10 Winter Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

It’s the weekend before Christmas and if you are looking for some activities to get your child excited for the holiday, look no further! I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 winter activities to do with your child this weekend!HAT she wants from Santa. Encourage your child to think about the nice things she’s done this year and write down 3 reasons why she’s on the “nice list” and 3 things she wants Santa to bring her. Has your child helped clean up after meals? What about making her bed? Does she go to bed at night without a fight? These are all great ideas to put on that list!

2. After you’ve sent your list to Santa, consider going through your child’s toys together and picking some toys to donate. This is a great opportunity to teach your child about giving to others while consolidating and organizing your cluttered playroom. ?

3. Have a cookie decorating party! Last year, my family attempted to have a cookie baking party and it was an epic fail. There were 5 kids all between the ages of 10 months and 4 years old. There wasn’t enough patience or attention span for all 5 kids to help bake, wait for the cookies to cool, then decorate. This year, we skipped the baking and just decorated sugar cookies together. It was a HUGE HIT! The kids were all focused and excited to make their own unique designs. Most of the cookies were consumed at the time of decorating, but that’s the point, right?!

4. Do you want to build a snowman? It’s definitely the time of the year to get outside in the snow and teach the kiddos how to build a snowman! Getting some fresh air in the wintertime is great for kids, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Not only will they get some exercise, but they’ll also sleep better too.

I want to recommend this Snowman Accessory Kit. We have one similar to this and my kids love it. It adds some easy, reusable fun to every snowman!

5. Drive around with some hot chocolate and treats and check out the local light shows! I love driving around town and seeing the lights, but my neighbor told me about her tradition of getting hot chocolate and treats to go along with the ride. It’s such a great tradition and I’m totally stealing this idea from her book. ?

6. Go sledding! This is one of those things you probably didn’t realize you missed so much. When I was a kid, we would go sledding for HOURS. I’m not sure why I ever stopped sledding, but once I had kids, there was finally an excuse to do kid things again (I know you do it too, admit it. You really LOVE doing all of these kid things again).

7. Make gingerbread people and/or houses. This could be a fun family activity or even a family competition! Girls against boys, kids vs grown ups, however you want to do it! Post your finished masterpieces on Facebook and Instagram and let your friends vote for the winner! The winners get to pick the Christmas movie!

8. Go ice skating. This could be difficult with the younger kiddos, but if your child is old enough, ice skating can be a lot of fun!

9. Matching family pajamas! I’ve been wanting to do this since I had my first baby! It’s been a good 5 years (ok, no, 6 Christmases) of trying to convince my husband to wear matching family pajamas, but he thinks it’s silly. So for MY sake, please tag me in your matching family pajamas pictures! #mygoodnighttrain

10. Go on a vacation! Even if it’s just a long weekend trip out of town, get away from your same old, boring winter routine. I’ve been looking into some indoor waterpark getaways and there are some GREAT destinations! While you’re out of town, leave the phone behind and focus on family time. Everyone says it and now I’m going to say it, too… We’re never going to get this time back with our kids. Enjoy them while they’re little.

I hope you have a truly wonderful holiday and enjoy the magic through your children’s eyes.

If your child’s sleep falls apart over the holidays, I am here to get your back on track. Whether you need just one phone call or four weeks of one-on-one support, there is something for everyone.

If you’re ready to start working together, let’s set up a time to chat!

Some things to think about when deciding when you want to start sleep training your baby/toddler:

Ensure it’s the proper timing- make sure your baby isn’t sick, you aren’t traveling, or you don’t have any big life changes coming (new baby, moving, switching jobs/childcare, etc.).
Be prepared to put in the work. Consistency will pay off in the long run. Sleep training isn’t overnight success; it takes many nights and dedication to help your baby learn to sleep.
Create a plan, or invest in a sleep consultant. If you choose to work with me, I will assess your baby’s sleep habits and write a customized step by step sleep plan for your baby. No two plans are the same, just as no two babies are the same. My sleep plans are based on your child’s temperament, age, parental preference and so much more! My sleep packages also come with unlimited support for the duration of your purchase- you can ask me anything and share every triumph and victory!

If your baby is over 4 months old, one-on-one sleep support would be a perfect fit. With my personal support, you would have a written sleep plan, supporting documents, email and sleep log support and 1-4 weeks of one-on-one help to perfect your child’s sleep.

If you’re pregnant or if you have a newborn, check out my prenatal/newborn sleep guide. I offer 38 pages of step by step instructions on how to teach your baby healthy sleep habits from the start, so you don’t have to get to a point of needing sleep training. This guide is not sleep training. It involves lots of snuggling and cuddling your baby, while practicing healthy independent sleep habits when the baby accepts it. This guide is broken down by month to make it easy to navigate and follow.

Don’t wait for your child’s sleep to “fix itself,” because most of the time, it doesn’t.

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