Winter Activities for Early Years: 9 Fun EYFS Ideas
Posted by EYR Team on 2nd Dec 2024
read moreWinter is a wonderful time to explore the world around us with young children. From outdoor nature walks and winter scavenger hunts to sensory play, creative activities, phonics games and simple maths challenges, there are lots of opportunities to turn the changing season into meaningful learning experiences.
We've put together 9 winter activities for Early Years and EYFS, with ideas for both indoor and outdoor play. Many of the activities can be adapted for different ages and abilities and can be used to support the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Many of the activities can be adapted for different ages and abilities and can be used to support the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Whether you're planning a winter-themed week, looking for an easy activity for a cold day, or simply want to make the most of the season, you'll find plenty of inspiration below.
Quick & Easy Winter Activities for Early Years
Looking for a winter activity that doesn't require lots of preparation? These simple ideas are easy to set up and can be adapted to suit your setting.
1. Go on a Winter Scavenger Hunt
A winter walk can become an exciting learning adventure with a simple scavenger hunt.
Before heading outdoors, give children a list of seasonal things to look for. Depending on your surroundings, you might spot pine cones, evergreen trees, berries, birds, bare branches, puddles, frost or signs of animal activity.
Encourage children to talk about what they can see, hear, smell and feel as they explore. You can use our Winter Scavenger Hunt printable to help children identify and tick off the things they discover.
This activity is particularly useful for developing children's understanding of the natural world while encouraging communication and language skills.
EYFS learning opportunities: Understanding the World, Communication and Language, Physical Development
2. Build a Winter Den
Den building is a fantastic winter activity that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors.
Provide children with blankets, sheets, boxes, crates and other suitable loose parts and challenge them to work together to create a cosy winter shelter.
Talk about why people and animals need shelter during colder weather. Children can decide what their den needs and work together to solve problems as they build.
Den building encourages teamwork, communication, creativity and problem-solving, while also giving children opportunities to develop their physical skills.
EYFS learning opportunities: Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language
3. Snowman Bowling
No snow? No problem! Make your own snowmen and turn them into a fun bowling game.
You'll need:
- 6 paper or plastic cups
- 2 soft balls or "snowballs"
- Buttons or stickers
- Orange card
- Black card
- Scissors
- Glue
To make the snowmen, turn each cup upside down and decorate it with eyes, a carrot-shaped nose and a smile. Repeat until you have six snowmen.
Arrange the cups into a pyramid, with three at the bottom, two in the middle and one at the top.
Children can take turns throwing their "snowballs" at the snowmen, counting how many they knock down and keeping score.
This is a simple way to combine physical development with maths and social skills such as turn-taking.
EYFS learning opportunities: Physical Development, Mathematics, Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Outdoor Winter Activities for Early Years
Getting outside during winter provides opportunities for children to observe seasonal changes, explore nature and stay physically active. Children can investigate the cold weather while developing their understanding of the world around them.
Remember to adapt outdoor activities according to the weather and your setting's own health and safety procedures.
4. Explore Bubbles in Cold Weather
On a particularly cold day, try taking bubbles outdoors and observing what happens.
Children can blow bubbles and watch how they behave in cold conditions. If the temperature is low enough, you may even be able to observe interesting frost patterns forming as bubbles freeze.
This is a lovely opportunity for children to make predictions and talk about what they observe.
EYFS learning opportunities: Understanding the World, Communication and Language
5. Snow Volcano
Turn your winter play into a fun science experiment with a snow volcano! Build a small volcano shape in the snow, make a hole in the centre and add bicarbonate of soda. Add some red food colouring to vinegar, then pour it into the centre and watch the volcano fizz and erupt!
Encourage children to make predictions before the experiment. What do they think will happen? What can they see and hear?
You will need: Snow, bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and food colouring.
EYFS learning opportunities: Understanding the World, Communication and Language, Mathematics
6. Build a Snowman
If you're lucky enough to get snow, take advantage of it!
Encourage children to work together to build a snowman and give it its own personality. This is a great opportunity to discuss key features of the body like facial features, try asking open questions. What will they call it? What does it look like? What facial features does the snowman need? What does it like doing?
If there isn't enough snow to build a traditional snowman, try making miniature snowmen using playdough, clay, paper or other materials instead.
EYFS learning opportunities: Physical Development, Expressive Arts and Design, Communication and Language
Indoor Winter Activities for Early Years
Cold or wet weather doesn't mean the learning has to stop. Bring the sights, sounds and textures of winter indoors with sensory play, creative activities and winter-themed learning opportunities.
7. Explore Snowflake Symmetry
Snowflakes are a great starting point for exploring patterns, shapes and symmetry.
Create half of a snowflake using lolly sticks or another suitable material and challenge children to complete the other half.
Ask children to look carefully at the pattern and think about what needs to be added to make both sides match.
EYFS learning opportunities: Mathematics, Pattern and Sequence, Expressive Arts and Design, Understanding the World
8. Make an Oobleck Snowman
Get hands-on with this fun snowman oobleck activity! Oobleck is a fascinating sensory material that behaves like both a liquid and a solid, making it a great way for children to explore textures and simple science. You will need:
- round tray
- cornflour
- water
- googly eyes
Encourage children to describe how the oobleck feels and what happens when they squeeze or move it.
EYFS learning opportunities: Understanding the World, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Sensory Play
9. Create Winter Themed Mark-Making Activities
Bring the idea of writing in snow indoors by creating your own winter mark-making station.
Use a tray filled with fake snow, flour, salt, sand or another suitable material and let children experiment with making lines, shapes, patterns and letters.
For younger children, focus on pre-writing movements such as:
- vertical lines
- horizontal lines
- circles
- zigzags
- curves
Older children can practise letters, names and simple words.
EYFS learning opportunities: Literacy, Physical Development
Winter Activities for the 7 Areas of EYFS
Winter activities can support learning across all seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
| EYFS area | Winter activity ideas |
|---|---|
| Communication and Language | Winter walks, scavenger hunts, storytelling and talking about seasonal changes |
| Personal, Social and Emotional Development | Den building, collaborative activities and taking turns during games |
| Physical Development | Outdoor obstacle courses, Snowman Bowling, nature walks and mark making |
| Literacy | Winter phonics activities, mark making in fake snow and winter-themed stories |
| Mathematics | Snowflake symmetry, counting games, sorting natural objects and comparing quantities |
| Understanding the World | Ice investigations, nature walks, seasonal changes and winter wildlife |
| Expressive Arts and Design | Winter wreaths, nature art, winter decorations and creative mark making |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some winter activities for Early Years?
Winter nature walks, scavenger hunts, ice investigations, winter crafts, sensory play, mark making, Snowman Bowling and outdoor exploration are all great winter activities for Early Years.
What are some outdoor winter activities for EYFS?
Outdoor winter activities could include winter walks, scavenger hunts, decorating a tree, den building, obstacle courses, wildlife spotting and exploring seasonal changes.
What are some easy winter activities for preschool children?
Simple activities such as winter mark making, sensory play, nature walks, Snowman Bowling, sorting games and winter-themed crafts are easy to set up and can be adapted for different ages.
How can winter activities support the EYFS?
Winter activities can support all seven areas of the EYFS, including Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
What can children learn about winter?
Children can explore seasonal changes, weather, ice and freezing, plants, animals and changes in the natural environment. Winter activities also provide opportunities to develop physical, creative, mathematical, literacy and communication skills.
