Outside Winter Adventures with Your Kids This Year
Last Updated on: 8th June 2026, 04:17 pm
A Winter Morning Inspiration
As I saw Tilly taking photos this morning of the wintery outside, I was reminded that winter doesn’t mean we need to stay cooped up indoors. In fact, some of our most memorable family moments have happened during these colder months. Sometimes we go away for a winter weekend to see snow. And other times we just take a walk. Today, I’m excited to share our tried-and-tested ways to make winter outdoor adventures absolutely magical for your family. Sometimes we just play in the back garden and have a lot of fun! The great British outdoors is an amazing place to be.
The Essential Winter Kit For Winter Adventures
First things first – there’s no such thing as bad weather. You just need to notice the weather and dress in appropriate clothing! Layer up with thermals, waterproofs, and don’t forget those all-important wellies. I always pack a small backpack with spare gloves (trust me, they’ll come in handy), hand warmers, and a thermal bottle of a hot drink. It’s amazing how a warm drink can turn a chilly outing into a cosy adventure. Let your friends and family know where you are going, in case the weather turns bad.
Look At The Nature When You’re Out On Your Winter Adventures
When Tilly was little one of our favourite ways to spend winter days was to play nature detectives. We create wildlife tracking cards and spend hours looking for animal footprints in mud or frost. Tilly often started her own winter nature journal when she was younger. Where she collected fallen leaves or took tree rubbings. You could set up a bird watching station in our garden, if you don’t want to go too far from home. It’s fascinating to watch birds preparing for winter. Get the kids excited when they spot new visitors to your homemade feeders!
Creating Your Own Winter Games
You don’t need snow for winter sports. A good way to get out and active with kids is to create your own winter Olympics. It will never fail to bring out the competitive spirit in everyone, and you will all have a laugh as you compete. Think about Wellington boot-throwing contests, a free activity to do with your whole neighbourhood. Or how about a puddle jumping championship (complete with splash height measurements!). Competitions like this always end up in fits of giggles.
You can also design nature obstacle courses through the local park. Think about some winter sports you can do. Sports are not just for summer. So chuck on that softball jersey and play a game of sports with the kids. Lastly how about a leaf pile long jump competitions are a highlight of autumn’s transition into winter?
Capturing Winter’s Beauty
Winter provides the most stunning natural canvas for budding artists and photographers. Kids love capturing ice patterns and creating shadow art on frosty mornings. They spend hours building natural sculptures from fallen branches and leaves. And the kids have become experts at spotting perfect photo opportunities in frost and morning dew drops. Make memories forever on you outside winter adventure
Turning Walks into Winter Adventures
Regular walks have been transformed into extraordinary quests in our family in the past. It’s more difficult now that I have problems with my legs and my kids are mostly grown up. But we used create elaborate treasure maps with winter-themed checkpoints. And the excitement of geocaching has added a whole new dimension to our outdoor adventures. Sometimes we’ll design nature-based challenges that keep us moving and exploring for hours. Using Canva, you can create an I-spy game for your kids to look for things on your winter adventure.
Winter Adventure With Gardening Magic
Even in the coldest months, our garden becomes a hub of activity. We’ve planted winter-hardy bulbs together, creating a promise of spring colour to come. When Tilly was little she used to love creating winter fairy gardens in sheltered corners. We even do this with my granddaughter now. You can also create homemade bug hotels to become winter sanctuaries for local wildlife. Making ice decorations for the garden can become a favourite weekend activity and watching them catch the winter sunlight is simply magical.
Getting Active in the Cold
Keeping moving is key to staying warm during winter adventures. Take some torch-lit evening walks, where familiar paths look completely different in the early darkness. Get the bikes out and have a winter bike ride, this will keep you active and its fun to do. You could even have impromptu dancing sessions in the park because nothing warms you up quite like a good dance!
Creating Lasting Winter Memories
Some of our favourite winter moments have been completely unplanned. Like the time we discovered a family of hedgehogs in our garden. Or when Tilly found the most beautiful morning frost on a spider’s web. These are the moments that make winter special, the ones that children remember for many years to come. And they will share this with their children.
Tips for Successful Outside Winter Adventures
The key to successful winter adventures is preparation. We always start with shorter outings and build up to longer trips out. Snacks and warm drinks are non-negotiable, they give you the extra energy you need on your winter adventure. Also, make sure you take regular warming-up breaks. Having dry clothes ready at home has saved us from feeling cold when we get home too.
The Perfect Winter Adventure Ending
There’s nothing quite like returning home after a winter adventure. Make sure to run warm bubble baths and prepare hot chocolate with all the trimmings. Cosy story time feels extra special when you’ve spent the day exploring, and look through photos of your adventures while planning our next adventure.
Winter outdoor play isn’t just about having fun (though that’s a brilliant bonus!). It’s about building resilience, connecting with nature, supporting physical development. finally, it’s about creating those precious family memories that we’ll cherish forever. Remember if you go somewhere by car, make sure it is winter safe.
