What to do with kids in Gatineau in winter? 9 family outing ideas
Winter has arrived, the snow is falling, and the children are starting to get restless in the house?
If you are looking for things to do with children in Gatineau in winter , good news: the Gatineau, Aylmer and Ottawa region offers a lot of opportunities to enjoy the cold season.
And a winter outing doesn't necessarily mean spending four hours outside freezing!
You can alternate between a creative activity in the warmth, a visit to the farm in the snow, a winter walk, sledding or a cultural outing.
Here are 9 winter activity ideas to do with children in Gatineau and the Ottawa-Gatineau region .
1. Painting a ceramic tile in the warmth of a mobile workshop bus
When it's -15°C, snowing, or you simply want a more relaxing activity, ceramic painting is an excellent way to get out of the house without spending the whole afternoon outside.
At Ferme Éco des Champs, in the Aylmer sector of Gatineau , our ceramic painting workshop has been set up in a real bus.
Yes, a bus!
Inside, children and adults choose their ceramic piece, sit down at a table and decorate it in their own way.
Cups, bowls, figurines, animals and other items are available depending on stock.
No need to know how to draw.
The children choose their colours, take their brushes and let their imagination run wild.
And parents can obviously paint too.
In fact, that's one of the things we like most about this activity: it's not just an activity to keep the children busy .
Parents, grandparents and children can actually do something together.
Once your creation is finished, we take care of the baking.
A few days later, you get back a real finished ceramic piece that you can use at home.
A particularly enjoyable activity in winter
It's snowing outside.
The bus windows overlook the farm.
Inside, people paint quietly around large tables.
It's a completely different way to enjoy a winter day in Gatineau.
Add this to your list of indoor activities with kids in Gatineau this winter.
2. Discover the farm under the snow
A farm in winter looks nothing like a farm in July.
And that's precisely what makes it interesting.
The snow completely changes the landscape.
The buildings, fences, paths and enclosures take on a different look, and the children discover that life on the farm continues even when the garden is asleep.
At Ferme Éco des Champs , a winter outing can become an opportunity to get some fresh air, observe the animals and discover the farm in a completely different setting.
Dress the children warmly:
snow pants;
boots;
mittens;
toque;
neck warmer.
And accept from the outset that they may come back with red cheeks.
That's kind of the point.
Our favorite combination?
A bit of farm work outside + a ceramics activity indoors.
The children enjoy the snow, discover the animals, then get on the bus to paint.
For families looking for an original winter activity in Gatineau , this is an outing that combines creativity, animals and the outdoors in the same day.
Outdoor activities and access to certain areas of the farm may vary depending on the weather, site conditions and seasonal schedule.
3. Go play outside in Gatineau Park
It's impossible to talk about what to do in Gatineau in winter with children without mentioning Gatineau Park.
Snowshoeing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing and other activities allow you to enjoy the snow just minutes from the urban areas of Gatineau and Ottawa.
The National Capital Commission maintains various winter trail networks and routes in the region. Some activities and trails require a pass, so it's best to check conditions and access before you go.
With young children, there's no need to plan a three-hour expedition.
A short walk in the snow followed by a hot chocolate can become just as memorable an outing.
The secret to keeping children happy in winter?
Stop while they still find it amusing.
4. Go sledding
There is something almost universal about sliding.
There's no need to explain the activity to a child at length.
A slope.
A sled.
Snow.
Here we go.
The City of Gatineau offers a variety of outdoor activities and winter programs in several areas of the city. Its winter programming includes various ways to enjoy the cold season for free or at a low cost.
Ottawa also has officially designated tobogganing sites. The City recommends using these assessed locations rather than a randomly chosen slope.
Add a thermos of hot chocolate and you've probably just scored several points with the kids.
5. Go ice skating as a family
Another winter classic in Gatineau and Ottawa: skating .
Even with a beginner child, a short trip to an outdoor ice rink can become a beautiful family tradition.
Several winter facilities and activities are offered in different sectors of Gatineau during the cold season.
In Ottawa, the City also offers various public and family skating opportunities, including some free activities for youth and their chaperones depending on the schedule.
No need to aim for an Olympic performance.
Three laps on the ice rink, a few falls and a hot chocolate might be enough.
6. Enjoy a real snow day
Sometimes, we look so hard for an "activity" that we forget the most obvious one.
