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January Activities for Kids

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Need something to do with the preschoolers and elementary students this month?

Try these fun January activities for kids!

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Indoor January Activities for Kids

The winter month of January can be very unpredictable, especially when trying to make an activity schedule for the kids! 

One day, it could be a cool brisk sunny day, perfect for outside play. 

The next day, it could be icy cold and blustery, better stay inside kind of day. 

Well, don’t fret this January. 

We’ve got some great ideas for any type of day!

Here are a few activities to do with the kids when you just don’t know what to do!

January Crafts and Activities

Ice Painting

This is an awesome creative January activity for preschoolers! 

Painting on ice makes the coolest artwork ever! 

Literally! 

What’s Needed: 

  • large block of ice (or make your own by filling a container with water and sticking it in the freezer; you could even grab some snow from outside if it’s available)
  • tray
  • watercolors
  • a paintbrush

What to Do: 

Put the block of ice on the tray (to catch the water as it melts). 

Give preschoolers the watercolors and paintbrush and have them go to town painting the ice blocks! 

Watch the colors mix together and see what happens as the ice melts! 

Indoor January Activities and Crafts for Do with Kids

Snowflake Yarn Art

This super fun activity is great for strengthening those fine motor skills and letting the creative juices flow.

What’s Needed: 

  • paper plate (one’s with snowflakes printed on them are great, but if not, you can draw your own)
  • push pin
  • piece of cardboard
  • yarn
  • scissors
  • a plastic yarn needle for kids.

What to Do: 

Adults – If the plate doesn’t have a snowflake printed on it, draw one. 

Then put the plate on the cardboard and use the pushpin to make holes in the plate at all the intersecting points of the snowflake. 

In case you were wondering, the cardboard helps the pin to go all the way through the plate without poking yourself. 

Nobody wants to get poked with a pin! 

Next, cut a long piece of yarn, tie a knot at the end, and thread through the needle. 

Here’s where the kids take over! 

Begin threading the yarn through the holes to create a yarn snowflake! 

Younger children will need more guidance, while older children will probably be just fine on their own. 

When complete, knot the end and snip off the excess yarn. 

Have fun by using different color yarns or make multiple yarn snowflakes and string them together to make a banner.

This would be a great addition to a unit study on Snowflake Bentley!

Fun Indoor January Activities for Do with Kids

Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Forget about heading outdoors on those cold, blustery days and bring the scavenger hunt inside!

This fun Indoor Scavenger Hunt is great to use at home or when teaching virtually!

Frosty Pinecones

This is a super simple January craft activity for all ages that fits in perfectly with a Montessori homeschool or science in the classroom. 

These shimmery pinecones can be made just for fun or even given as a gift!

What’s Needed:

  • pinecones (if available, gather from outside!)
  • white acrylic paint
  • school glue
  • 2 bowls or dishes
  • silver glitter
  • cord (string, twine or yarn will work also)

What to Do: 

Mix white paint and glue (about 60:40 ratio) together in a bowl or dish large enough to fit a pinecone. 

Roll the pinecone in the paint/glue mixture (if pinecones are from outside, make sure they are dry first). 

In a separate bowl, add the glitter. 

Roll the still wet painted pinecones in the glitter to coat. 

Let them dry completely.

Once dried, attach a loop of cord to hang, if desired.

Winter Word Problem Escape Room

For your elementary kids, try a winter word problem escape room – virtually, of course!

This free digital escape room gives some great math skills practice while heaping on a healthy dose of winter goodness!

You Might Also Like: 25+ Virtual Escape Rooms for Kids

Make Snow Ice Cream

Making ice cream out of snow is sure to be one of your kids favorite January activities! 

The only thing is, fresh snow is the main ingredient so it may not work so well for those who live in more temperate climates.

What’s Needed: 

  • a big bowl of fresh snow
  • spoon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk

What to Do: 

Mix together all 3 ingredients to make a creamy vanilla snow ice cream. 

For chocolate snow ice cream, add 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the mix. 

Indoor January Activities for Do with Kids

Must-Try January Activities for Kids

Which January activity caught your eye? 

Will you and the kids be ice painting or threading snowflakes? 

What about making frosty pinecones? 

Or do you want to try out this easy snow ice cream recipe? 

Whatever you decide, we hope you and the kids will have a great time doing one of these awesome January activities. 

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