Winter brings unique opportunities for engaging Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children in fun and educational activities. As the weather turns colder, educators and parents can explore a variety of indoor and outdoor experiences to support young learners’ development.
Winter activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and reception-aged children can help support learning and development across various areas of the EYFS framework. These activities can range from creative arts and crafts to sensory play and outdoor exploration, providing diverse learning experiences for young children during the winter months.
1) Snowflake Craft
Snowflake crafts are an excellent winter activity for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. These crafts help develop fine motor skills and creativity while exploring the wonder of snowflakes.
One simple snowflake craft involves cutting paper snowflakes. Children can fold white paper and snip small shapes along the edges. When unfolded, they reveal unique snowflake designs.
For younger children, a tape-resist snowflake painting is ideal. Teachers can create snowflake patterns with tape on paper, and children paint over them. Removing the tape reveals a beautiful snowflake shape.
Craft stick snowflakes offer another engaging option. Children can arrange and glue popsicle sticks in a snowflake pattern, then decorate with paint or glitter.
A sensory-rich activity involves making salt and glue snowflakes. Children draw snowflake shapes with glue and sprinkle salt over them, creating a textured, sparkly effect.
These snowflake crafts not only entertain but also teach children about symmetry, patterns, and the uniqueness of snowflakes. They provide opportunities for sensory exploration and artistic expression in the EYFS classroom.
2) Ice Sensory Play
Ice sensory play offers a chilly and exciting way for young children to explore their senses. This activity engages multiple senses simultaneously, promoting cognitive development and fine motor skills.
To set up an ice sensory play station, freeze water in various containers to create different shapes and sizes of ice. Add food coloring or small toys to the water before freezing for added visual interest.
Place the ice in a large tub or tray with some water. Provide tools like spoons, tongs, and cups for children to manipulate the ice. This encourages problem-solving and enhances dexterity.
Sensory play with ice can be adapted for different seasons and themes. In winter, it fits perfectly with the cold weather outside, while in summer, it offers a refreshing activity.
For added complexity, educators can introduce salt to the ice play. Children can observe how salt affects the ice, creating an opportunity to discuss basic scientific concepts.
Safety is important during ice play. Ensure adult supervision and remind children not to put ice in their mouths. Provide warm towels nearby for cold hands.
3) Winter Storytime Sessions
Winter storytime sessions provide engaging literacy experiences for young children. These sessions incorporate winter-themed books, fingerplays, and activities to captivate preschoolers’ attention.
Educators can select books that explore winter themes such as snowmen, holidays, and seasonal changes. Popular choices include stories about snowflakes, arctic animals, and winter celebrations.
Incorporating interactive elements enhances the storytelling experience. Fingerplays and songs like “Snowflake, Snowflake” (sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) encourage active participation and help reinforce winter vocabulary.
Winter story times celebrate holidays, lights, snowmen, and sledding. They create a cozy atmosphere while introducing children to the wonders of the season.
After the story, children can engage in related activities such as creating paper snowflakes or drawing their favorite part of the book. These hands-on experiences help reinforce the concepts presented in the stories.
4) Pinecone Bird Feeder
Creating pinecone bird feeders is an engaging winter activity for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. This project combines creativity with nature education, allowing young learners to interact with the environment.
To make a pinecone bird feeder, children need pinecones, peanut butter, bird seeds, and string. The process begins by tying a string around the top of the pinecone. This allows for easy hanging once the feeder is complete.
Next, children spread peanut butter generously over the pinecone. This step can be messy but fun, offering a tactile experience for toddlers and preschoolers. After covering the pinecone, they roll it in bird seeds, which stick to the peanut butter.
The finished feeders can be hung outside for birds to enjoy. This activity provides an opportunity to discuss wildlife, seasons, and the importance of helping animals during winter. It also develops fine motor skills and encourages children to observe nature.
Educators can extend this activity by asking children to count the birds that visit their feeders or identify different bird species. This outdoor learning experience enhances understanding of the natural world and fosters a sense of environmental stewardship in young learners.
