Winter Activities for Preschoolers: Attract More Enrollments to Your Kids' Activity Center

Winter is here, bringing a world of chilly adventures and cozy fun for preschoolers! While the frosty weather may have kids' activity centers and gyms leaning toward indoor activities, why not mix it up and make it even more exciting? Embrace the magic of this crisp, white season and dominate the fun as your little clients explore the wonders of winter inside and out.

Keep these tiny toddlers engaged and learning in the vibrant spaces of kids' activity centers and indoor gyms, where they can laugh, play, and discover—all while giving parents some much-needed peace of mind. Whether it’s crafting snowy masterpieces indoors or building snowmen outdoors, winter can be a season full of excitement and discovery for kids.

To help make your kids' activity center the ultimate winter attraction, we’ve put together a list of exciting activities for both indoor and outdoor fun. Not just that, in this blog, explore how you can make the most of the winter season at your activity center by incorporating creative and educational programs that preschoolers will love. 

From a list of top winter activities to planning tips, safety measures, and effective marketing strategies, this guide is packed with everything you need to create a magical winter experience that draws families to your center. Whether you’re looking to boost enrollments, creating memorable programs, or establishing your center as a community favorite, this blog has you covered.

Keep reading.

Importance of Engaging in Winter Activities for Preschoolers

Engaging children in winter activities not only keeps them active and happy but also promotes their social, cognitive, and physical development. Seasonal activities provide structured playtime, encouraging kids to explore, connect, and learn. 

Studies show that children who engage in activities like arts and crafts, music, and movement experience improved motor skills and language development.

For parents, enrolling kids in such programs offers peace of mind, knowing their children are in a safe, nurturing environment.

How Can These Activities Attract More Enrollments to your Kids Activity Center?

Providing a unique selection of winter-themed activities can set your center apart from others, offering a seasonal twist that appeals to both children and parents. With the right activities and marketing approach, you can draw families looking for quality indoor options. By creating a lively winter program, you increase your chances of attracting new families and retaining existing members.

Top Winter Activities for Preschoolers

Here are six engaging winter activities and the unique benefits they can bring to preschoolers in your center:

1. Snowflake Crafts

• Activity: Encourage preschoolers to create their own snowflakes with paper, glue, and glitter.
• Benefits: Crafting improves fine motor skills and spatial awareness while allowing kids to express themselves creatively. Parents love that children can bring home these crafts as keepsakes, reinforcing positive memories of their experience at your center.

2. Winter Storytime

• Activity: Set up a cozy corner with blankets and warm lighting for reading winter-themed stories.
• Benefits: Storytime develops listening skills, vocabulary, and imagination. Children learn empathy by exploring characters and stories, while parents appreciate the literacy-focused activity that feels both educational and seasonal.

3. Indoor Snowball Games

• Activity: Use soft, indoor-safe “snowballs” for gentle throwing games or relay races.
• Benefits: Indoor snowball games allow children to get the physical exercise they need, regardless of outdoor weather. These games encourage teamwork, and coordination, and release energy in a controlled, safe environment.

4. Go on a Color Hunt

• Activity: Although winter landscapes are often blanketed in white, there are still vibrant colors to discover! Give each child a handout with two columns labeled “Color” and “Drawing.” Guide them to explore the environment (indoors or outdoors) and find objects in different colors. Children can then draw each object they find in the “Drawing” column.
• Benefits: This activity fosters observation skills, attention to detail, and color recognition. As children search for colors and draw what they see, they also enhance their fine motor skills and creativity. Parents love that this activity engages children’s curiosity, encouraging them to see beyond the ordinary and notice details around them.

5. Winter Music and Movement

• Activity: Host a winter-themed music and dance session with seasonal songs and gentle rhythm games.
• Benefits: Music and movement foster coordination, listening skills, and self-expression. For children, dancing and moving with friends promotes social bonding, while parents know their kids are staying active.

6. Mini Winter Carnival

• Activity: Host a mini indoor winter carnival featuring simple games like ring toss, bean bag toss, and a fishing pond game, all with a winter theme.
• Benefits: A winter carnival creates a festive, interactive environment that fosters social skills, patience, and friendly competition. Each activity allows kids to develop hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and turn-taking skills. Parents appreciate a multi-activity setup that keeps their kids engaged and entertained.

7. Sibling Winter Bake-Off

• Activity: Siblings team up to decorate cookies, cupcakes, or other winter-themed treats. This hands-on experience fosters creativity and collaboration while offering a sweet treat for everyone to enjoy.
• Benefits: Siblings Bake-Off sparks creativity, enhances fine motor skills, and introduces basic life skills like responsibility and sharing. The activity also provides a fun, sensory-rich experience that creates lasting memories for both siblings and their families. 

