Play: Puzzles, Blocks & Vintage Toys
When the afternoons stretch long and soft, we turn to:
• wooden puzzles
• old-fashioned building blocks
• small world play
• train tracks
• baskets of simple toys
Slow play is beautiful in winter. There’s no rush, no pressure, just gentle moments with your children where imagination leads.
7. Build a Cosy Nook or Blanket Fort
A classic childhood joy.
Drape blankets over chairs, fill the space with cushions, fairy lights and a basket of books or toys.
Winter becomes instantly magical when you're inside a cosy little hideaway with hot chocolate and rosy-cheeked little ones. My boys tend to pile all their cuddly toys inside the fort too for added comfort!
8. A Winter Movie Afternoon (The Nostalgic Kind)
Occasionally, especially on stormy days, we curl up and watch something soft and old-fashioned:
• The Snowman - one of our absolute favourites!
• Paddington - a favourite of my boys
• Winnie the Pooh
• A Christmas movie - usually Home Alone, The Grinch, etc.
Add homemade popcorn, dim the lights and enjoy the stillness.
9. Simple Acts of Making Home Feel Magical
Little touches can transform winter indoors:
• fairy lights strung along a shelf
• a pot simmering with cinnamon and orange
• vintage-style prints on the wall
• winter-scented candles
• warm blankets over every armchair
Children feel these small moments deeply and home becomes almost 'cocoon-like' for them during the winter months.
Winter indoors with kids can often feel long or restless, but it doesn't have to be that way. With the gentle rhythm of simple play, creativity and cosy traditions, it can become a season full of heart and togetherness. These are the days of warm kitchens, painted fingertips, slow stories and tiny hands in ours and those days will be ones we look back on in fondness once our children are all grown up.
