Kids & Company Blog

DIY Winter Nature Sensory Play for Children

Winter provides a magical backdrop for sensory exploration, and you don’t need much more than a few nature items and simple household supplies to create meaningful play experiences. Whether you’re heading out for a backyard adventure or collecting treasures on a snowy walk, these hands-on activities will inspire creativity, curiosity, and learning all season long. 

Please be mindful of children's common allergens when exploring and incorporating nature in crafts 

 1. Leaf exploration 

Bundle up and head outdoors to gather winter nature treasures such as dried leaves, pine needles, bark, twigs, or winter berries (safe-to-touch varieties only). Lay the items out in a shallow bin and invite your child to rip, snip, or pull apart each material. 
Add small cups, spoons, or containers so they can fill, scoop, sort, and dump—encouraging fine motor development and sensory discovery. 

 2. Nature Stamping  

Collect a handful of nature items—winter sprigs, pinecones, bark, seed pods—and invite your child to create their own stamp art. Provide coloured stamp pads or washable paint along with a brush, then show them how to press their items onto paper to capture detailed prints. Each stamp reveals a unique pattern, helping children observe shape, texture, and design. 

 3. Nature Ice 

Bring a little magic into winter play with nature ice blocks. Simply freeze flowers, twigs, leaves, or other nature finds in ice cube trays or small containers. Once frozen, pop them out and let your child explore the slippery, chilly textures. They can build with the ice pieces, watch them melt, or retrieve petals and leaves as the ice softens—a perfect mix of science, art, and sensory play. 

 4. Playdough Prints 

Bring playdough outside for a fun winter twist! 
Offer your child a tray, rolling pin, and a few playdough tools, then gather materials like sturdy winter leaves, pinecones, or evergreen pieces. Encourage them to press each item into the playdough to reveal imprints of veins, textures, and shapes. Experiment with different playdough colours and nature objects to create a gallery of beautiful nature impressions. 

5. Citrus Sensory Bin 

Brighten a winter day with a refreshing citrus-themed sensory bin! Slice oranges, lemons, or clementines and pair them with warm water, scoops, and containers. Children can squeeze, pour, and explore the sweet scents while observing floating peels and seeds. 
For an added twist, freeze citrus slices in advance to create cool, slippery textures for little hands. 

 6.    Sensory Painting  

Transform everyday nature items into creative painting tools. Pine boughs, twigs, and dried leaves make excellent brushes and rollers when paired with washable paint. 
Set up easel paper indoors or outdoors and let your child explore the strokes and patterns made by each item. This activity combines sensory input, creativity, and experimentation, resulting in a one-of-a-kind winter masterpiece. 

Winter is full of sensory-rich opportunities, sometimes you just need to look a little closer! These DIY activities help children build confidence, connect with nature, and express their creativity. Whether indoors or outdoors, winter nature play brings a sense of wonder to even the chilliest days. 

 

Posted on: Tuesday December 9th, 2025

Posted by: Kids & Company