A huge list of ideas for wearing out the kids all winter long:

• Make a hot cocoa bar for a fun after school surprise or a get together with friends.
• Go to the library and check out new Christmas or winter themed books.
• Teach the kids how to finger knit.
• Play cards on the coffee table in front of the fire.
• Go for a walk in the woods. In fact squeeze in lots of different hikes in winter: popcorn hike, lantern hike, hot cocoa hike, bird counting hike, etc. 1000 Hours Outside has lots of good ideas – check out their winter adventures advent calendar.
• Make a movie theater in your living room with lots of snuffed animals and blankets.
• Cut out snowflakes. Here’s an easy tutorial on how to make beautiful snowflakes out of paper bags.
• String cranberries and oranges to decorate with.
• Make snow angels.
• Make beeswax candles.
• Make salt dough ornaments.
• Collect nature objects and freeze them in ice molds.
• Freeze tiny toys in ice and have your child chip away the ice to free them.
• Watercolor with ice.
• Cut down your own Christmas tree.
• Decorate your Christmas tree while listening to Christmas music and sipping cocoa.
• Make cookies to give to your neighbors.
• Host a gingerbread house competition.
• Go to your local holiday walk or festival. We have The Festival of Trees and Christmas in the Village each year.
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights.
• Leave cookies out for Santa and carrots out for his reindeer.
• Adopt a family from an Angel Tree.
• Go to a Christmas choral or orchestra concert.
• Make fresh evergreen wreaths.
• Make a backyard ice rink and host a skating party.
• Go ice skating.
• Read a Christmas book together as a family.
• Do an Advent Calendar.
• Decorate a tree outside with homemade ornaments made with bird seed and peanut butter for the birds.
• Make maple syrup snow candy.
• Build a snowman.
• Build an igloo.
• Make ice globes.
• Have a winter bonfire with s’mores.
• Read a book outside.
• Go sledding, cross country skiing, or snow shoeing.
• Have a winter tea party with the kids.
• Make hand-made valentines.
• Make ice sculptures and/or ice globe lanterns.