January Family Bucket List: 40 Fun & Easy Ideas to Kick Off the New Year with Your Kids
Discover 40 fun and easy January family bucket list ideas for kids of all ages. Cozy indoor activities, winter fun, crafts, and simple ways to connect all month long (plus a free printable version at the end!)
January can feel like a long, chilly month, especially when you’re home with toddlers, preschoolers, or big kids who still have lots of energy to burn. But it’s also one of the best times of the year to slow down, reconnect as a family, and create new traditions together.
Whether you’re chasing cozy indoor days, fun winter activities, or simple ideas that get your kids excited about the fresh start of a new year, this January Family Bucket List is packed with easy, low-cost things you can do all month long.
Prefer a printable version? Scroll to the end of the post to grab one that’s perfect to hang up on the fridge and check off the fun as you go.
Why Make a January Bucket List?
After the excitement of the holidays, January can feel quiet — sometimes too quiet. A monthly bucket list helps parents:
- Create fun things to look forward to
- Build family connection through simple activities
- Prevent long winter days from feeling boring or stressful
- Ease the transition back to routines after holiday break
The best part? Every idea on this list is low-prep and kid-friendly, making it perfect for busy families.
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.
40 Fun & Easy January Family Bucket List Ideas
Before we dive in, here’s a quick reminder: You don’t need to do everything! Pick 5–10 ideas that fit your family, your budget, and your energy level. These bucket lists are meant to inspire, not overwhelm.
Ready? Let’s make some cozy memories.
- Kick Off the Year With a Family Vision Board Night: Grab old magazines, printables, glue, and let everyone create a simple vision board for the year. Kids love choosing pictures of things they want to learn, try, or experience. If you need inspiration, check out our list of winter boredom busters for kids.
- Go on a Neighborhood Winter Scavenger Hunt: Bundle up and explore your neighborhood searching for things like pinecones, animal tracks, winter birds, or icicles.
- Host a “Pajama Day” at Home: Stay cozy, read favorite books, make pancakes for dinner, and enjoy a slow day together.
- Build a Blanket Fort and Read Winter Books: Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love imaginative play, and winter-themed books often get overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
- Try a New Soup or Chili Recipe Together: Cooking is an easy way to involve kids in the kitchen. Let them stir, pour, and taste-test.
- Do a Winter Sensory Bin: Use fake snow or cotton balls, arctic animals, scoops, and cups.
- Make Homemade Hot Cocoa with Toppings: Set up a mini hot cocoa bar with marshmallows, sprinkles, and whipped cream.
- Visit a Local Nature Center or State Park: January hikes are beautiful: crisp, quiet, and perfect for spotting wildlife. Bring plastic grocery bags to pick up trash on the route. It’s a great way to start the year off.
- Create a Family Goals List for the Year: Simple prompts like “One place we want to visit” or “One thing we want to learn together” get everyone involved. If you need some help, The Moments That Mattered Workbook has really great prompts to follow.
- Have a Winter Craft Afternoon: Paint snowflakes, decorate paper mittens, or make cotton ball snowmen or other winter crafts.
- Bake Something Warm Together: Cookies, muffins, banana bread — anything that makes the house smell amazing. Boxed mixes and premade dough are more than ok!
- Do a Family Game Night: Pull out board games or try kid-friendly card games. Add popcorn and make it a tradition.
- Explore a New Playground or Indoor Play Space: Perfect for shaking off winter wiggles.
- Feed the Birds: Make simple bird feeders from toilet paper tubes, peanut butter, and birdseed.
- Have a Cozy Movie Night: Pick a winter-themed movie or a family classic and snuggle up under blankets.
- Try Ice Painting: Freeze water in a tray with popsicle sticks, then let kids paint with the colorful ice.
- Create a “New Year Memory Jar”: All year long, write down moments you want to remember. Read them next December as a sweet way to reflect on another year of wonderful memories.
- Make Snowflakes Out of Coffee Filters: Easy for little hands and mess-free and surprisingly easy! Learn how to make coffee filter snowflakes here.
- Have a Family Dance Party: Turn up the music and let everyone pick a song.
- Visit the Library and Join a Winter Reading Challenge: Let each child choose new books to explore.
- Make a Simple STEM Project: Try building with marshmallows and toothpicks or freezing toys in ice and letting kids rescue them.
- Do a Winter Photo Challenge: Kids love being the photographer! Even toddler-safe digital cameras work great.
- Have a Family “Yes Day” (With Limits): Let your kids choose meals or activities for the day. Great for building connection and letting your kids feel like they get to drive for the day.
- Go Star Gazing on a Clear Night: Winter skies are stunning and easier to see thanks to early sunsets.
- Make Homemade Play Dough: Add winter scents like peppermint or vanilla.
- Try “Snowball Toss” Indoors: Use soft white socks or cotton balls to create a fun tossing game.
- Declutter Toys Together: Donate gently used items and make room for new routines.
- Set Up an Indoor Obstacle Course: Use pillows, painter’s tape, and couch cushions.
- Make Handprint or Footprint Art: A sweet way to capture little moments of childhood. No special theme is needed; just have fun with it.
- Host a Family Puzzle Day: Choose a puzzle big enough for everyone to help.
- Visit a Local Museum on a Discount Day: Many museums offer free or low-cost options in January.
- Build a Snowman (Real or Fake!): If you don’t have snow, try stacking cups, boxes or balloons.
- Have a “New Year, New Recipe” Dinner Night: Let kids help pick the meal.
- Do a Winter Walk with Hot Drinks: Hot cocoa or warm apple cider makes cold weather more magical.
- Try Watercolor Resist Art: Use white crayon and watercolors for beautiful winter-themed pictures.
- Make a Family Gratitude List: A great way to start the year with intention.
- Create Frozen Outdoor Decorations: Freeze colored water in silicone molds and hang them outside.
- Have a Picnic… Indoors!: Lay out a blanket and enjoy lunch on the living room floor.
- Try a New Family Tradition: January is the perfect time to start one — like a monthly family night. My own family started “pizza Friday’s” this year and it’s been a huge hit.
- Plan a Fun Winter Day Trip: Visit a nearby town, go ice skating, or try snow tubing if it’s available near you.
Get the Free Printable January Bucket List
Our bucket lists are designed with busy families in mind. As a mom of three, I know how much easier a printable version you can hang on the fridge makes it when it comes to adding in a few fun activities during the month.
Just enter your email below and I’ll send the full printable January bucket list right to your inbox. Hang it up somewhere you’ll see it regularly!
This free printable list is free for you to use, but ONLY for personal use.
Final Thoughts: Make January Cozy, Fun, and Full of Connection
You don’t need big plans or perfect routines to make January special. Kids remember the simple moments, like the cocoa nights, the silly dance parties, the afternoons spent playing in blanket forts.
Choose a few ideas from this January Family Bucket List, sprinkle them throughout the month, and enjoy watching your kids light up through even the coldest days of winter.
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