Creative Family Friendly Nature Activities for Shorter, Darker Days

It’s the end of the work day. You’re rushing home to spend precious time with your family, and it’s already dark. It can feel disheartening when it gets dark so early at this time of the year. But what if shorter and darker days actually open up new ways to connect with nature?

Staying connected to nature during the darker months and making an intentional effort to get outside is essential for maintaining and improving both your physical and mental health and that of your kids. 

In this post, I’ll share practical tips for outdoor family nature activities for shorter days, creative ways to enjoying nature indoors, and how to embrace nighttime adventures as a family, even with a busy schedule.

Bringing Nature Indoors

As a busy parent, even though I know that getting outside will make me feel better, there are days when I just want to stay indoors. Whether it is to balance your own parent energy, whether the weather really is just a little too cold or wet, or whether there are other competing time commitments, it’s ok to have those days. Invite nature into your home to stay connected year round. 

Here are 10 ideas for indoor nature-inspired activities:

1. Create a nature inspired art project 

Gather interesting leaves, branches, seed pods, rocks or any other finds during your outdoor adventures to save for this project. Prep scissors, craft paper, and even a glue gun for this. Be creative and let your kids run wild with what craft project they come up with. 

2. Decorate rocks

Painted rocks is a simple no fuss activity that the family can do together. Keep doing this and you’ll soon have an art exhibit on your windowsill or curbside for display. 

3. Start a windowsill or patio garden

I love gardening. It is my go-to for outdoor time without leaving my home. If you’ve been wanting to garden but don’t know how to get started, start here. You can involve your kids in creating one. Choose a few herbs that you like to eat or start with a few small succulents or indoor plants. Choose a windowsill in your house that gets good light throughout the day. Make sure that your pots or planter have good drainage. Water when the soil has just started to feel dry to prevent from overwatering. 

4. Watch nature documentaries

Cozy up on the couch watch a nature inspired documentary on Netflix, Disney +, or whichever streaming service you already subscribe to. These documentaries could be fun learning for your kids and yourself. 

5. Play puzzles or games that have nature themes

Find nature inspired jigsaw puzzles or board games to try. You may even find second hand items from a thrift store or online. These are my kids’ favorites. 

6. Camp indoors

Set up a tent in your living room for everyone to sleep in for a night or weekend. If you don’t have a tent, build a fort with blankets and pillows, which leads me to my next idea. 

7. Play outdoor make belief

Pretend to hike with your kids in the living room. Pretend to gather berries from the woods. Pretend to fish. Pretend that you are battling a snowstorm and everyone needs to work together to survive. Let your imagination run wild. 

8. Make leaf rubbings

Use the leaves you have gathered with your kids during outdoor adventures. Put a piece of paper over the leaves and use chalk or crayon to make an imprint. Notice the shape and veining of the leaves and differentiate it from one another

9. Create a nature museum

Display your collection of nature crafts or collected items in a corner of your home. Rotate out the items throughout the year to keep with a seasonal themed collection. 

10. Play nature soundtracks to mimic the outdoor ambiance

Listen to nature sounds on your phone or computer. Ask your kids to close their eyes and listen for specific insects and animals. Are they able to match the nature calls with the right creature? Are you? 

Do any of these ideas resonate with you? What are some other ways that your family has brought nature indoors? 

Outdoor Activities for Shorter Days

Fortunately, you can still keep up with all the outdoor activities that you’ve been doing throughout the year during the cooler months. You may just need to adjust when and where you go in your day. Perhaps finding an activity that is closer to home or getting up earlier and out the door sooner if it’s farther away. Pack warm clothes and snacks, bring a flashlight in case, and get out the door.

Here is a list of 10 outdoor activities to try during shorter days:

1. Go on a nature walk 

Choose a new trail or one that your family has been on many times, this time, pause and pay attention to what you are seeing, hearing, smelling. Are there seasonal sights, sounds, and smells that you didn’t notice at other times? Is there wildlife that you didn’t notice before? Is there a new creek during the wetter months?

2. Visit the snow

If it doesn’t snow where you live, plan a trip to a snow park or even a snowy spot on the side of the road. When I was growing up, my family would drive to the nearby mountains and find a patch of snow off the side of the road to sled, build snowmen, and play in. Borrow waterproof winter clothes from friends, family, or even your local facebook mom group. Or buy secondhand from your local thrift store.

