Is your teen looking for fun things to do this winter? These 52 Best Winter Activities for Teens who are bored are the perfect solution to conquer that cabin fever.
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.
Love printables? Sign up here to access my free resource library that has planner pages, wall art, and meal planning printables such as shopping lists and favorite meal worksheets.
Winter can be hard on teens especially when they are stuck indoors. The long, cold months of winter can feel like an eternity for teenagers resulting in boredom and restlessness. They may spend all their time in front of the television or on their electronic devices.
The key to avoiding cabin fever in teens during the winter is to find fun activities to encourage them to get out of their rooms or off the couch and bust that boredom once and for all.
So, if your teen is looking for something to do or you just want to encourage them to get up and get moving, here is a list of winter activities for teens when they are struggling with boredom this winter.
52 Best Winter Activities for Teens Who Are Bored
These winter activities for teens include indoor activities to spark their creativity, teach them something new, and even learn important life skills. I’ve even included a few outdoor activities to help banish their winter boredom such as having a snowball fight or just taking a walk around the neighborhood to get out of the house for a while.
Indoor Winter Activities for Teens
The majority of these winter activities are for teens to do inside because let’s face it, the last place most teens want to be is outside in the freezing cold weather.
They would much rather be hanging out in their rooms playing video games or on their phone. But, many times these activities are done out of boredom when they can’t think of anything else to do.
Hopefully, this list will encourage them to explore new activities that they hadn’t thought of before and have some fun in the process.
Be creative
Spark a little creativity in your teen this winter.
- Learn hand lettering- Teens just starting with hand lettering can try a Crayola marker art set for an inexpensive way to learn modern calligraphy.
- Write a song- Does your teen love music? Songwriting is the perfect way for teens to express their emotions.
- Make a scrapbook- How about creating a scrapbook from pictures of the past year? It would be a great project for those chilly winter days.
- Create a winter playlist- They can create a music playlist of all their favorite songs or visit Spotify for some inspiration.
- Draw a picture- Teens can learn to draw with these tutorials from Art is Fun.
- Paint something- Pick up an inexpensive paint set and start painting. If they need a little direction, they can check out some tutorials on YouTube.
- Write a story or a poem- Encourage your teen to express themselves through poetry or short stories.
- Make DIY bath bombs- They can try making some of these DIY bath bombs from Feast for a Fraction.
- Have a hot cocoa bar- Find out how easy it is to set up a cocoa bar and invite some friends over to enjoy.
- Make a winter craft- Visit Happiness is Homemade to find over 40 easy crafts that your teen can have fun making.
Learn something new
- Try origami- Does your teen want to learn origami? This inexpensive origami book offers 30 projects to try.
- Learn a language- There are so many apps available to teach your teen a new language such as Duolingo and Babbel.
- Teach yourself an instrument- Visit YouTube (my son has found a lot of great free tutorials) or download an app like Yousician that will teach you to play.
- Try a new Tik Tok dance- Does your teen like to dance? Then, Tik Tok is the place to find so many fun dances to try.
- Start a blog- If your teen loves to write and help people then blogging may be the perfect fit for them. Check out why I love Lyrical Host to host my blog.
- Teach yourself to knit or crochet- There are so many YouTube videos that offer step-by-step instructions on learning a new craft. If you are looking for an easy first project, this chunky hand knit blanket(It’s Always Autumn) is so cozy and would be perfect for beginners.
- Start a gaming YouTube channel- Is your teen into gaming? I know mine are. Your teen may be interested in starting their own channel . It can teach them about editing videos, graphic design for channel art and connecting with others that have similar interests.
- Learn how to code- There are so many apps to teach your teen to code. You can check out Khan Academy or Coursera to learn more.
- Make a tie blanket- Head to your local craft store and pick up a tie blanket kit. They are easy to put together and would make a great gift idea to give a friend.
Relax
- Read a book- Books are a great escape from the dark cold winter months. They can sign up for Kindle Unlimited to get access to millions of ebooks that can be read right on their phones.
- Listen to an audiobook- Would your teen prefer to listen to their books? Sign up for Audible and get a 30 day free trial to thousands of audiobooks.
- Find a podcast to listen to- A podcast is great not only when they’re relaxing but also when they are multi-tasking (like cleaning their room).
- Do a sudoku, word circle or crossword puzzle- Pick up a sudoku or crossword puzzle for your teen to try and solve. They are not only beneficial for reducing stress but can also strengthen decision making skills and help with concentration.
