The air is getting a bit crisper, the clocks are set back, fireplaces are cozying up houses, and winter is on its way. With that, it’s time to start dreaming up ways to celebrate the season.

With our lives feeling overly full, this list is a a gentle reminder and starting point, and by no means a list of all the things you should plan to do this holiday season. The holiday season can be a stressful time, full of so many activities, parties, and travel.  I like to put things in the calendar that we’re already planning to do, so that this doesn’t add more work to an already busy time of year.

How we use the Winter Activities Checklist

Our family aims to build traditions and we like keep things simple. We’ll make a copy of the list for our fridge or magnet board, and reference it when we’re building an activity advent calendar, looking for fun things to do to fill an hour, or when we’re planning out the season. It’s nice to have this list handy as a reminder of seasonal activities that we love to share and celebrate as traditions each year.

Some of the winter activities, like look at holiday lights or play in the snow can be easy to blend into the rhythm of your day. Others, like go ice skating or have a family craft night may require a little more planning.

While we won’t do everything on the list, our absolute not-to-miss winter activities include: drink hot cocoa, pick out a tree (this is our favorite NorCal spot), make latkes (my mom’s recipe is this best!), make ornaments, watch the Nutcracker (my kids are in it this year!), make ornaments, play in the snow, and donate food to those in need.

What’s on your list?

50 Winter Activities for families

Look at holiday lights

Go caroling

Make latkes

Visit Santa

Build a Fire

Make cookies

Play with friends

Have a family craft night

Make a popcorn garland

Make Salt Dough Ornaments

Donate food to those in need

Decorate a tree

Watch the Nutcracker

Make a winter art project

Make a gingerbread house

Make gingerbread cookies

Build a snowman

Decorate the house with lights

Sing Carols

Light Candles

Take a family holiday photo

Make paper snowflakes

Eat a Candy Cane

Play the dreidel game

Build a fire

Wrap presents

Make holiday cards

Pick out a tree

Drink hot cocoa

Make a snowflake collage

Wear new pj’s

Go Ice Skating

Make Reindeer Food

Volunteer

Go sledding

Make Paper Winter Stars

Watch a Christmas movie

Read holiday stories

Buy a special ornament

Make ornaments

Make a wreath

Make homemade gifts

Hang stockings

Look at holiday lights

Play in the snow

Do something nice for someone

Host or join a cookie swap

Eat chestnuts

Write a letter so Santa

Make treats for the neighbors

Winter Activities Download

Download the winter checklist (pdf) here.

Are you in (or near) Northern California?

Please join me for a free drop-in improvisational art-making workshop at the TinkerLab studio in Palo Alto, CA, this Saturday, November 9, 1 – 4.

We’ll play with a prototype of the TinkerLab Art Cards to guide impromptu collages, drawings, and paintings that celebrate intuitive, adventurous, chance-driven art. This all-ages event is part of Cubberley Open Studios, with 20 other artists opening their doors, a rare chance to peek behind the curtain!

Map here.

November, how did you get here so quickly? It was just Halloween, and poof! We’re getting deep into Fall. Clocks are about to change, leaves are falling, and coziness is setting in. I love how this season really invites us indoors and makes it okay to curl up with a sketchbook and a warm cuppa.

You can join our monthly challenges on TinkerLab’s Instagram page, and follow along with the hashtag #tinkersketch.

How to use the Art Challenge prompts

1. Print out the prompts. You can screen grab the image above or scroll down for a PDF printable.
2. Gather sketchbooks or paper
3. Gather art-making materials: markers, paint, collage papers, glue, etc.
4. Give yourself a few minutes each day for this challenge. Try the morning after breakfast, after school, after dinner, before bed, etc.
5. Interpret the daily prompt. Use your imagination, be free, don’t hold back, and have fun

November Art Challenge

TinkerSketch is a daily sketchbook practice that invites you to experiment and play with ideas and materials in a low-stress, fun, and mind-stretching way.

