Minnesota winters can feel long, and finding activities suitable for an apartment can be a challenge. To help, we’ve gathered a list of fun ideas for both adults and kids to stay entertained throughout the colder months — and they’re perfect for rainy days, too!

To begin with, here are some fun ways to keep kids entertained. We’ve split the activities into categories so there’s something for every interest.

Crafts

• Make your own snow! - Cut paper snowflakes and string them onto a garland or put them in the window to decorate your apartment for winter.
• “Indoor Snow” – Fill a sensory bin with cotton balls, pompoms, or homemade “snow” (mix baking soda and hair conditioner together).
• Write your own winter story – Staple a few pieces of paper together and use crayons or stickers to illustrate your own winter-themed story.
• Decorate a winter tree – Use brown and green construction paper to make a large tree, put it up on the wall and decorate it with stickers

Active Games

• The Amazing Apartment Race! – Create an obstacle course through your apartment using pillows, blankets, chairs, and painters tape to make directional arrows.
• “VolleyBalloon” – It’s like volleyball, but with a balloon! Bonus points if you use a white balloon and pretend it’s a snowball. Keep the ball afloat for as long as you can without running or jumping.
• Winter Scavenger Hunt – Hide paper cutouts, small objects such as toy animals, or cotton snowballs throughout the apartment. Make a list of clues leading to the location of the treasures to take the game to another level.

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Quiet Sit-down Activities

• Host Igloo Building Contest – Use lego bricks or building blocks to build igloos. Award prizes for the fastest, most solid, and most creative constructions.
• Host a puzzle tournament – Use multiple puzzles and see who can finish the fastest. Alternatively, pit your household against another household to see who gets their puzzle done first!
• Hot Chocolate Bar – Set up a selection of hot chocolate and add-ins such as marshmallows, mint candy or candy canes, a selection of flavored syrups and let everyone mix up their own mug. Take it to another level by dressing up and making it “fancy” using antique spoons, cups and saucers.

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Imaginary Play

• Make your own Snowstorm! – Put on an upbeat music playlist and toss tissues, white balloons, and cotton balls into the air while dancing around the room. Make cleanup fun by treating it like a race, whoever collects the most pieces of “snow” wins!
• Living Room Broadway – Transform your living room into a theatre! Dim the lights, fashion costumes out of old clothes, and improvise a play. Better yet, take the time to write a play then act it out!
• Winter Radio Show – Just like the old days, dim the lights, put together a playlist of sound effects like wind, bells, footsteps, a crackling fire… and make up a winter story as you go along.

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Educational Activities

• Ice Age Excavation – Free small toys or animals using an ice tray and “excavate” them using warm water.
• Become a Meteorologist! – Use a whisk for microphone, study the forecast, and deliver the weather like a professional on tv! Bonus points if you draw up charts and graphics

Cooking and Kitchen Fun

• Cookie Decorating – Make your own sugar cookie dough and icing or use store-bought ingredients and put your individual stamp on cookie decorating. Try to do a self-portrait, design snowflakes, or decorate with your favorite animal.
• Build-your-own Trail Mix – Use a selection of cereals, marshmallows, pretzels, crackers, chocolate chips, and candies to create your own perfect snack.

Calm Down Time

• Build a Reading Nook – Use chairs and blankets to build a fort, grab a flashlight or flameless candles and your favorite book to enjoy some quiet time.

Kids aren’t the only ones who experience cabin fever! Here are some great ideas to keep both your mind and body active during the cold-weather months.

Shake Things Up! (even small changes can eliminate that feeling of “sameness”)

• Make a small change to your apartment, move a chair, change out the artwork, or reorganize a bookcase.
• Create a cozy corner by adding a floor pillow, blankets, and a low table on which to place a warm drink – it’ll be the perfect spot for watching movies or reading.
• Open your blinds and curtains first thing in the morning to enjoy the maximum amount of daylight possible, instant mood booster!
• Hang string lights or add lamps to your space to ward off that feeling of darkness that comes with the shorter daylight hours.
• If weather allows, open a window for just a few minutes and breathe in the blast of fresh air.
• Put seasonal décor away, this will make your space feel bigger, tidier, and calmer.

Bust some MOVES! (in an apartment-friendly way)

• Make a YouTube playlist of short 10-15 minute gentle workouts such as yoga, stretching, or apartment-friendly cardio routines – they’ll be ready for you when you have a spare moment for a quick workout.
• Practice “micro-workouts” by periodically doing 10 repetitions of an exercise such as squats, wall push-ups, step-ups, or using free weights for arm exercises. These are perfect while doing other things like waiting for a pot of water to boil or while stuck on hold during a phone call.
• Put on a few of your favorite songs and have a spontaneous dance party in your apartment! Let loose and dance like nobody’s watching!

Break the Routine

• Make a list of new recipes to try and prepare one each week
• Learn a new skill using a free online tutorial or borrow a book from the library. Try a new language, something more novel like origami or juggling, artistic endeavors like sketching or watercolor, or something practical like knitting or basic car or home repairs. You’ll be entertained, keep your mind active, and develop new knowledge and skills!
• Tidy up your playlists and watch lists – discover new songs, new films, new tv shows, and new podcasts. Get them in a queue so they’re ready to go when you have some free time.

Develop “Reset Rituals”

• Set a 15-minute timer to tackle a small part of your apartment – declutter one area, deep clean kitchen surfaces, tidy up one or two drawers.
• Choose a scent you enjoy (lavender, cinnamon, citrus, pine) and use a candle or diffuser to fill your space with fragrance.
• Choose a warm drink to suit your taste such as tea, hot chocolate, or your preferred coffee and use it to start or end your day.
• Wind-down at the end of the day by dimming the lights and using some quiet time to listen to music or journal.

Give yourself something to look forward to!

• Plan a weekly outing to a library, coffee shop, museum, or even a walk around the local shopping mall.
• Join a class, either in person or online, to provide both social time and a learning opportunity.
• Create weekly theme-nights such as movie night, game night, spa night… put your own creative spin on it – you’ll be amazed how quickly the cold-weather weeks fly by!

Bring Nature Indoors

• Add one or more plants to your space to enjoy both the visual effect and the air-purifying effect of most plants.
• Find an app or noise machine with nature sounds such as ocean, rain, wind, forest, birds, etc.
• Watch a nature documentary or look up live animal cams online, aquariums are particularly relaxing to watch.
• Take the time to look out the window a few times a day to take in the sky, trees, and wildlife.

Stay Connected

• Video calls are a great way to not feel so isolated when poor driving conditions get in the way of visiting family and friends.
• Try multiplayer games online or apps through which you can connect with friends.
• Join a local club or group that organizes regular activities, even on a monthly basis.