115 Best Winter Bucket List Ideas for Kids & Families in 2025
What can you do on a cold day in the winter?
Use winter bucket list ideas to brighten up dark days with your own kind of fun!
When the holiday season ends, we’re often left with a bit of a shock. The cold looms and the days can feel gloomy and depressing. These amazing things to do in winter will warm you right up – inside and out!
Indoor Winter Bucket List Ideas for Home
First, there are TONS of fun things to do at home with kids in the winter!
Make paper snowflakes and hang them up for decoration.
Do a living room campout. Make foil packets in the oven and s’mores in the microwave.
Play a winter this or that questions game.
Create family goals for the New Year:
Watch the movie Frozen – Then, test yourselves with Frozen Trivia Questions. (Ice Age and Cool Runnings are other winter movie favorites!)
Read-aloud a fun new series. Or read the book then watch the movie!
Do a random act of kindness. Or try a kindness challenge for the month. Try one of these ideas:
- Pay for someone’s food in the drive-thru behind you
- Leave money in a library book for a child (or adult) to find
- Use sidewalk chalk to write words of encouragement on someone’s driveway
*Read more at: 17 easy ways to spread light.
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Have a game or movie night with any of the new goodies from the holidays.
Put together an epic puzzle.
Make a blanket fort.
Make a family invention on National Inventor’s Day- February 11th.
Make a craft with pinecones. (Turn it into your table centerpiece for winter!)
Play Trivia! Try:
Have a pillow fight
Make snow globes.
Write thank you cards from the holidays.
Have a pajama day.
Create a kids vision board or a family bucket list for the entire year.
Tell your kids funny snowman jokes.
Where would you find snowmen dancing?
A snowball!
Laugh it up with a game of:
Cute Valentine’s Day Bucket List Ideas
Play Valentine’s Day Charades.
Make Valentine’s Day cards.
Do fun family activities for Valentine’s Day.
Leave hearts on each other’s doors.
Leave sweet little notes for each other. Find free love notes.
Fill out 10 reasons why you love your family members.
Fun Outdoor Winter Activities
Next up, check out these fun outside winter bucket list ideas the whole family will love.
Gather around the fire pit with a hot drink.
Make a snow fort.
Create sidewalk art.
Paint winter-themed rocks and hide them around your backyard or neighborhood.
Build a snowman.
Take a winter hike.
Shovel a neighbor’s driveway.
Go sledding.
Make ice. We left a tub of water outside with leaves in it once. When it froze, it turned into an interesting science experiment with the kids. Now, we do it on purpose!
Have a snowball fight. Get the parents out there too for a family fight everyone will remember.
Take a winter nature walk. Bonus if you take a thermos of hot chocolate for a suprise.
Make pictures in the snow using water or food dye.
Make frozen bubbles. Here’s a tutorial.
Build an igloo.
Make snow angels.
Go ice fishing.
Do a winter picnic. The kids will think it’s awesome and spontaneous. If it’s too cold, then make it an indoor one in an unusual room (i.e. the closet, basement, bedroom, etc.)
Delicious Winter Food Ideas
Don’t forget to have fun with food to make your winter special.
Make snowman pancakes. Line up three small round pancakes to make the snowman and use frozen fruit (blueberries) to be creative with the buttons, eyes, and mouth.
Eat black-eyed peas. It’s good luck for the New Year!
Make a hot chocolate bar. Splurge on toppings you normally don’t use like cinnamon, heavy cream, and gourmet chocolates!
Have a soup day and make a bunch of soups and chili to freeze for the rest of winter.
Bake a loaf of fresh bread to go with your soup.
Eat cheese on National Cheese Lover’s Day, January 20.
Try chocolate fondue for Valentine’s Day.
Eat popcorn on National Popcorn Day, January 19
Make your signature chili on National Chili Day (Fourth Thursday in February)
Bake a pie.
Put together a fun football tailgating spread while you watch the Superbowl. Don’t forget dips, pizza, wings, and other food indulgences. (Try this football trivia if you get bored)
Make chocolate-covered strawberries.
Celebrate National Pizza Day (Feb. 9th) with a creative homemade pizza.
Try new healthy recipes to get healthier this year.
Make snow cones out of snow.
Do a 30 day health challenge. January is a great time to try this!
Out and About Ideas for Winter Bucket List
Collect old toys (and stuff) and take them to donate.
Take off to a warm location or book a hotel for a night with an indoor pool. Enjoy a quick breather from winter.
