This winter has provided more snow days than I can ever remember having—for myself as a child and for my children. If you are like my family and the many families I have talked to recently, sometimes you just need some fresh ideas about what to do when you are stuck at home. Try these 8 fun activities to help everyone enjoy their snow days when you feel like you’ve run out of things to do.

1. Build a fort. Kids will have a blast building a fort out of couches, tables, chairs, sheets and blankets. Get creative! This is a fun activity we do often in our house on cold, snowy days. We bring blankets, stuffed animals, books, snacks, flashlights, and games out and spend the day using our imaginations in our forte.

2. Make an obstacle course. Use your imagination and spread pillows or cushions out like stepping stones across the floor and pretend that you are leaping on rocks across a river, trying not to fall into the water or be eaten by an alligator. Kids will love being able to climb, balance, and jump on furniture (only with your permission of course). It gets their creative juices flowing and also helps them to use up some energy.

3. Get outside. Just because school was cancelled, doesn’t mean the kids necessarily need to stay inside. If it’s not too cold or icy, go outside and make snowmen, igloos, snow angels, or have a snowball fight. Head to one of these great sledding locations in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia area. Once you’re out of the house, try taking a bottle of bubbles out in the freezing temperatures. It’s fun to watch the bubbles freeze and then pop! 

4. Make home-made play dough. This is a fun activity that I do with my kids from time to time. It’s really simple and it provides hours of enjoyment for both of them, who are ages 2 and 8. I have used this play dough recipe, but there are all sorts of others available online. 

 5. Make some home-made bird feeders. Making home-made bird feeders is a fun project for kids of all ages. Check out my previous post to find out how you and your kids can make some special treats for your outdoor feathery friends.

6. Make crafts out of natural items. In our house, we have a plethora of sticks, rocks, acorns, pine cones, and feathers that have been collected by my kids while hiking and playing outdoors. All of these items make great supplies for all sorts of crafts to use alone, or in conjunction with other art supplies.

7. Make your own crayons. What family with kids doesn’t have tons of broken crayons around? Don’t throw them away—make new ones! Your kids will love having “new” crayons and it’s a great way to reinforce how easy it is to recycle.

8. Make a list of outdoor places you’d like to visit or things you’d like to do when it’s warm. When it’s cold, icy, and you’re not able to spend much time outdoors, it’s fun to think about all of the things you’ll do and places you’ll visit when the weather warms up. It’s a good time to plan and research for day trips and vacations too. I find that kids love to be involved in making these plans. Browse our online trip planning resources to find great suggestions for all-season fun!