When the weather gets cold, early childhood teachers know the challenge: the kids still need to move, but going outside isn’t always an option. The good news? Winter is the perfect time to bring fun gross motor activities right into your classroom.
These easy winter gross motor games are low-prep, budget-friendly, and perfect for preschoolers, toddlers, and young children. Whether you’re stuck inside because of snow, rain, or freezing temperatures, these indoor winter activities will help release energy, build coordination, and keep your classroom happy and active.
❄️ Snowball Relay
How to Play:
- Divide children into two teams.
- Give each team a spoon and a cotton ball or pom-pom “snowball.”
- Children walk, hop, or tiptoe to a marker and back without dropping their snowball then pass it to the next person.
- Continue until all children have had a turn.
🐧 Penguin Waddles
Kids LOVE pretending to be penguins! How to Play:
- Place a beanbag or soft ball between each child’s knees.
- Have them waddle around the room like silly penguins.
- Add a “slippery ice” path (wax paper) for extra challenge.
❄️ Indoor Ice Skating
This is a great winter gross motor activity that makes kids feel like they’re gliding across the ice. How to Play:
- Give each child two paper plates.
- They step on the plates and “skate” around the room.
- Play winter music for added fun.
Safety Tip: Works best on carpet or rugs!
❄️ Snowflake Freeze Dance
Kids burn LOTS of energy with this simple game. How to Play:
- Play upbeat winter-theme songs (Frozen soundtrack is a go-to).
- When the music stops, yell “FREEZE LIKE A SNOWFLAKE!”
- Children freeze in silly positions.
Variations: Freeze like a snowman, penguin, or falling snow.
❄️ Blizzard in the Classroom
How to Play:
- Put soft white balls, crumpled paper, or pom-poms on top. of a parachute or bedsheet.
- The class shakes the parachute to create a “blizzard.”
- Children try to keep snow on the parachute as long as possible.
❄️ Falling Snow Toss
A low-key, toddler-friendly movement game. How to Play:
- Cut white tissue paper into squares.
- Children toss them up high and try to catch the “snow.”
- Add music for more fun.
☃️ Build-a-Snowman Relay
A silly active indoor favorite. How to Play:
- Place snowman “parts” (hats, scarves, paper buttons, cardboard carrot noses) on the other side of the room.
- Children run to grab a piece and return to “build” their team’s snowman.
- Use a stuffed snowman, poster, or a snowman outline on the floor.
🐻 Winter Animal Movement
Give children various ways to move like winter animals, including these suggestions:
- Waddle like a penguin.
- Stomp like a polar bear.
- Slide like a seal.
- Pounce like a snow leopard.
- Tiptoe like an arctic fox.
- Fly like a snowy owl.
- Swim like a narwhal. (slow, big arm strokes)
- Trot like a reindeer.
- Crawl like a walrus. (use arms to pull forward)
- Slither like a winter snake.
- Bounce like an arctic hare.
- Scoot like a baby penguin on its belly.
- Leap like a caribou.
- Shake off snow like a husky.
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