Fun Winter Sensory Activities for Kids

Where I live it’s a rare thing to see snow in December (though a recent Facebook memory reminded me it snowed in mid-December once, 10 years ago!) but this time of year, whether there’s real snow on the ground or some people are just wishing there was (or you live in the other half of the world where some snow sounds pretty nice right about now) it’s a great time to make some snow related sensory activities.

I almost added this snow marble run from Happy Toddler Playtime to my Christmas STEM projects roundup, but then I decided winter/snow deserved its own post because we’ll still be in winter a lot longer than we were in Christmas season. This one calls for actual snow and you can do it indoors or out, but you could probably use some of the snow alternatives we’ll talk about later to do this one if you don’t have real snow handy.

But if you do have snow, you can try this fun snow paint activity from Two Kids and a Coupon. I like that you can do it inside, because that’s always my preference when it’s cold and snowy.

If you don’t have real snow, you can make your own from hair conditioner and baking soda. Find the recipe and ideas for playing with it in this winter toddler sensory bind post from The Mindful Toddler. Or you can make snow dough with this recipe from The Best Ideas for Kids.

While you’re making snow playdough you can also print out these winter playdough mats from Crafty Kids Play. You can use store-bought dough or make your own in different colors.

Use Styrofoam from a leftover holiday packing box to make this arctic sensory bin from Little Ladoo.

Or make a melted snowman art project with homemade puffy paint. 5 Minutes for Mom shows you how with a tutorial from Busy Mommy Media.

Are you looking for the best sensory toys and activities for your child? Explore our comprehensive resources to enhance your child’s sensory play and development. Check out our curated Amazon Idea List featuring top-rated sensory toys and items, and don’t miss our expertly written articles on sensory activities. Start creating fun and educational sensory experiences today!

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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