How to Keep the Outdoor Spirit Alive Indoors: Fun Ideas for When It’s Too Cold Outside

Winter is a magical season, but sometimes the temperatures drop just a bit too low for outdoor play. For those extra-cold days, there are still plenty of ways to keep the outdoor spirit alive right at home. Nature-inspired indoor play can help kids stay connected to nature, spark creativity, and keep them active even when it’s too chilly to venture outside. Here are some fun, engaging indoor activities for kids that bring the wonders of the outdoors inside.

1. Set Up an Indoor Camping Adventure

Indoor camping is an easy and exciting way to create an outdoor feel indoors. Set up a small tent or build a fort with blankets and pillows. Kids can enjoy their own camping space, where they can read nature books, play games, or even have a cozy picnic.

Pro Tip: Complete the camping vibe with an Adventure Notebook so kids can “journal” their camping experience, draw pictures of pretend animals, or record sounds they imagine hearing in the wilderness.

Extra Touch: Use fairy lights or battery-operated lanterns inside the tent to create a warm “campfire” glow.

2. Nature-Inspired Craft Time

Crafting with natural elements brings the beauty of nature right into your home. Gather pinecones, leaves, acorns, or stones (or use store-bought supplies if snow is covering your usual nature spots!) and let your kids create artwork using these materials. Rock painting, pinecone animals, or leaf rubbings are simple yet fun activities that foster creativity and appreciation for nature.

Best Supplies: Pair these crafts with Eco Snack Bags to store and sort nature materials. These reusable bags keep items organized and can be reused for nature walks later.

Pro Tip: Paint rocks with nature-inspired designs or messages, then use them to decorate your indoor camping area or place them around your neighborhood when you can get back outside!

3. Create a Sensory Bin with Natural Elements

A sensory bin filled with natural materials offers a hands-on way for kids to explore. Fill a bin with sand, pebbles, pine needles, and small sticks, then add toys like animal figurines or mini shovels. This activity gives kids a little taste of nature play while staying cozy indoors.

Pro Tip: Add seasonal elements like dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, or pine scents to make it feel wintery. Let kids explore by touching, digging, and building, creating their own small nature scene.

Extra Touch: Add a Bamboo ONE Adventure Shirt to the mix for dress-up fun, so kids feel like they’re ready for a real adventure!

4. Indoor Obstacle Course Inspired by Nature

Turn a hallway or living room into an “outdoor” obstacle course inspired by a forest trail. Use pillows as “rocks,” lay out blankets as “rivers,” and add furniture as “trees” to climb around. This setup lets kids burn off energy while pretending they’re on an adventurous hike or exploring a woodland setting.

Pro Tip: Place a few nature-themed books along the “trail” for them to pick up and look at as part of the course. This is an easy way to integrate learning and movement.

Extra Touch: Use an Adventure Notebook to create a map of the course so kids can navigate their way from start to finish, adding extra excitement to the journey!

5. Nature-Themed Story Time and Quiet Play

Reading nature books is a great way to bring the outdoors inside, especially during quiet play or bedtime. Choose books about animals, plants, or outdoor adventures. Set up a cozy corner with pillows, blankets, and some soft lighting to create a relaxing nature-inspired reading nook.

Best Picks: Titles like The Little Gardener or The Snowy Day are perfect winter reads. Adventure Notebooks can also serve as a nature diary for kids to write or draw what they imagine while listening to stories.

Pro Tip: Let kids bring their favorite stuffed animals to the story corner for a cozy “wildlife” audience.

6. Indoor Gardening Projects

Gardening isn’t just a warm-weather activity! Start a small indoor garden with potted plants, herbs, or even a simple seed-growing project. Kids can learn about plant life cycles and enjoy the responsibility of caring for their own indoor “garden.”

Best Supplies: Eco Planters make great pots for kids to start growing herbs or small plants indoors. Place the pots in a sunny window and let kids water and watch their plants grow.

Pro Tip: Start with fast-growing plants like basil or beans, which sprout quickly and keep kids interested in the process. Label each pot and let kids “name” their plants to add a personal touch!

7. DIY Nature Art Gallery

Turn a wall or small area into a nature-themed art gallery. Encourage kids to create drawings, paintings, or collages inspired by the outdoors. Every time they finish a new piece, add it to the gallery to showcase their work and bring an outdoor ambiance to your home.

Pro Tip: Display their art with clothespins on a string, like a gallery wall. This setup is easy to update as they create more masterpieces.

Extra Touch: Encourage them to create artwork that reflects the season. For winter, think snow-capped mountains, forest animals, or frosty landscapes.

8. Make a Bird Feeder for Your Window

Winter can be challenging for birds, so why not invite some feathered friends to visit? Make simple bird feeders using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed, and hang them outside a window where kids can observe visiting birds.

Pro Tip: Keep a field journal nearby so kids can sketch the birds they see and learn to identify different species.

Extra Touch: Include a small pair of binoculars for even closer bird-watching fun!

9. Build a Mini Terrarium

Create a mini terrarium to bring a bit of green indoors. Kids can help arrange pebbles, soil, and plants inside a jar or glass container, then decorate with small figures or stones. Terrariums are low-maintenance, educational, and add a touch of nature to any room.

Best Supplies: Succulents, small ferns, or moss are great choices for indoor terrariums. They’re easy to care for and add a little green that kids can watch grow.

Pro Tip: Place the terrarium in an area with indirect light, and let kids mist it occasionally to keep the plants healthy. Watching it thrive can remind them of the beauty of nature even when it’s cold outside.

10. Nature-Themed Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt list with items that represent nature. Kids can search for items around the house that fit the theme, like green-colored objects for plants, items shaped like rocks, or toys that look like animals. This game is perfect for sparking imagination and keeping kids active.

Pro Tip: Award “explorer badges” or a small prize for completing the hunt, and use an Adventure Notebook to record their finds.

Keep the Adventure Going with Play Outside

Staying indoors doesn’t mean missing out on the adventure of the great outdoors. With a little creativity and a few simple supplies, you can bring the spirit of nature inside and keep your little explorers engaged, active, and curious. At Play Outside, we believe in the power of play and exploration, no matter the season. 

Love

- Adriana