Snow Day Activities for Kids: 20 Ideas for Inside and Out (Ages 3–8)

Quick answer: The best snow day plan mixes one outdoor adventure, a few easy indoor projects and a long, cozy read-aloud. Keep outdoor time short for little ones and warm up with cocoa and books. For the reading part, our pick is the Teddy Volume 2 five-book set by Ryan Cohen ($69.99), which includes Teddy Plays in the Snow, a story about finishing chores before play.

A surprise day at home is a gift if you have a loose plan. Here are twenty ideas that need little more than what's already in the house.

Snow day reading

Teddy Volume 2 — 5-Book Hardcover Set

By Ryan Cohen · 5 illustrated hardcovers, 32 pages each · $69.99

Teddy Plays in the Snow plus four more stories: wants versus needs, earning, friendship and a new puppy. Enough for a whole snowy afternoon.

View the set →

At a glance

Outdoors	Short sessions, dry gloves, a warm-up break
Indoors	Crafts, baking, forts, games
Wind-down	A read-aloud marathon with cocoa
Our reading pick	Teddy Volume 2 five-book set ($69.99)

10 outdoor snow activities

1. Build a snow family, one member each.
2. Paint the snow with water and a few drops of food coloring in spray bottles.
3. Follow animal tracks and guess who made them.
4. Make snow angels in a row.
5. Build a small snow fort or wall.
6. Hold a snowball target toss at a tree or bucket.
7. Go on a winter color hunt: find five colors outside.
8. Shovel a path together, a real job with a real result.
9. Fill a bucket with snow to bring inside for play.
10. Blow bubbles on a very cold day and watch them.

10 indoor snow day activities

1. Build a blanket fort and read inside it.
2. Play with a tray of snow at the kitchen table, with small cups and spoons.
3. Cut paper snowflakes and tape them to the window.
4. Bake something simple together and practice measuring.
5. Watch ice melt: guess how long a cup of snow takes.
6. Have an indoor picnic on the living room floor.
7. Play store with toys and pretend money.
8. Draw a map of the yard in snow.
9. Do a family puzzle.
10. Hold a read-aloud marathon: one book per cup of cocoa.

For more ideas without screens, see our list of screen-free activities for kids.

Chores first, then snow?

A snow day is a good time to practice a simple rule: help first, then play. Shovel a little, feed the pet, tidy the boots, then head out. It's the idea behind Teddy Plays in the Snow, set at Grandpa's lake house. See chores for kids by age for age-right jobs.

A snow day reading plan

Time	Activity	Book
Morning	Chores, then outside	Teddy Plays in the Snow
Lunch	Indoor picnic	Teddy and His Best Friend Jerry
Afternoon	Play store with toys	Teddy Says Money Doesn't Grow on Trees, Teddy and the Corn Stand
Bedtime	Cozy wind-down	Teddy Gets a Puppy

All five come in the Teddy Volume 2 set. We sell these books, and we suggest them for reading aloud with children about 3 to 8.

Prices

• Teddy Volume 2 five-book set: $69.99
• Teddy Complete Collection, 10 books: $129.99
• Teddy Plays in the Snow, single book: $14.99

Prices checked September 25, 2026; see each product page for current pricing and availability. Age suggestions are our editorial recommendations for shared reading.

Frequently asked questions

What can kids do on a snow day?

Mix short outdoor play, like snow painting and fort building, with indoor projects such as paper snowflakes, baking and a read-aloud marathon.

How long should young kids play outside in the snow?

Keep sessions short for young children and come in to warm up whenever gloves or clothes get wet. Watch for cold hands, feet and cheeks.

What is a good children's book about snow?

Teddy Plays in the Snow by Ryan Cohen is a winter story about finishing chores before play. It comes in the Teddy Volume 2 five-book set.

How do I keep kids busy indoors on a snow day?

Plan three anchors: a project, a game and a long story time. Everything else can be free play.

Our recommendation

Keep Teddy Volume 2 on the shelf for the first snow day. Five stories carry a whole cozy afternoon.

Shop Teddy Volume 2 · See all Teddy sets

Related guides: Screen-free activities for kids · Chores for kids by age · Christmas book gifts for kids