Volunteer.
Go ice skating.
Go bowling.
Try rock climbing at an indoor facility.
See a movie in the movie theater. (if that’s not possible, set up your own movie theater experience at home)
Attend a hockey game.
Go stargazing. Don’t forget the blankets and hot chocolate!
Head to an indoor playground. Get the wiggles out while you stay warm!
Visit the library (bring breakfast from home or a fun place to make it extra special)
Unique Winter Things to Do For Kids & Adults
Dress up your pet on National Dress Up Your Pet Day, January 14
Participate in a Polar Plunge.
Have fun with easy whiteboard games. (Mix learning and play!)
Give hot take examples and watch the heated debate unfold.
Divide into teams and play a winter trivia game.
Watch a hilarious comedy on Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24.
Travel to see the Northern Lights.
Host a Superbowl party and vote on the best commercial of the night.
Read a fun winter book
Best Winter Bucket List Ideas for Adults
Now, here’s the thing, adults should be having fun too! So, make your own special winter bucket list!
Declutter your living space. It’s the perfect time of year to try a clean out challenge!
Do a digital detox. It will help you focus on what matters to begin the year.
Plan out your year. Get organized and motivated before activities pick up again!
Plan your New Year’s Resolutions (or better yet, make them specific goals)
Go on a winter walk by yourself the first time it snows.
Give yourself or get a winter pedicure.
Take a hot bath on National Bubble Bath Day, January 8
Make an inspirational vision board. (Use this free vision board template)
Self-reflect with questions that get to the heart.
Make a fancy hot chocolate or coffee.
Take a weekend to do self-care bingo.
Drink an outstanding wine on National Drink Wine Day- February 18th.
Learn to ski, snowboard, or ice skate.
Cozy up your home. Add rugs, soft blankets, a warm fire, and more. Find easy tips to make your home cozy.
Make a New Year’s reading list. What books would you like to dive into in the coming year?
*Check out my favorite personal growth books and other powerful books for women.
Buy a new winter candle.
Take a couples quiz with your partner.
Send a self-care package. (or make one for yourself using these self-care kit ideas)
Plan a cozy date in with your partner. Try an appetizer tray next to the fireplace!
Do something romantic for Valentine’s Day.
Re-connect with an old friend. Give a small gift, meet up for a coffee, or host a firepit night.
Make a hearty winter comfort food like chili or soup.
Do at least one thing that scares you (or gets you out of your comfort zone).
Plan a spa day at home.
Have fun doing a couples challenge.
Make a couples vision board or couples bucket list.
Put up a winter wreath.
Read a book you’ve been meaning to get to, by the fire.
Set up an indoor workout routine, or join a gym. Now is a great time to set new healthy habits!
Start a new journal. Or track another fresh new habit with this free habit tracker.
How to Keep Your Spirits Up This Winter
For us, winter (after the holidays) is the most difficult time of year. Kids have a hard time getting wiggles out, we feel couped up, and there’s less fresh air.
But we can work to rectify this! Here are easy ways to stay happy this winter. These have worked for us!
Get Outside as Often as Possible
Vitamin D
Our bodies need it to function well and most of us don’t get enough of it. So, even when it’s cold, try to head outside for a little sunlight and fresh air. Taking supplements is another way to make sure you’re getting enough in the winter months. (Consult a doctor)
Connect With Others
Personally, my mood tanks when I am too isolated from others. An easy fix is to schedule interaction with the people you love. This gives you something to look forward to AND the connection you crave.
Get Your Self-Care On
Use your self-care kit! Find your zen. Repeat affirmations that lift your spirits.
The bottom line is: if you treat your body and mind well in the winter, they will respond in kind.
Read these Simple Self Care Things to Do to get started!
Use the New Year to Grow
Finally, it’s the beginning of a new year, which means a fresh start and new enthusiasm!
So, USE THIS to set specific goals that you can begin to work towards. As you see your progress, you’ll keep your mind focused and in a positive state of mind.
To Consider With Ultimate Winter Activities
Winter after the holidays is a bit less glorious, but there are still many opportunities to live, grow, and love those around you.
So, make every day matter friends!
Other family posts to enjoy…
- 131 Creative Ways to Show Your Love – express yourself to those you care about!
- Easy-to-do Ways to Be a More Fun Mom – time to lighten up a little, mama.
- Editable Chore Chart Printable for Kids (Grab your copy!)