The frosty winter weather outdoor may be keeping your family indoors, but that doesn’t mean there are not any fun winter activities! There are a variety of fun winter activities and things to do in the winter with friends, fun indoor winter activities, and fun things to do in winter without snow to keep the family engaged during the chilly months of winter, and most of them are FREE!

Winter brings falling snow and freezing cold temperatures to the midwest and the northern and southern hemispheres. The barren winter can keep many families indoors during the coldest of days. However, there is no need to look any further for fun things to do in the winter the family can have a blast this ice-kissed season with these 20 FUN AND FREE activities to do this winter. This is a great list of fun and free things to do in the winter with friends.

 20 FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES TO DO IN WINTER

FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES TO DO OUTDOORS IN WINTER:

Winter here in Chicago lasts a very long time. The winter Blahs can set in late January or early February and it can be really hard to get up and get outdoors when the temperatures are well below zero. Sometimes, I simply have to drag myself and my kiddos outdoors to partake in the fresh air or we all start bickering at each other.

Fresh air and sunlight are so important for our kiddos and ourselves. It is just as important to get some physical activity in during the dreary winter months when we are simply rushing from the car to the house and back again as quickly as possible. We have to get up and get moving and here are some outdoor activities we engage in during these cold winter months.

Take a Wintery Hike or Walk

Grab the kiddos and bundle up! Head to the nearest forest preserve or open area and let them run around. Believe me, they will not be cold once they start walking or hiking. If they are like my kiddos, they will be running about and having a great time in the snow.

Go Sledding 

Head to the nearest snow hill. Thankfully, we have one practically right in our back yard! Over the years we have amassed a large number of sleds, toboggans, tubes, snowboards, so we have plenty of options for the kids and their friends to select from when going sledding for the afternoon. No parents left out on this excursion!

Go Ice Skating

We have a couple of frozen ponds right across the street from my house that works really well for ice skating once they have completely frozen over. There are also a couple of smaller ice rinks in the suburbs for us to utilize as well. My kids are outdoors and soon working up quite a sweat. They still haven’t figured out how to skate backward though! Hot chocolate is usually not included, but a must!

Build a Bonfire (and let your kids invite friends over)

We have an outdoor firepit that gets overtime in the summer months, but there is no reason to not light it up in the winter months as well. Simply have everyone bundle up and light the fire in the fire pit, bring a tray of s’mores makings out for the kids and they will have their own fun.

Build a Snowman

Escape the comfort of your home and get some fresh air. Head outdoor in the winter wonderland to create a snow angel or build good ole’ Frosty. Your kids will try to cover the entire yard with snow angels and then roll all of the snow into balls to create the best and biggest snowman.

Build a Snow Fort

When the city scoops and shovels the snow off the streets after a heavy snowfall, we are super lucky because the snow accumulates in hug piles near our driveway. They are quite literally ready-made forts. My kids will simply burrow through the middle to create snow forts. Hours of fun for them!

Have a Snowball Fight

Every single time I walk outdoors and there is snow on the ground, I am guaranteed a snowball to my back! My kids love to throw snowballs and love it, even more, when I toss a few snowballs back at them. The only aspect that hinders snowball fights is whether we get sticky snow or fluffy snow!

Paint the Snow

If you can’t get your teens to participate in any of the above-mentioned activities or your little people are too small to participate in some of these activities — create some paint and Paint the Snow. Simply mix various colors of food coloring with water in some squirt bottles or spray bottles. Head outdoors and paint the snow. Sometimes we head to the forest preserve because there is more snow to cover there.

Take Photos of Winter Landscape

Make a list of things your children can take a photo of and head outdoors with cameras, ipods, or cell phones. Take some images of animals in action, hidden treasures in the snow, frozen ponds, foliage and fauna alike will bring hours of fun.

Make Bird Feeders

Over the years, we have made so many different types of bird feeders. This is one indoor activity that can also be an outdoor activity since you need to go outdoors to scout for the perfect location to hang your homemade DIY bird feeders. Creating bird feeders doesn’t have to be difficult either, simply search your pantry for some bird-friendly food and grab some toilet paper rolls. Then everyone can bird watch as different birds visit the yard to eat your fun bird feeders you created.

FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES TO DO INDOORS IN WINTER:

Everyone needs some fun indoor winter activities to do as well since getting outdoors is not always possible with unpredictable weather and all the family members. Here is another list of fun things to do in winter without snow. These fun things to do in the winter inside are great activities for indoor winter activities for families and also winter activities for toddlers and winter activities for children.

