Shopping·7 min read

Games, Toys, and Activities for Those Long Winter Days at Home

games and more for winter days spent inside
Design: theSkimm | Photo: Amazon, Uncommon Goods
December 4, 2023

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Those winter weekends at home (and days off around the holidays) can be cozy, yes, but also, well…long. Here are some of our favorite indoor boredom busters for when you’re all snowman-ed out— or just too cold to even leave the house.

air fort
Amazon

An air fort that assembles in seconds…

There’s nothing quite like an air fort — incredibly easy to set up, and somehow novel no matter how many times you’ve played with it. Just get a box fan going, attach the fort (essentially a giant parachute), and you’re good to go. Options range from basic prints and colors to a castle, cottage, or UFO. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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arts and crafts box
Amazon

A big box of arts and crafts supplies…

Let your inner art teacher shine with this 3,000+-piece art supply set. The neatly packed cardboard case comes with two drawers full of everything from pipe cleaners, pom poms, and feathers to scissors and glue. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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coloring set
Amazon

And a giant coloring set…

Even the most prolific kid artists should take a while to work through this big briefcase full of art supplies, which has crayons, colored pencils, and two kinds of markers (140 pieces in all). Grab some doodle pads, too, and let the drawing party start. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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slime pack
Amazon

A slime pack that gives you options…

Metallic slime, glow in the dark slime, and confetti slime are in your future with this Elmer’s set. Here’s to a few fun (and hopefully not too messy) afternoons of experimentation. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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marble run game
Amazon

A marble run they can build and rebuild…

If you already have Legos and a big set of wooden blocks, satisfy your kids’ building bug with this 150-piece marble run set designed for ages 4 and up. They’ll learn to design increasingly intricate structures, and you won’t be able to resist joining in, too. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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diner play set
Amazon

A pretend play set for diner lovers…

This 41-piece set is a pretend restaurant in a box — complete with menu, play food, coffee pot, silverware, and more. Take turns being the customer and the waiter until someone needs a (real) snack. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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dress up capes
Uncommon Goods

Dress-up capes that do double duty…

Is your kid more the unicorn/dragon or dragon/knight type? These capes offer two-in-one costumes they’ll throw on faster than you can say “dress-up time.” They’re also machine washable, so don’t worry about those inevitable snacktime spills. ($30+, Uncommon Goods)

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3D pop-up books

Fairy tales like you’ve never seen them before…

Even if your little ones are too young to read every word, these 3D illustrated pop-up books will captivate everyone in the house. “Alice in Wonderland,” “Peter Pan,” “The Little Mermaid,” and more will make gorgeous additions to your family’s library. ($40, Uncommon Goods)

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books about snow days
Amazon

More snow day classics to add to your bookshelves…

Two more classics perfect for even the very youngest members of your household. “The Snowman,” with its beautiful, wordless illustrations, will let their imaginations soar, and Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day” will help you all celebrate winter’s little joys. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon) ($10.89, Amazon)

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fake snow set
Amazon

A fake snow set for people who live in warmer spots…

We know not everyone gets snow in the wintertime. But that shouldn’t stop you from having a family snow ball fight. This set of 120 plush fake snow balls will surprise and delight any kids who are wishing for some winter weather. All without the added mess of snowy puddles to mop up at the end of the day. For little scientists who are old enough to handle a quick experiment, this insta-snow kit (just add water) makes even more realistic snow indoors. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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kinetic sand
Amazon

And when you’d really rather be at the beach…

We’re huge fans of kinetic sand. It’s endlessly entertaining, impressively long-lasting, and surprisingly simple to clean up, since it sticks to itself and gets vacuumed up easily, too. This beach castle play set comes with two and a half pounds of sand, nine building tools, and a play/storage tray complete with lid. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

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