Idea Bag: Events & Programs

6 Ideas for Winter Activities

1. Snowman Contest

Hold a snowman or snow sculpture contest. Choose teams to compete. Consider prizes for special categories, like the snowman that looks most like the principal.

2. Winter Clothing Swap

Invite parents to bring clothing such as winter coats, mittens, and sweaters their children have outgrown.

3. Movie Festival

Family Movie Nights are a fun winter activity. Make yours into a festival by showing three movies with a similar theme or from the same series over the course of the winter. (Get more information on our free Family Movie Night planning kit.)

4. Indoor Golf

Think spring by setting up a mini-golf course in the school hallways. A simple setup built from carpet pieces and two-by-fours is great fun, and you can get as elaborate as you want—one PTO even built its own windmill.

5. Chili Cook-off

A chili cook-off is a tried-and-true winter event. Have parents enter, or ask local restaurants to participate. Encourage tasting, and have attendees vote on their favorite. Pair it with a silent auction if you want to run it as a fundraiser.

6. Grade-Level Socials

Offer parents with children in the same grade a chance to get acquainted with a parents’ night out, coffee, or other social event.

Other Events & Programs Ideas