News & Events Winter Fun for Kids Under 5

Written by Hiu Lo

Winter is the perfect time to get kids involved in the kitchen, making cherished memories and delicious treats. When it gets colder, and it’s not as easy to get outside, it can be hard to think of new activities to keep your little ones entertained.  Here are some winter themed, food-related activities tailored for children under 5 that will keep them busy in the winter months.    

These activities are ideal for children aged 1-5 years. Remember not to leave your child unattended while doing any of these activities.  

Cooking 

Snowman snack 

It’s time to build some snowmen! 

Ingredients (makes 12): 

½ cucumber 

250g mozzarella cheese  

2 slices carrot 

Handful poppy seeds 

12 pieces of spaghetti (or coffee stirrers)

Method: 

  1. Wash cucumber and carrot to use later. 
  2. Cut 12 rounds from the cucumber, around 1cm thick. 
  3. Cut the mozzarella into 12 small ball shapes (you can buy mozzarella pearls already in this shape too). 
  4. Push a piece of dried spaghetti into the cucumber slice so it’s standing vertically. 
  5. Push 2 mozzarella balls onto the dried spaghetti to create the snowman body and head. 
  6. Cut the carrot into small triangle wedges to make the snowman noses. Push the nose into the head piece of the snowman. 
  7. Add black poppy seeds to make eyes and buttons for the snowman. 
  8. Serve and enjoy! 

Tip 1: Children can help with washing vegetables, cutting and assemble the snowman together 

Tip 2: If you have a small cookie cutter at home, you could use that to cut small circles from the leftover carrots to make hats for the snowman.  

Spiced Apple Wedges 

Ingredients (serves 4): 

1 teaspoon vegetable oil 

2 cooking apples 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Methods: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4 
  2. Grease a baking tray with the vegetable oil. 
  3. Wash the apples and use the vegetables peeler to remove the outer skin. 
  4. Use a corer to remove the pips found in the centre of the apples. 
  5. Cut each apple into 8 slices. 
  6. Place the apple slices onto the greased tray. 
  7. Sprinkle each apple slice with cinnamon, using your fingers. 
  8. Cook in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving. 

Tips: You could also use mixed spice, nutmeg, ginger, or all spice to make it more wintery. 

Winter Fruit Crumble 

Ingredients (serves 4 adults or 6 children): 

450g fruit, chopped (Fresh/ frozen/tinned). Some fruit ideas are apple, cherry, plum, pear, winter berries 

125ml water 

150g plain flour 

75g margarine/ vegetable spread 

25g soft brown sugar 

75g porridge oats 

2 tablespoons dried fruit, such as sultanas (Optional) 

1 teaspoon cinnamon (Optional) 

Method: 

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4. 
  2. Place the fruit in an oven proof dish. Pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. 
  3. In a mixing bowl, rub the flour and margarine/ vegetable spread together with your fingertips. Until it looks like breadcrumbs. 
  4. Add the sugar, oats, dried fruit and cinnamon (if using) and mix well. 
  5. Pour the crumble mix evenly over the fruit (make sure it covers the fruit). 
  6. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the top is golden.  

Children can help with washing the fruit, weighing, sprinkling, pouring and rubbing 

Activities 

Make a Winter Card with Vegetable Printing 

The colder weather is the perfect time for crafting, and there’s no better way to spread some winter cheer than by making cards for your friends and family. 

What you need: 

  1. Blank paper or card 
  2. A variety of vegetables 
  3. Child friendly ready mixed paint  
  4. Plastic plates for paint 
  5. Apron (optional) 

Some vegetable ideas to use: 

  • Celery 
  • Cabbage 
  • Lemon 
  • Onion 
  • Brussel sprouts 
  • Corn 
  • Carrot 
  • Broccoli/ Cauliflower 
  • Spring onion 

How to make it: 

  1. Prepare your workstation, cover the table with newspaper or tablecloth to catch any stray paint. Put on your apron if you are using one. 
  2. Wash the vegetables and cut them into half or even smaller pieces using a child safe knife. 
  3. Dip the cut side of the vegetables into the paint, ensuring even coverage. Press the painted side onto your blank cards or paper to create beautiful prints such as holly leaves, wreaths and snowflakes. 
  4. Once the paint dries, write personalised holiday messages inside each card and share them with family and friends.  

Winter Pasta Play 

What you need: 

  • Cardboard (optional) 
  • Pasta of your choice, some examples are mini wheels, bow ties, rigatoni and mini spirals 
  • Child friendly ready mixed paint 
  • Sealable bags for dying pasta 
  • Ribbon or pipe cleaners  
  • Glue  
  • Glitter (optional) 
  • Pinecone (optional) 

How to make it: 

  1. To make coloured pasta, follow our how to make threading pasta activity on Parent / Carer – NYLO – you can also put glitter in the sealable bags to make glittery winter pasta.  

To make a winter wreath: 

  1. Draw 2 circles on the cardboard to make a wreath shape. Draw another small circle in the wreath for the ribbon to go through to hang up. With adult’s help, cut out the wreath shape. 
  2. Design your wreath and glue the pasta and pinecone (if using) onto the cardboard. 

To make a winter bracelet:

  1. Tie a knot in a pipecleaner or ribbon at one end  
  2. Thread pasta onto your pipe cleaner or ribbon in any pattern you wish  
  3. Tie a knot at the other end to keep the pasta in place 
  4. Position around wrist to wear and tie.  

Wintery Scene: Make Indoor Snow 

We have put a winter spin on our Moonsand to create a wintery scene! 

To make fake snow, you will need: 

  1. 100g of cornflour 
  2. 25mls vegetable or sunflower oil 
  3. Winter spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg (Optional) 
  4. Essential oil such as peppermint (Optional) 

How to make it: 

  1. Put the flour in a bowl, then slowly stir in the oil and essential oil, if using. 
  2. Rub the oil through the flour with your fingertips, as if you were making pastry, until the mixture feels sandy and no oil is visible. If the mixture seems too dry, add a few more drops of oil, or if the mixture is too soft, add some more flour. The consistency should be a dry, shapable clay that crumbles fairly easily when squeezed.  
  3. Once the snow is ready, it’s time to build your wintery scene – why not try making an indoor snowman!  
  4. Try squeezing the snow together to make a snowman or use cookie cutters to push the snow into shapes and use the snow to create a wintery landscape.  

It’s a season of crisp air, cozy moments, and a celebration of the beauty that winter brings. In this celebration of winter, let’s embrace the enchantment that winter graciously bestows upon us. 🌨❄️☃️ 🌲