One of my favorite posts from the old blog days was the monthly list of winter family activity ideas, so I was super excited to resurrect it! You started with a few ideas to add to your family winter list: some would be great for the kids, others could also work as date night activities. Comment below on any other of your favorite winter bucket list activities or traditions so we can keep going. 🙂
- Snow sports! If you’re an experienced skier or snowboarder or if bunny slopes are your thing, plan a day at the ski resorts! No matter your skill level, anyone can enjoy a little apres ski anyway.
- Find and participate in a Sub for Santa or charity in some way. This is one of our favorite family traditions, especially being able to involve the kids in it. You never know how someone might be struggling during the holidays and there are already plenty of interesting charities and foundations set up to find a way to help. Pick one and watch it completely change your mood!
- Be clever! This one is great for all ages – there are endless craft ideas to make this winter a little cozier. I loved it this idea on Tiktok on how to paint the doormat of your own gingerbread house – awesome! It would also be so cute as a girls’ night out activity. And there are so many great craft ideas for Christmas decorating, from Christmas ornaments to garlands. With younger kids it will still have that cute, personal souvenir feeling, but you’ll be surprised as the kids get older how artistic they become – sometimes crafts turn out like something you’d pay a lot of money for at the store!
- Hot chocolate bar. This one is great for kids – they’ll love getting creative with the ingredients and will probably enjoy the opportunity to go all out, haha. Pair it with a cozy winter move and bundle up with some warm blankets for a fun family memory.
- Become a hockey fan. Okay, there are plenty of sports you can enjoy during the winter, but Salt Lake just got an NHL team, so it doesn’t seem like a better time than the present to start paying attention to sports, haha. I have a feeling the kids would get addicted quickly.
- Organize a family meal. On those days when no one feels like leaving the house, get creative with a baking contest! It will be a great way to get creative in the kitchen and hopefully the result will be very tasty too 🙂
- Host a “favorite things” party instead of the typical white elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone brings a set amount of their favorite things (usually on a lower budget since they will bring one for each guest present). Have fun getting to know each other on a whole new level and come home with some of your tried and true favorites.
- Gratitude diaries. This is another tradition we have tried to maintain as a family. Especially during Thanksgiving, it is a great reminder to document the many things we should be grateful for. And it’s crazy, you never seem to run out of things to add to the list once you get into that mindset.
- Hire a photographer. Whether you make a habit of sending Christmas or holiday cards every year or not, let this be your reminder to book some photos! The lighting is usually a little more forgiving in the winter as it tends to be cloudier, so bundle up in some cute, coordinated layers and be candid for some updated photos. Some of my favorites are from our snow photo sessions. If that’s not in the budget, set up your own festive backdrop for some equally memorable family photos. 🙂
- Take advantage of seasonal events. This time of year, there’s usually plenty for all ages: Disney on Ice, community plays or musicals, talented musicians on tour. Even if it’s outside your normal comfort zone, it’s something you may never do again and it’s just a cool experience you never would have had otherwise.
- Host a gingerbread decorating contest. I swear half of the candy is eaten before we get home (and then the other half of the candy after the house is finished, haha), but it’s a really fun tradition, both with friends and family.
- Go to a winter market. Many creators and entrepreneurs work throughout the year preparing the winter markets and selling their products for Christmas gifts. And you can find so many personal and impressive pieces that you would never find in a store. Be sure to visit a winter market near you and support local artists, and also feel like you’re starring in a Hallmark Christmas movie, haha.