Hot Chocolate Station

In the winter months here in Chicago, since it is so very cold, it is almost impossible to warm up at night. Therefore, I have a permanent hot chocolate station set up during the cold winter months for my kids. I have all the makings and trimming for the perfect cup of hot chocolate. Sometimes, they even like a cup of frozen hot chocolate.

Have a Board Game Tournament

My kids are very competitive when it comes to board games and they LOVE a great board game competition. When the weather turns especially frigid in Chicago, and we can’t go outdoors because it is simply too cold, we have board game nights. Sometimes we do board games, sometimes we host video game night. Whatever night it is, Ultimate Game Night in my home is a night of FUN!. Must have popcorn for this family activity!

Read a Book Aloud

Start a roaring fire in the fireplace, pile up loads of blankets on the floor and open up a good chapter book. Books are so much better when they are read to your kiddos like you did when they were younger. There is something about a fire and a good book and a delicious cup of homemade hot chocolate that just makes a cold winter afternoon pace in perfect peace and harmony. I think a roaring fire literally beckons a good book to be read.

Complete a Puzzle

My kids loved putting puzzles together when they were younger and then somewhere along the line, I just stopped purchasing them. This holiday break, my daughter asked for a puzzle and let me tell you - BETS IDEA EVER! the entire family spent hours upon hours putting this puzzle together. I wish I had been purchasing puzzles all these years. This activity needs a popcorn snack too!

Have an Overnight Avengers Movie Marathon 

My kids are HUGE Avenger fans. They love nothing better than to have a family movie weekend and go through our collection of Avengers movies from beginning to end. It does take a while, but they love it. Pop some bags of popcorn and watch your favorite movies, if Avengers is not your thing. Your family will adore an indoor winter movie night marathon.

Make Snow Ice Cream

This is a bring the outdoors indoors activity that is perfect for the little people. Making Snow Ice Cream is relatively easy, fun and tasty!

Bake & Decorate Cookies

I always have ingredients in my home for baking cookies. This is one activity that gets everyone out of devices and in the kitchen baking, cooking, mixing and eating cookies. Decorating is the next level and sometimes we don’t do this depending on the type of cookies we bake. Everyone loves the smell of baking cookies and eating them - well, that is a given delight!

Volunteer at a Food Pantry

Our church and the local community are always looking for extra hands for helping out with the food bank. Taking in donations, counting and sorting food items and distributing food items to the community. This is a perfect opportunity for your children to donate their time and volunteer in the community, gain some experience speaking and interacting with the community and getting service hours and community service hours in the process.

Clean out your closets

I find that during the cold winter months is the perfect opportunity to go through the closets that have been getting stuffed full of clutter all year long. I grab large plastic bags and go through closets, one by one, room by room. We go through old clothing that no longer fits and donate to friends, church members and to charity. If your kiddos are not into this activity, make it a game, set a timer and give a prize to whoever can declutter the most — clothes, toys, old stuff, because kids do accumulate loads of stuff.

Head to a Museum

We live in a great city, Chicago, that offers residents numerous FREE days throughout the winter to get out of our homes and into the community.

Adler Planetarium 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus General admission is free to Illinois residents on the following dates in 2020: January 7-9, 20-22 February 4-6, 11-13, 17-20

Art Institute Of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Ave. - Loop Chicago residents under the age of 18 can get into this museum for free at any time. Children age 14 years and younger are always free. Illinois residents of any age can also enjoy free admission year-round on Wednesdays from 5-8 p.m.

Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Rd. - Glencoe, IL Admission is always free! Check the garden's website for seasonal hours.

The Field Museum 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus Illinois residents can spend a day at The Field Museum with FREE admission on the following free days in 2020: January 8, 15, 20, 22, 29 February 1-29

Museum of Science and Industry 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. - Hyde Park Illinois residents will receive free admission to the museum on the following days in 2020: January 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-30 February 3-6, 10-13, 18-20, 24-27

Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus Free admission for Illinois residents offered on the following days: January 16-20, 2020 February 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28, 2020

I will certainly be the first to admit that I do not like to be outdoors when it is cold. It is particularly challenging to get outdoors in the winter here in the Midwest as it is really frigid at times. But, it is so important to get outdoors for some fresh air, some sunshine and some activity to get the heart pumping.

These 20 FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES TO DO IN WINTER will be your little arsenal to get you outdoors this winter to enjoy your family and friends and have fun winter activities for adults, things to do in the winter with friends, fun indoor winter activities and just plain fun things to do in winter without snow.

What are your best activities to help motivate you to get yourself and your children outdoors in the winter months?