Cold Day Creativity

Winter months can be filled with days when it’s too something to go outside. It’s too windy, too cold, too wet, too snowy. Though humans sadly don’t hibernate during the winter, we come close with our dreams of bundling up under cozy sweaters and warm blankets, our feet tucked into fuzzy slippers. Younger library users may not be so keen on this scene, however.

With the outside being so unwelcoming to little noses and toes, inside entertainment is going to be paramount, but possibly a difficulty for your parents and caregivers, especially when one wants little eyes unglued from screens.

What to do? Get creative, of course!

Ways to create fun when cooped up away from the cold

Paper and painting crafts are an ideal way to get started. With the right supplies, card-making may be the way to go. Turn to Cico Kidz’s My First Card-Making Book: 35 Easy-To-Make Cards for Every Occasion for Children Aged 7+ for a few great ideas. With difficulty ratings and simple steps, 7-11 year olds will find plenty of great ideas to try. Want to utilize materials found more readily? Bundle up for a quick outdoor excursion to gather stones, then check out this Stone Painting for Kids: Designs to Spark Your Creativity by F Sehnaz Bac. Bac, a popular stone artist, provides step-by-step instructions for simple projects.

If a household trends toward a younger set, with toddlers to preschoolers, explore sensory crafts. Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids by Mandisa Watts provides parents and caregivers with endless options to poke, prod, squish, and squeeze. However, my favorite type of sensory activity for a cold day only requires two things: a flashlight and a hand. Shadow puppets! Play with light and shapes together and rely on books like Using Light to Make Shadow Puppets by Kristin Fontichiaro as your guide. Younger fingers may not have the motor skills for this book, but they can easily enjoy the show as 7-11 year olds try their hand at shapes to tell a tale.

For both a science and creative turn, roleplay as mad scientists, conducting wacky and kooky experiments. Find just the right recipe with titles like Jessica Rusick’s Understanding Chemical Reactions, perfect for ages 8-11. If your little experimenters are more magical than science-y, become wizards with Labcraft Wizard: Magical Projects and Experiments by John Austin. Designed for the preteen, this title will provide young readers with step-by-step instructions for making enchanted hourglasses, bouncy dragon eggs, and more.

Don’t neglect the creation of tasty things either. There are plenty of book-themed cookbooks for the grade-school aged child, like The Official Harry Potter Cookbook by Joanna Farrow, or The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald. Take an international trip without leaving your kitchen by exploring worldwide cuisine with titles from the Literary Cookbook Series, such as Karim Alrawi’s Arab Fairy Tale Feasts, Paul Yee’s Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts, and Jane Yolen’s Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts. Then again, perhaps shorter, simpler recipes might be just what the chef ordered. Check out Tamara Peterson’s 15-Minutes or Less cookbook series and explore recipes centered around colorful foods, breakfasts, holiday dishes, and vegetarian fare.

For a more eco-conscious set of activities, consider upcycling crafts found in the Crafting for Change series. Upcycle old t-shirts into a rug or reuse old bottles to make a hanging garden. Green activities like this, perfect for ages 7-10, can be found in Help the Environment with Crafts by Ruthie Van Oosbree. This series also includes Create Joy with Crafts, Raise Awareness with Crafts, and Spread Kindness with Crafts. Or turn to Trash to Treasure: A Kid’s Upcycling Guide to Crafts. For ages 9 and up, author Pam Scheunemann guides readers through projects featuring common everyday items, such as bottle-top pop art or felted tin-can organizers. Be sure to check out the included safety guide as well!

To explore more books for little builders, chefs, crafters, artists, and scientists, check out our Crafts for Cold Days list on iPage. Stay warm this chilly season and fill your cold, winter days with these and other creative books.