5) Snowy Outdoor Walks
Snowy outdoor walks provide an excellent opportunity for EYFS children to explore their winter environment. These walks allow young learners to observe changes in nature and develop their sensory skills.
Teachers can encourage children to look for animal tracks in the snow. This activity helps develop observation skills and introduces basic concepts of wildlife behavior.
Collecting natural objects during the walk can be both fun and educational. Children might gather pinecones, twigs, or interesting leaves to use in later craft activities.
Winter scavenger hunts add an element of excitement to snowy walks. Teachers can prepare a list of winter-themed items for children to find, such as icicles or frost-covered plants.
Snow walks also present opportunities for simple science experiments. Children can observe how their footprints change the snow’s texture or watch how snow melts in their hands.
Educators can incorporate language development by encouraging children to describe what they see, feel, and hear during the walk. This helps expand vocabulary related to winter and nature.
6) Holiday Songs and Rhymes
Holiday songs and rhymes are excellent winter activities for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. They help develop language skills, rhythm, and memory while engaging children in festive fun.
Many Christmas action songs for kids incorporate movements, making them perfect for active learning. These songs encourage physical coordination and allow children to express themselves through music and motion.
Popular choices include “Jingle Bells” with hand motions mimicking bell ringing, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with actions for each character. These songs are easy for young children to learn and enjoy.
Finger plays like “Five Little Snowmen” or “Five Little Christmas Trees” help develop fine motor skills and counting abilities. Children use their fingers to represent characters, enhancing their understanding of numbers.
Winter-themed songs such as “Snowflakes, Snowflakes” or “Winter’s Coming” teach about seasonal changes. These songs introduce vocabulary related to winter weather and clothing, expanding children’s knowledge of the world around them.
Educators can use props like bells, scarves, or toy snowmen to enhance the musical experience. This multisensory approach helps reinforce learning and keeps children engaged in the activity.
7) Winter-Themed Role Play
Winter-themed role play offers an engaging way for young children to explore seasonal concepts. It encourages creativity, social skills, and language development in a fun, immersive environment.
One popular option is setting up a hot cocoa stand. Children can practice counting, turn-taking, and communication as they serve pretend customers.
Creating a hibernating bear den allows children to learn about animal behavior during winter. They can act out different hibernating animals and discuss why some creatures sleep through the cold months.
An igloo tent provides a cozy space for imaginative play. Children can pretend to be Arctic explorers or animals seeking shelter from the snow.
Setting up a winter clothing shop encourages children to practice dressing skills while learning about appropriate cold-weather attire. They can sort items by type, size, or color.
A winter wonderland scene with artificial snow and ice allows for sensory exploration. Children can build snowmen, create snow angels, or have pretend snowball fights in a safe, indoor environment.
8) Indoor Snowball Fight
An indoor snowball fight offers a fun and safe way for young children to enjoy a winter activity without braving the cold. This game can be easily set up in a classroom or at home using soft, indoor-friendly “snowballs.”
Indoor snowballs can be made from various materials. Rolled-up socks, fluffy white yarn balls, or pom-poms are popular choices. These soft alternatives ensure children can play safely without risk of injury.
To set up the activity, divide the play area into two sections. Children can be split into teams or play individually. Scatter the “snowballs” around the room and set a timer for the game duration.
The objective is to throw the snowballs to the opposite side while collecting any that land in their area. This encourages physical activity, improves coordination, and promotes teamwork among the children.
Indoor snowball fights can also incorporate learning elements. Teachers might label snowballs with letters, numbers, or sight words, asking children to identify them before throwing.
After the game, children can practice counting by tallying up the snowballs on each side. This activity combines physical play with cognitive development, making it an excellent choice for EYFS winter activities.
9) Ice Painting Art
Ice painting is a fascinating winter activity for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children. This creative process combines art with scientific exploration, engaging young learners in a multi-sensory experience.