3. Adventure with a nature scavenger hunt

Print out a scavenger hunt and bring it out during your next walk, playground date, picnic, or any other outdoor activity. I’ve got a fall and winter nature scavenger hunt that you can download and use during your adventures here. 

4. Find a local festival or street fair

Many cities and neighborhoods will have seasonal fairs or events that are often free to participate in. Perhaps there is a Christmas tree lighting or parade going on. Or there is a maker’s mart supporting local creatives who are selling their work. Perhaps there is a hot chocolate festival or a holiday market nearby. Follow your city or town’s local social media page where many of these events are promoted to stay in the loop.  

5. Explore a farmer’s market

Some cities have farmer’s markets year round. If yours does, you can make a weekly or monthly trip there to get your fruits and vegetables, support local farmers, and shop seasonally. 

6. Volunteer for a nature clean up

Nonprofits and community groups are always looking for volunteers. Are there any that are doing clean ups in the winter? If you have older kids, they may often be able to participate as well. Doing so keeps your family connected to nature and also encourages learning about environmental sustainability in your community. If it’s hard to commit the time with a volunteer group, take a bag and gloves with you during your regular activities and pick up trash that you see along the way. 

7. Watch the sunrise

If you’re getting ready for the work or school day, your family may be up before the sun comes up. Pause during the morning scramble and look outside as the morning rays start to trickle in. We did this recently and watched the beautiful orange, purple, and pink hues reflected off the clouds as the sun rose.

8. Take breakfast or lunch outside

This fun simple activity can be done year round. Have a meal on your backyard or balcony patio. Or pack it to go and sit at your favorite park. Bring some friends along who have kids and make a date out of it. Doing so helps build community and gets some fresh air for everyone.

9. Visit a local park or nature preserve

When you know that you need to get outside but don’t know what to do, visit your local park. This is something that I will always encourage. It’s often free, easily accessible, and sometimes even walking distance from your home. If there is a community nature preserve nearby, it can be a good way to learn about local wildlife and local plants that grow in your community. 

10. Walk around your neighborhood

If you don’t want to drive anywhere, simply walk around your neighborhood if it is safe to do so. Even a 15-20 minute walk around the block will help your family get their steps in, allow for some fresh air, and get you outside. 

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do at this time of the year?

Nighttime Nature Activities

Now what if you get home when it’s dark or have other time commitments during the day. There is a whole world of exploration that occurs at night. Bundle up and get outside. For some of these activities, you can stay ultra local and enjoy them right from your own backyard.

Here are 10 nighttime nature activities to try: 

1. Watch the sunset

Just like watching the sunrise, take a moment to watch the sunset together. Notice the colors in the sky and if you can see the moon.  

2. Go on a flashlight night walk

Put the family in visible or reflective clothing and grab some flashlights, one for each person. Set some ground rules like holding hands or stopping at intersections and get out the door. Search for the reflective eyes of nighttime critters. 

3. Visit the holiday lights

Whether in your own neighborhood or another nearby, marvel at the lights and decorations that are up for the season. 

4. Go stargazing

Pick a clear night and see if you can identify the constellations. If you’re not sure, you can use a stargazing app to help guide you. We use SkyView® Lite.

5. Observe phases of the moon

Learn more about the cycles of the moon and watch the crescent shrink and grow. 

6. Host a meteor shower watch party

Find out when the next meteor shower that is viewable from where you live through a site like space.com. 

7. Listen to nighttime nature sounds

Sit quietly in your backyard and pay attention to what you can hear. Are there crickets, cicadas, or other insects? Can you hear cats, owls, or other night critters? 

8. Engage in some shadow play

Make shadow puppets. Use your hands or cut out silhouettes on sticks. 

9. Watch the creepy crawlies

Explore the backyard at night. Are there night pollinators like moths busy at work? For my fellow gardeners, many garden pests can also show up at night like slugs, snails, and various caterpillars. So if you’re noticing that your vegetable garden has holes and bite marks, check at night for the culprit. 

10. Gather for nighttime storytelling

If you have a fire pit, gather around, roast marshmallows, and share stories. Read books by the firelight or make up a tale. 

Have you tried any of these nighttime adventures? What other ideas do you have?

Year-Round Nature Connection

Shorter and colder days doesn’t mean that nature goes away. Your family can still stay connected during these months through a variety of outdoor activities, indoor nature-inspired fun, and through nighttime adventures. It is an opportunity to continue to learn through the seasons and continue to stay connected with nature.

Which of these activities resonates with you? What are some other activities that you’ve done? Share these ideas with another family and I’ll see you outside!