How to Plan These Winter Activities for Preschoolers

Planning and executing winter activities can be simple and effective with a bit of preparation. Additionally, ensure your activity center includes an indoor gym for better implementation and to keep kids active and engaged, regardless of the weather. Here’s how to break down each activity:

Planning Winter Activities- Pro Tips:

Host a Free Winter-Themed Open House Event

• Preview of Activities: Host a free winter-themed open house where parents and their children can experience a sample of your winter activities. Include small activities like the Winter Storytime or a short Color Hunt to give families a taste of what to expect.
• On-Site Registration: Offer on-site enrollment options with a small discount for families who register during the event. An open house can be a fantastic way to showcase your center’s staff, facilities, and the safe, engaging environment you provide.

Now for the following winter activities that were mentioned above, here are the planning tips:

• Snowflake Crafts
  Planning: Gather supplies such as paper, child-safe scissors, glue, and glitter in advance. Create sample snowflakes to show kids as inspiration, and allocate a table area where kids can work independently or in small groups. Consider adding an area for drying finished crafts.
  
• Winter Storytime
  Planning: Set up a quiet, cozy reading corner with pillows, blankets, and dim lighting to make it inviting. Curate a selection of age-appropriate winter-themed books, and create a reading schedule with staff members leading each session. Allow kids to bring a blanket or stuffed animal for added comfort.
  
• Indoor Snowball Games
  Planning: Designate a spacious area for snowball games, clear of any sharp edges or hazards. Use soft foam balls or cotton snowballs and set rules for gentle play. Plan a few variations of the games, such as toss-and-catch, target practice, or relay races.
  

• Go on a Color Hunt
  Planning: Prepare handouts with the “Color” and “Drawing” columns and provide crayons or pencils. Choose a safe, supervised area for the hunt, whether it’s a section of your indoor space or a secure outdoor spot. Before the activity, introduce kids to a few color samples they might find, then let them explore. Guide younger children, helping them identify objects, while older kids can explore independently. After the hunt, gather everyone to share their drawings and discuss what they found.
  

• Winter Music and Movement
  Planning: Use a speaker to play a selection of winter-themed songs, and arrange enough space for children to move safely. Plan movements in advance, like marching, clapping, or dancing in place, and keep the session short and energetic.
  
• Mini Winter Carnival
  Planning: Designate different areas for each game station, keeping them spaced out to allow kids to move freely and participate safely. Use winter-themed decorations like snowflakes, faux snow, or winter animals to create a fun atmosphere. Prepare small prizes or treats to give out for participation, and encourage kids to rotate between games so everyone gets a chance to try each station. Keep game instructions simple, so kids can quickly understand how to play and enjoy.
  
• Sibling Winter Bake-Off
  Planning: Set a winter theme and prepare pre-baked treats along with colorful icing, edible decorations, and child-safe utensils. Arrange spacious, decorated workstations for sibling pairs and provide a quick demonstration to guide them. Encourage teamwork by assigning roles and wrap up with a fun display and awards for creativity and collaboration.

Creating a Safe and Fun Environment

Safety is a top priority for any activity center, especially during winter when there are additional considerations like colder weather and potential indoor hazards.

Importance of Safety During Winter Activities

Safety protocols help ensure a comfortable environment that reassures parents and keeps children protected. Whether you’re organizing physical play or simple craft sessions, having a secure setup reduces the risk of accidents and allows kids to focus on having fun.

Tips on Ensuring Safety for Preschoolers at Your Kids Activity Center

• Indoor Space Checks: Regularly sanitize  indoor spaces to keep them clean, free from clutter, and secure for all activities.
• Child-Appropriate Equipment: Use only age-appropriate materials and soft-edged equipment for activities. Also include a diaper station 
• Health Precautions: Keep sanitizer stations and encourage frequent handwashing to prevent seasonal illnesses. Ensure that activity centers are equipped with a diaper station to cater to the needs of young children and their parents. 
• Supervision: Always have adequate staff to monitor children and guide them through each activity safely.

Looking to Make Your Kids' Activity Center Thrive This Winter?

With a well-rounded winter program, you’re not only offering a fun-filled experience for kids but also reinforcing your center’s reputation as a nurturing, exciting place for early childhood learning. A key element to ensure success is promoting your winter activities effectively. Let’s explore strategies for marketing your exciting winter programs!