To begin, fill small pots with water and add food coloring. Insert craft sticks into each pot and freeze them for a couple of hours. Once frozen, these colorful ice blocks become natural paintbrushes.
Children can use the ice paints to create unique artwork on paper. As they paint, they’ll observe how the ice melts, changing the texture and colors of their creations. This process encourages discussions about color mixing and the properties of ice.
For added excitement, try freezing baking soda with water in a shallow pan. Children can then paint on this icy canvas, watching as the colors spread and mix in unexpected ways.
Ice painting not only develops fine motor skills but also promotes sensory exploration and scientific thinking. It’s an excellent way to introduce concepts of temperature, state changes, and color theory to young children in a fun, hands-on manner.
10) Nature Scavenger Hunt
A winter nature scavenger hunt is an engaging outdoor activity for early years children. It encourages exploration and observation of the natural world during the colder months.
Educators can create a simple winter scavenger hunt spotter sheet featuring items commonly found in winter. This might include pine cones, evergreen trees, and winter birds like robins.
Children can search for signs of winter such as frost on the ground, icicles hanging from rooftops, or a blanket of snow. They may also look for animal tracks in the snow or mud.
The activity can be adapted to suit different environments and age groups. For younger children, the hunt can focus on basic winter elements like bare trees or cold wind. Older children might search for more specific items or changes in nature.
This outdoor winter activity combines physical exercise with learning about seasonal changes. It helps develop children’s observational skills and connects them with their environment.
Benefits of Winter EYFS Activities
Winter activities offer unique opportunities for early years children to develop crucial skills. These experiences contribute to physical growth and stimulate creativity in ways that indoor activities alone cannot match.
Promoting Physical Development
Winter outdoor play helps children stay active during colder months. This activity supports the development of gross motor skills through activities like building snowmen or throwing snowballs.
Cold weather play enhances balance and coordination as children navigate slippery surfaces. It also improves fine motor skills through tasks such as zipping up coats or manipulating snow with gloved hands.
Outdoor winter activities increase cardiovascular health and strengthen muscles. Children expend more energy to stay warm, boosting their metabolism and overall fitness.
Encouraging Creativity and Imagination
Winter provides a unique canvas for creative expression. Shivery snow paint activities allow children to experiment with textures and colors in novel ways.
The stark winter landscape sparks imaginative play. Children might pretend to be arctic explorers or create imaginary snow creatures, fostering language development and social skills.
Winter-themed crafts, such as making paper snowflakes or decorating pinecones, enhance fine motor skills and artistic abilities. These activities also promote problem-solving as children figure out how to create their designs.
Nature-based winter activities, like ice sculpture making, encourage scientific thinking and observation skills. Children learn about concepts like freezing and melting through hands-on experiences.
Safety Considerations
Winter activities for EYFS require careful planning to ensure children’s wellbeing. Proper supervision and safe materials are essential for creating a secure environment that allows for fun and learning.
Ensuring Proper Supervision
Adult-to-child ratios should be maintained at all times during winter activities. Staff must remain vigilant and positioned strategically to observe all areas where children are playing.
Regular headcounts are crucial, especially when transitioning between indoor and outdoor spaces. Designate specific staff members to monitor high-risk areas such as icy patches or slopes.
Establish clear boundaries for outdoor play areas and communicate them to children. Use visual markers like cones or flags to define safe zones.
Train staff on emergency procedures specific to winter conditions, including first aid for cold-related injuries.
Choosing Safe Materials
Select age-appropriate materials that pose minimal choking or injury risks. Avoid small objects that could be swallowed or sharp items that may cause cuts.
Ensure all outdoor equipment is properly maintained and free from ice or snow accumulation. Regularly inspect play structures for stability on frozen ground.
Choose non-toxic, washable art supplies for winter-themed crafts. Opt for water-based paints and glues to minimize potential allergic reactions.
When using natural materials like pine cones or leaves, check for sharp edges or insects before introducing them to activities.
Consider using soft, padded surfaces for areas where children might slip or fall during winter play.
