15 Winter Solstice Activities For Kids

Looking for simple and meaningful Winter Solstice activities to celebrate the shortest day of the year? Below, you’ll find easy Winter Solstice crafts, STEM projects, outdoor ideas, and traditional Yule activities perfect for the classroom or home.

Winter Solstice Activities

💡 Want everything planned out for you? Grab our printable Winter Solstice Project Pack for hands-on STEAM activities with photos and instructions.

Solstice Symbols to Explore

Three ancient structures are famously connected to the Winter Solstice:

• Stonehenge (England): Aligned with the sunrise on the Winter Solstice.
• Newgrange (Ireland): A stone passageway illuminated by the rising solstice sun.
• Maeshowe (Scotland): A chambered cairn that fills with sunlight at sunset during the solstice.

Kids can look at photos, compare the structures, and learn how ancient people used the sun to mark seasonal changes.

🔎 Bonus: Stonehenge streams its Winter Solstice sunrise each year—look for the broadcast on their official YouTube channel.

Winter Solstice STEM Challenge: Build Stonehenge

Challenge kids to build their own model of Stonehenge using recycled and household materials.

Materials:
Cardboard, index cards, dominoes, cups, wooden blocks, LEGO bricks, or anything from your recycling bin.

💡 Encourage students to design a stable structure, adjust pieces, and experiment with different arrangements.

Burning a Yule Log for the Winter Solstice (Plus a Simple Craft Version!)

Learn about the rich history that connects the Yule log to the winter solstice here.

A Yule log can be as simple as a piece of firewood. You can grab a firewood bundle at the store, pick one up at a local tree farm, or use a fallen branch from your yard.

If you prefer a craft project, try making our Yule log decoration instead. You might even choose to burn your log in an outdoor fire pit and roast s’mores as part of your winter solstice celebration.

Did you know the Yule log tradition also continues today in the form of festive Yule log cakes?

💡 Try our printable Yule Log Craft for a quick and fun solstice decoration.

Make Winter Solstice Ice Lanterns

Lighting the darkness is one of the most recognizable Winter Solstice traditions. Kids can create glowing luminaries or ice lanterns to brighten the longest night.

Try one of these simple ideas:

• Paper cup luminaries
• Swedish snowball lanterns
• Mason jar lanterns with battery tea lights
• White paper bag luminaries with cut-out designs

Let kids create their own patterns and light them on the solstice evening.

The tradition of making luminaries, lighting candles, and creating ice lanterns for the winter solstice can be entertaining for kids, lighting up the dark day.

Decorate the Outdoors for the Solstice

Celebrate the season outside with nature-inspired activities:

• Make birdseed ornaments to hang around your yard
• Decorate an outdoor tree with wildlife-friendly treats
• Build a simple DIY bird feeder
• Create ice ornaments to hang on branches

These hands-on projects help kids appreciate winter wildlife while connecting with nature.

Winter Solstice Decorations and Crafts

Set the mood indoors with beautiful solstice-themed crafts. These projects work well for classroom displays or cozy at-home celebrations.

Snowflake Crafts

• Make a 3D Paper Snowflake
• Create a Crystal Snowflake for winter science
• Use tape resist painting to make winter solstice art
• Colorful coffee filter snowflakes
• Make these fun popsicle stick snowflake ornaments
• Download paper snowflake templates to cut and decorate

Other Seasonal Crafts

• Learn how to draw snowflakes
• Try a classic orange pomander
• Download our Winter Solstice coloring sheet
• Try our snowflake doodle coloring sheet

Try some winter solstice art and create beautiful decorations to display!

Winter Solstice Books for Kids

Add meaningful read-alouds to your celebration:

• The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer
• The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
• The First 12 Days of Winter by Nancy Adkins

What Is the Winter Solstice?

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It happens when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun. This year, the solstice occurs on December 21st.

Earth’s tilt affects how much sunlight each hemisphere receives, creating the seasons. While the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter, the Southern Hemisphere celebrates the Summer Solstice.

How the Winter Solstice Works

• Earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5 degrees.
• During the Winter Solstice, the northern hemisphere tilts away from the sun.
• This results in less daylight and a lower sun angle.
• After the solstice, daylight slowly increases again.
• This turning point has been celebrated for thousands of years across many cultures.

Simple Winter Solstice Traditions for Kids

These ideas help kids celebrate the return of the light and the changing season:

• Reflection or Meditation: Set intentions for the year ahead.
• Bonfire or Candle Lighting: Light candles or gather around a fire to symbolize returning sunlight.
• Solstice Feast: Prepare a seasonal meal with winter fruits, root vegetables, or soups.
• Nature Walk: Explore winter landscapes and observe signs of seasonal change.
• Yule Log: Decorate or burn a Yule log to celebrate the rising sun.
• Solstice Decorations: Use evergreens, pinecones, and candles for natural decor.
• Stargazing: Enjoy the long night and look for winter constellations.
• Small Gift Exchange: Share simple handmade or nature-inspired gifts.
• Drumming or Music: Celebrate with rhythm and sound.