Marketing Your Winter Activities

Effectively marketing your winter activities can be a game-changer for boosting enrollments and establishing your kids’ activity center as the go-to spot for winter fun and learning. Here are comprehensive strategies to make sure your offerings reach parents and bring in new enrollments:

1. Create Eye-Catching Social Media Content

• Photo and Video Highlights: Capture high-quality photos or short videos of your winter activities (such as the Mini Winter Carnival or Color Hunt) and post them across social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Highlight kids’ enjoyment and the creativity of each activity, so parents see the benefits and fun their children can experience.
• Instagram Stories and Reels: Use Instagram Stories or Reels to showcase a “day in the life” at your center during winter. This could include snippets of activities, setup, or even staff preparing for the day. Reels featuring short, engaging content can boost visibility and create anticipation.
• Engagement Posts: Create polls, questions, or posts asking parents about their favorite winter activities for kids. This type of engagement strengthens your community and can also provide insight into what parents value most.

2. Launch Targeted Email Campaigns

• Winter Program Announcements: Send an email to your existing customer list announcing your winter activities. Highlight the unique experiences (e.g., Indoor Snowball Games, Going on a Color Hunt) and explain how these activities help preschoolers learn and grow during the colder months.
• Regular Updates: Set up a series of emails that introduce your winter programs and remind parents about upcoming events, special days, or registration deadlines. To build credibility, include testimonials or snippets of positive feedback from other parents.
• Personalized Recommendations: If your email system supports it, segment your audience based on interests or past participation in winter programs. Send targeted emails that address specific activities or benefits, making parents feel the programs were crafted for their child’s development.
  

3. Offer Early Bird Discounts and Bundle Deals

• Early Bird Enrollment: Encourage parents to sign up early by offering a small discount for registrations completed a few weeks before the winter program begins. Early bird offers also help you estimate participation levels ahead of time.
• Bundle Discounts: Create bundled pricing for families enrolling more than one child or those registering for multiple winter activities. For example, if a family signs up for both the Mini Winter Carnival and the Winter Storytime series, offer a slight discount on the second activity.
• Referral Discounts: Motivate existing families to spread the word by offering a discount or a small reward for each friend or family they refer who registers. Word-of-mouth referrals can be one of the most effective and trusted ways to bring in new enrollments.

With effective discount management, you can easily run exclusive campaigns, promotions, and more and drive maximum retention.

4. Collaborate with Local Businesses

• Cross-Promotions: Partner with other local businesses, like family-friendly cafes, libraries, or kids' stores, to cross-promote your winter programs. For example, offer a small discount at their establishment to parents who register for your activities and vice versa.
• Community Events: Attend or sponsor local winter events where parents and children are present. Hand out flyers or set up a small booth featuring information about your winter programs, providing parents with an immediate, tangible way to learn more.
• Digital Shout-Outs: Ask local partners to give your center a shout-out on their social media channels or include a mention in their newsletters, expanding your reach within the community.
  

5.Optimize Your Website with a Winter Activity Landing Page

• Dedicated Landing Page: Create a dedicated page on your website specifically for your winter programs. This page should highlight each activity with descriptions, benefits, dates, and photos, making it easy for parents to find and learn about the programs.
• Online Booking Option: Ensure parents can register for activities directly from this landing page. A simple, user-friendly booking experience can make a significant difference in conversions.
• SEO Optimization: Use keywords like “winter activities for kids,” “preschool winter programs,” and “kids’ activity center winter programs” throughout the page to increase search engine visibility. This can help more parents find your offerings when searching for local kids’ winter activities.
  

6. Engage Your Audience with Google and Facebook Ads

• Google Ads: Use targeted Google Ads to reach local parents searching for terms like “kids’ activities near me,” “winter activities for kids,” and “preschool winter programs.” Specify your location and key terms related to winter activities to ensure ads reach the right audience.
• Facebook and Instagram Ads: Set up paid ads on Facebook and Instagram to promote your winter activities to parents within a specific radius of your center. Visual ads featuring colorful images of kids engaging in winter crafts or snowball games can grab attention, while testimonials can build trust.
• Retargeting Ads: Show ads to people who have previously visited your website or engaged with your social media content. Retargeting can remind parents of your winter offerings, keeping your center top of minds when they decide to enroll their child.

Read Facebook Marketing Strategies to accelerate your business growth.

By using these marketing strategies, you can create excitement around your winter programs, expand your reach, and build lasting relationships with families in your community.

Conclusion

Winter activities are a great way to keep preschoolers engaged, learning, and socializing during the colder months. Including creative activities, prioritizing safety, and applying effective marketing strategies can help make this winter successful for your center. By offering parents a unique, enriching experience for their children, you can increase enrollments and build a strong community.

Encourage your team to incorporate these winter activities and apply the marketing strategies discussed for the best results!

Omnify: Simplifying Winter Program Management

Want to make winter planning even easier? Omnify’s all-in-one platform helps kids’ activity centers streamline operations and manage programs efficiently. From scheduling classes to tracking enrollments and managing payments, Omnify provides everything you need to keep things running smoothly.

Try Omnify with a Free Demo Today! Sign up now to see how Omnify can transform your center's winter programs and classes and make a positive impact on kids and parents alike.

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