Build, craft, create - winter projects to make with the kids

When the weather turns chilly and the rain sets in, keeping kids entertained indoors can feel like a full-time job. But with a little planning, winter is the perfect season to slow things down and get creative together at home. 

Keep little hands busy and big imaginations buzzing with these fun, low-fuss projects. No fancy supplies needed. 

Forts, tunnels and pillow kingdoms

Raid the linen cupboard, round up every cushion in sight, and let your tamariki lead the charge on building their own indoor world. Whether it’s a fairy-tale castle, a secret spy cave, or a humble blanket hut, indoor forts are a go-to winter activity that never gets old. 

Add string lights or torches for that magical glow. Your role? Occasional structural engineer, official snack runner, or resident bedtime storyteller, once construction is complete, of course.
  

Crafts from the recycling bin

No craft store? No problem. Your recycling bin is full of creative possibilities.  

Try these kid-friendly favourites: 

• Cardboard cities: Shoeboxes and toilet rolls become sky-high towers, bridges, or tunnels. 
• Sock puppets: Give old socks a second life with googly eyes, buttons, and a dash of personality. Your homemade puppet show awaits.  
• Bottle-cap creatures: With some glue, paper, and twigs, milk bottle lids turn into funky little critters. 

There are no rules here, just scraps, sparkles, and stories in the making. 

Try our biogas science experiment

Turn craft time into science time.  

Our kid-friendly biogas experiment shows how food scraps can be turned into gas, using items you probably already have at home. It’s a fun way to learn about renewable gas, and what’s happening behind the scenes in New Zealand’s energy future. 

Just don’t expect it to energise the cooktop. This one’s for supervised fun only!  

Check out how to do the experiment. 

Make and mail some art 

Rainy outside? Brighten someone’s day from the kitchen table. 

Set up a little art station with paints, crayons, or collage bits and let the kids create something heartfelt to post to a grandparent, friend, or neighbour. 

You could try themes like: 

• “What I love about winter” 
• “A happy memory”
• “You’re the best because…” 

 
Pop it in the post to whānau for a little old-school joy. 

Invent a game together

Kids love rules (when they make them). So grab some cardboard, markers, dice and create a brand new game from scratch. 

Whether it’s a simple race-to-the-finish board game or a brand-new set of rules for tag, inventing something new is great for building creativity and problem-solving skills. 

Get ready for creative chaos, wild ideas, and big laughs. 

Keep it cosy 

These winter projects are all about turning long afternoons into moments of connection, learning, and fun. And if your home’s warmed by natural gas, you’ve already got the perfect cosy backdrop sorted. 

Blankets, crafts, and the warmth of gas, what more could you want on a winter’s day?