Here we are, already in December! Are you ready for winter?
Here are 31 new play ideas to make this a special, playful, heart-happy December.
Week 1: December 1st-5th:
1. When the temperature falls below freezing, blow bubbles and watch them freeze.
2. Make Your Own Ice Marbles Game:
- Fill water balloons and add a few drops of food coloring.
- Tie off and throw in the freezer.
- Once solid, peel off the balloon and put the colored ice balls in your child’s bath or take them outside in the snow for colored ice marbles!
3. Work on a scrapbook together.
4. Play musical chairs.
5. Count down to Christmas with a homemade activity calendar. There are lots of activity ideas at this post by Adriel Booker.
Check out next week's activities on page 2...
6. Build a snowman. If you celebrate Hanukkah, enjoy your family time and light your 1st candle! Here are some great ideas for crafts to do during the celebration of lights!
13. Make colored ice cubes and hide them in the snow for a wintery scavenger hunt.
20. Draw your family tree and talk about your heritage.
27. Visit your local skating rink and learn to ice skate.
6. Build a snowman. If you celebrate Hanukkah, enjoy your family time and light your 1st candle! Here are some great ideas for crafts to do during the celebration of lights!
7. Pretend play Santa’s workshop.
8. Have an indoor snowball fight with rolled up socks.
9. Make reindeer cupcakes together. Try this recipe from Betty Crocker.
10. Pretend play airlines. Buckle in your kitchen chairs and take off on a flying adventure!
11. Make salt dough ornaments. This post has the recipe and instructions.
12. Paint the snow with squeeze or spray bottles of food coloring and water or tempera paint. If it’s too cold outside, bring in a pan of snow to paint.
Check out next week's activities on page 3...
13. Make colored ice cubes and hide them in the snow for a wintery scavenger hunt.
14. Take your kids on your own Polar Express ride by printing these tickets found at Crafting Chicks. Take along some hot cocoa and ride the express around town to look at Christmas lights and maybe even to visit Santa if they want!
15. Mix shaving cream for sensitive skin with food coloring and use as bathtub/shower paint. It washes right off!
16. Have a family movie night.
17. Visit a live nativity.
18. Put on Christmas music and decorate the tree/home.
19. Set up a tent in your living room and have a campout.
20. Draw your family tree and talk about your heritage.
21. Go bowling at your local bowling alley.
22. Make Rice Krispies treats together.
23. String popcorn.
24. Pretend play bakery shop.
25. Play hide and seek indoors or out.
26. Now that Christmas is over, learn about the holiday Kwanzaa here!
Check out next week's activities on the next page...
27. Visit your local skating rink and learn to ice skate.
28. Make snow angels.
29. Skip the bedtime stories one night in favor for a pretend adventure. Pretend to fly to the moon or visit unknown lands – wherever your child’s imagination takes you.
30. Make sock puppets and put on a play.
31. Make your own snow globes. There’s an easy tutorial here at Home Science Tools.