Fun Winter Activities with Bean Bags: Make, Play, and Enjoy!
Winter is the perfect time to bring fun, engaging activities indoors or to a snowy backyard, and bean bags are a versatile, budget-friendly tool for creative play. Whether you're looking for new ways to entertain the kids, organize a family game day, or try a quick DIY project, this blog has you covered! Below, we'll share instructions for making your own bean bags, offer easy alternatives if you don't have them on hand, and provide a list of games and activities that will keep everyone active and entertained.
How to Make Your Own Bean Bags
Creating your own bean bags is a simple and rewarding DIY activity. Follow the steps in this helpful guide from The Kim Six Fix: How to Sew Perfect Bean Bags for Only $1.
If you're not a fan of sewing, don't worry! You can make quick, no-sew bean bag alternatives using items you already have at home:
Rolled-up socks
Small baggies filled with scrap fabric
Tied-up fabric pouches filled with unpopped popcorn
These alternatives are soft, safe, and just as effective for the games listed below.
Fun Bean Bag Games and Activities
Here are some fun and active ways to use your bean bags. These activities can be done indoors or outside, making them perfect for a snowy day or a cozy afternoon at home:
1. Tic Tac Toe Race
Create a giant tic tac toe grid using 4 pool noodles or tape. Divide players into two teams with 5 bean bags each (one colour for each team). Place the bean bags behind a starting line, and race to place them in the grid one at a time. The first team to get three in a row wins!
2. Hoop Toss
Use hula hoops as targets and practice throwing bean bags into them. Assign points to different hoops or make the game more challenging by increasing the distance.
3. Hopscotch
Replace the traditional stone or pebble with a bean bag for a softer, safer game of hopscotch. Use tape or chalk to create the hopscotch grid.
4. Volley Toss
For this game, you’ll need 4 players, 2 towels, and one bean bag. Use a piece of tape or a pool noodle to make a "net." Each team of two holds a towel at the corners and uses it to toss the bean bag back and forth over the net. Try to set a record for the longest rally!
5. Catch
Play a simple game of catch with a bean bag. Toss it in the air and try catching it with different body parts (like an elbow or knee) for a fun twist. For an added challenge, play with a partner and try juggling two bean bags at the same time.
6. Juggling
Start with one bean bag and see how many you can juggle as you practice. Need a tutorial? Check out Taylor Tries on YouTube for the video “Learn to Juggle 3 Balls - Beginner Tutorial.”
7. Hide and Seek
Hide bean bags around the house or yard, and let the kids race to find them. Whoever collects the most bean bags wins!
8. Hacky Sack
Challenge yourself to play hacky sack with a bean bag by bouncing it on your foot. See how many times you can keep it from falling to the ground!
9. Cornhole
Set up a cornhole board or improvise with a sturdy box. Place the board or box at an angle and increase your distance from the target for more of a challenge.
Bean bags are a simple and versatile addition to your indoor or outdoor play arsenal, offering endless opportunities for creativity, movement, and fun. Whether you make your own or use quick alternatives, these activities are perfect for winter days when you need to keep kids active and entertained. Gather your supplies, try out some of the games listed above, and enjoy hours of laughter and play with bean bags this winter!
Happy playing!
For more activity ideas and resources, visit the Lethbridge Plays website.