You’ll start each day with a new prompt and it’s up to you to interpret it however you like. For example, if the prompt is “stormy”, you could draw a picture of a storm, use colors that remind you of a storm, or make expressive marks that feel like they were created in a storm. The possibilities are endless.

For more details on how the TinkerSketch Art Challenge works, click here for a full list of recommended resources and ideas on how to get started.

Download the printed version

Download the printed version to paste into your sketchbook or attach to the fridge. There’s also a word grid that you can cut out and glue into your sketchbook for each day of the month.

Download here.

I grew up in Los Angeles where Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, played a big cultural role in our community and home. This two day holiday, celebrated across Mexico November 1-2, reunites the living and the dead through heartfelt and decorative altars that bring families together in celebration of life. You might know the holiday’s symbols of altars (ofrendas) to ancestors with offerings such as candles, food, and photographs of loved ones, colorful sugar skulls and skeletons (calaveras), and the bright marigold flowers (cempasuchil) that are known in Mexico as the flower of the dead.

Building an ofrenda can be an elaborate affair and it’s believed that offering love and gifts to ancestors makes for happy spirits who in turn bring good luck and protection to their families.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for Day of the Dead events in your community, just type “day of the dead events near me” into Google or click here and see what turns up. 🙂

If you’re ready to create your own crafts for Day of the Dead, I have a roundup of decorations you can make yourself to bring the celebration into your own home or community.

How to Make Sugar Skulls

Sugar skulls are one of the most recognizable and powerful symbols of Day of the Dead. They come in various sizes, from about 1″-4″ tall. Traditionally made from a combination of sugar, water, and lemon juice, they’re now most commonly created with the addition of merengue powder, which holds them together over time. I appreciate this personal account of the meaning and importance behind sugar skulls.

If you’re eager to make your own sugar skulls, note that this is a labor of love and takes a bit of time. Give yourself about two hours to make and decorate the molds, and another couple hours for the icing to harden and set.

If you’re ready to make your own sugar skulls, I have a few recommendations.

Note: some links connect to our affiliates

Sugar Skull Ingredients

First, you’ll need a mold! Larger skulls will be easier for small children to decorate, so try this 4″ mold or this large sugar skull mold for preschoolers.

Second, one of the key ingredients is meringue powder. If it’s not available in your local market or cooking shop, you can get meringue powder online. I like this meringue powder brand because it’s made in a dedicated gluten and nut-free facility.

Last, you’ll also need sugar, powdered sugar, and royal icing (more meringue powder and powdered sugar!). I like this recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Sugar Skull Instructions

I like these simple instructions to make sugar skulls, or Calavera de Azúcar

How to Make Paper Marigolds

Day of the dead celebrations are decorated with brilliant orange and yellow marigold flowers, which are prevalent across Mexico in early fall. You can decorate your altar with live flowers, and/or make your own from tissue paper and string or pipe cleaners to hold your flower together.

To make your own marigolds, follow these easy instructions.

How to make a Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda

This is a great explanation about how to build an altar that breaks it down easy peasy with a sweet illustration. The basic idea is that there are three levels that represent the underworld, earth, and heaven. The underworld is decorated with ashes, marigolds, a cross to represent a grave, and a mat for the dead to wipe their feet. The next level is decorated with a feast of food and drinks. And the top level is decorated with symbols of heaven such as a cross, more marigolds, incense, and candles

If you’re going to build your own ofrenda, you may also like this handy checklist PDF.

How to Make Papel Picado

Papel picado is cut paper, which, for kids, can be made a lot like paper snowflakes. If you look at the photo of the ofrenda, above, you’ll see papel picado strung across the altar. Our friends at Deep Space Sparkle have a nice papel picado tutorial that you’ll enjoy checking out.

More Day of the Dead Crafts for Preschool Children

Tin Painting, a Mexican hand craft made easy for preschoolers

Playdough Calavera Cookies, find these special Day of the Dead skull cookie cutters for experimenting with play dough, perfect for little ones.