Surviving winter with babies and toddlers in Berlin
Winter in Berlin can be a real challenge for parents of babies and toddlers. Between the short days, cold weather, and rain, it can be tough to find fun activities to keep your little ones entertained. You’re probably bored of reading the same books over and over again or playing with the same toys and wish you could go outside. While winter is mostly over, we still have a lot of rainy days and bad weather days ahead of us until summer finally arrives.
In this blog post, I’ll share my tried and tested indoor winter activities that are guaranteed to beat the winter blues and keep your little ones entertained. I’ve got you covered from cozy play spaces to creative ideas for winter fun at home.
Winter Can Be a Challenge for Parents
Winter can be a difficult season for anyone, but add a baby or toddler to the mix, and it can be a real challenge. The cold weather and short days can make it hard to get outside and enjoy all Berlin’s activities. And let’s be honest, when the rain starts pouring down, all you really want to do is curl up on the couch with a good book (or Netflix). But for parents of little ones, this just isn’t an option.
Babies and toddlers need stimulation and activities to keep their minds and bodies active, but finding the right balance during the winter can be hard. That’s where indoor activities come in.
The Benefits of Indoor Winter Activities
Winter may bring challenges, but it also provides the perfect opportunity for indoor fun with your little ones. Not only do indoor activities keep your babies and toddlers entertained, but they also provide a host of benefits that can help support their growth and development.
Indoor activities are a great way to stimulate their imagination and creativity. From imaginative play with toys to crafts and baking, indoor activities provide a safe and cozy space for your little ones to explore their imagination and let their creativity run wild. And let’s not forget the added bonus of snuggling up with them while they play!
Another benefit of indoor winter activities is bonding with your little ones. Whether you’re baking cookies together, playing a hide-and-seek game, or just cuddling up reading a book, indoor activities provide the perfect opportunity for quality time with your little ones.
Top indoor winter activities in Berlin
Berlin is a city that never fails to surprise you, and it’s no exception when it comes to indoor winter activities. From cozy play spaces to imaginative museums, there’s no shortage of things to do with your little ones during the winter months. There is much more here than the aquarium!
One of the most popular indoor activity in Berlin is visiting one of the city’s many museums. Whether it’s the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Technology, or the Museum of the Children, there’s something for everyone in Berlin’s museums. And with their interactive exhibits, your little ones will be entertained for hours! The MachMit Museum in Senefelderstraße is a popular destination.
Berlin also offers a lot of children’s theater that supports their development and is entertaining at the same time. Some options for babies and toddlers of all ages are offered at the GRIPS Theater in Moabit, the ATZE Musiktheater for children in Wedding or the Figurentheater Grashüpfer in Treptow.
A no-cost option is also probably at your local supermarket or DM! Some of them have a little play car at the entrance that you can let your toddler play on for a few minutes before and after you shop for groceries on the weekend. You don’t even need to put any money in and they will be happy and busy for a good half hour! Or a DM with a full play area in the kids’ section.
When making the most of Berlin’s indoor play spaces, the first step is to find one that’s right for your little ones. With so many options to choose from, it’s important to take the time to find a play space that matches your little one’s interests and developmental stage. Depending on the area you live in, you can choose from a number of cafes like the Kindercafe Spielzimmer, Familiencafe Emma und Paul, Kindercafe Kreuzzwerg or Raum Schwalbe. Encourage your little ones to explore, play with the toys, and participate in the activities. Indoor play spaces provide the perfect environment with soft play structures, toys, and activities for your little ones to play and learn.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the other amenities that indoor play spaces offer. From cozy seating areas to cafes serving delicious snacks, indoor play spaces provide the perfect environment for relaxing and recharge while your little ones play. So invite your mom friends to join you, so that you can enjoy a chat too.
Ideas for activities at home
Children don’t need much variety, they are happy with the same books and toys, so don’t worry or put yourself under pressure about offering them different things all the time.
If you are looking for free activities at home, here are some ideas:
You can arrange for a toy or book swap with some other kids or join a local library so that you have a variety of books and your apartment doesn’t get full.
Get creative with cartons, cut out a door and window for them to jump in and out of. Make a pillow fort, stack kitchen utensils or get them involved in some household chores. Children love helping to sort laundry, put away their toys and even chop vegetables (with a children’s knife). They see it as a fun activity and not as work.
I hope you got some good inspiration for what to do with your kids.
And don’t worry, summer will be here soon so you can go to the lakes, playgrounds and parks soon enough!
Stay up to date
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to learn about news and special offers!
No more confusion: Balance kids and career in Germany
Quick Links
© 2022 The Confused Mother