- Binge your favorite television series- They can pop some popcorn and settle down to watch their favorite TV series or start a new one that they’ve been wanting to watch.
- Have a movie marathon- Whether it’s a new movie or an old favorite, movies can be one of the best ways to spend a lazy afternoon in the winter.
- Put together a puzzle– Puzzles are the perfect brain teaser to keep your teen busy during wintertime.
- Color an adult coloring book- Coloring is not just for kids anymore, coloring books are actually a really relaxing past-time.
- Have an at-home spa day- Get some special bath products for your teen so they can have a relaxing spa day at home.
Learn life skills
- Cook dinner- If you teen has never tried cooking dinner, than this would be a great opportunity to teach them how to plan for and prepare a meal. Check out these 85 meal ideas for inspiration.
- Bake a new dessert- It’s always fun to try a new dessert. If you have an air fryer, try these desserts or you can always find dessert ideas on Pinterest.
- Clean their room- It may take a little convincing but they will be so happy when it’s done.
- Declutter- If your teen is looking for an easy way to earn some extra cash, have them declutter their room, and sell the items for some spending money.
- Plan the next vacation or (stay-cation)– Have your teen help plan your next stay-cation or vacation by gathering ideas and prices.
- Try DIY coffee recipes- This Mocha Frappuccino Starbucks copycat from Recipe Girl is sure to be hit with your teen.
- Rearrange or redecorate their bedroom- Let them pick out new paint colors or freshen up their room with new bedding.
- Research colleges- It’s never too early to have your teen start thinking about their future.
- Make cookies- There is nothing better than the smell of cookies baking in the oven. Try these easy Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookies recipes.
- Volunteer- Encourage your teen to spend some time volunteering this winter to help others in need.
Be active
- Try a yoga routine- Yoga can be very relaxing for teens. They can check out Yoga with Adriene on YouTube for some inspiration.
- Workout- For many teens this may be the last thing they want to do but for others it may be fun for them to try something new. Just like with yoga there are many free workout videos on YouTube or they can download an app. The 30 day challenges are always a great place start.
Have fun
When all else fails just encourage your teens to have some fun by dusting off some old board games, or challenging the family with some friendly competition.
- Play board games- A few must-have games for teens include: Exploding Kittens, Codenames, and Throw, Throw Burrito.
- Have a video game tournament- Does your teen have a Nintendo Switch? They can challenge their siblings in Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- Sing Karaoke- This karaoke microphone is so much fun. Alternatively, they can always search Sing King on YouTube for a more budget-friendly option.
- Play card games- My teens love card games. Uno, Skip-bo, and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza are always favorites. They also really enjoy the card game Trash- I have a tutorial at 60 Indoor Activities for Kids of all ages.
- Try a song challenge- Visit YouTube for song challenges to play or download an app.
Outdoor Winter Activities for Teens
While the majority of teens prefer to spend most of their time indoors during the long cold winter months, getting outside for some fresh air can do a lot to boost your teen’s mood plus it’s good for their physical health. So, try and encourage a little outside time this winter.
Outside activities
- Go snowshoeing- Encourage your teen to explore nature by searching for snowshoeing trails in your area.
- Have a snowball fight- What teen can resist a good snowball fight? Have them call up some friends or gather the family together and see who wins.
- Go sledding or tubing- Has your teen ever been tubing? It’s a must-do winter activity. Check your area to see if there are any places nearby that offer it (ski resort) or you can pick up this snow tube and head to your favorite sledding place for an afternoon of winter fun.
- Build a snowman- It doesn’t really matter how old you are building a snowman can put a smile on anyone’s face. We picked up this build your own snowman kit a few years ago and have had so much fun with it.
- Have an outdoor bonfire and roast s’mores- Have your teen invite some friend’s over to hang out by the fire and enjoy some yummy treats.
- Go ice skating- Grab a pair of ice skates and head to your local ice skating rink. No skates? No problem, many places will rent out skates for you to use.
- Build a snow fort- Pick up one of these snow block molds and encourage your teen to make a snow fort (a perfect hiding spot for those snowball fights with friends.)
- Take your dog for a winter walk- Even something as simple as heading outside with their furry friend for a walk is a nice way to get a little fresh air during the winter months.
There you go, 52 fun winter activities for teens when they are bored. Hopefully, this list gives your teen some ideas to banish the boredom and make the most of the winter season.
Don’t forget to sign up for my Free Resource Library to grab my planner and wall art printables. You will also get access to lots more printables all completely free for you to print out and enjoy!
Follow me on Pinterest for more family activities.