It's snowing. Go outside and play in the snow.
Build a fort.
Build a snowman.
Dig tunnels.
Find animal tracks.
Organize a snowball fight.
Take a ride with a small sled.
Children don't always need a spectacular place or an organized activity.
A simple outing can become extraordinary when given time to explore.
And in a region like the Outaouais, where winter is truly part of the landscape, learning to love it rather than simply endure it completely changes the season.
7. Visit a museum in Gatineau or Ottawa
There will obviously be those winter days when going out for long periods is simply not pleasant.
Extremely cold.
Wind.
Black ice.
Storm.
This is where museums become particularly interesting.
The Ottawa-Gatineau region boasts an exceptional concentration of family-friendly cultural activities and interactive museums. Ottawa Tourism recommends several indoor activities and museums among its winter family outings.
Depending on your child's interests, you can look for experiences around:
of history;
of science;
of nature;
aviation;
of agriculture;
the arts;
money;
cultures of the world.
Alternating between very active outings and calmer activities also helps to keep winter interesting for several months.
8. Enjoy Winterlude and other winter events
The Ottawa-Gatineau region knows how to celebrate winter.
Each year, Winterlude transforms part of the region into a veritable winter playground, with various family activities that may include sculptures, games, slides and entertainment depending on the annual program.
In Gatineau, the City also offers various programs under the theme "Enjoy Winter" , with activities in several sectors.
This is a great opportunity to go out with the kids without necessarily spending a lot of money.
Dates and activities change from year to year, so always check the schedule before your visit.
9. Spend half your day outdoors, half indoors
This might be our favorite formula for a winter day with children.
Don't choose between an outdoor or indoor activity.
Do both.
For example :
Morning: outing in the snow.
Lunch: dinner or hot chocolate.
Afternoon: creative activity indoors.
Children expend their energy outdoors, then naturally slow down when they settle down to create.
At Ferme Éco des Champs, this is exactly the spirit we like to bring to winter outings:
Get some fresh air, see the animals, enjoy the snow… then get into the workshop bus to paint a ceramic piece.
No need to wait for summer to go to the farm.
Winter can become a completely different experience.
What to do with children in Gatineau this winter?
So you have several options.
To create: painting on ceramics.
To see the animals: a trip to the farm.
To get moving: sledding, skating or winter hiking.
To enjoy the snow: Gatineau Park or simply a day outdoors.
To stay warm: museums and creative activities.
To do both: farm + ceramic bus.
The Gatineau and Ottawa region offers enough opportunities that you don't have to spend the whole winter waiting for spring to return.
A different winter activity in Gatineau
Looking for something a little different for your next family outing?
Come and discover the Eco Farm of the Fields in Aylmer .
Enjoy the winter setting of the farm and discover our ceramic painting workshop bus , a warm space where children and adults can create their own piece.
This is an ideal activity for:
a parent-child outing;
a teaching day;
a family weekend;
an activity with grandparents;
an outing with friends;
a cold or snowy day;
an activity during the winter holidays;
spring break week.
Book a ceramic painting activity in Gatineau
📍 Éco des Champs Farm , Aylmer Sector, Gatineau, Quebec
Choose your ceramic, your colors and your brush.
Then we take care of the cooking.
→ Book a ceramic painting session
→ Discover farm visits
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do with children in Gatineau in winter?
It is possible to do ceramic painting, visit a farm, go sledding, skating, walk in the snow, visit Gatineau Park or discover the museums of Gatineau and Ottawa.
What indoor activities can I do with children in Gatineau during the winter?
Ceramic painting is an indoor activity suitable for both children and adults. At Ferme Éco des Champs in Aylmer, the workshop is set up in a real bus.
Can we go to the farm in winter?
A winter visit offers the chance to discover the farm and animals in a very different environment than in summer. However, activities and access may vary depending on the weather, conditions, and seasonal schedule.
What to do in Gatineau when it's very cold?
Very cold days are perfect for enjoying an indoor activity such as ceramic painting, a museum visit, a library visit, or another creative activity.
What to do with children in Ottawa and Gatineau during the winter?
The Ottawa-Gatineau region makes it easy to combine indoor and outdoor activities: museums, skating, sledding, hiking, winter events, creative activities and family outings.
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