TinyStepper

Newspaper Snowball Fight

At a glance: Scrunch newspaper into balls and have a wild indoor throwing battle. A 10-minute, high-energy indoor activity for ages 18m–4y.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 18m-4y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

18m–4y10 minshigh energyindoorsome mess

Tear pages of old newspaper, scrunch them into balls, and have a full-on indoor snowball fight. Scrunching the paper is a brilliant fine motor workout in itself, and the throwing, dodging, and collecting burns huge amounts of energy. Because the 'snowballs' are soft and light, this is one of the safest throwing games you can play indoors.

Best for this moment

when your toddler needs to move and burn energy, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

Set out basket or bin and newspaper before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in emotional regulation.

More help for this situation

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather a stack of old newspapers or scrap paper
  • Sit together and scrunch pages into tight balls — make at least 20
  1. Gather a stack of old newspapers or scrap paper
  2. Sit together and scrunch pages into tight balls — make at least 20
  3. Divide the room in half with a line of cushions or a piece of string
  4. Each player takes a pile of snowballs to their side
  5. Count to three and start throwing — the aim is to get all your snowballs onto the other side
  6. Set a timer for 2 minutes, then count whose side has fewer snowballs — they win!
  7. Collect all the balls into a bin together — make cleanup part of the game

Why it helps

Scrunching paper into balls strengthens the intrinsic hand muscles needed for pencil grip and fine motor precision. The throwing action develops shoulder stability and cross-body coordination, while the fast-paced dodging and collecting provides the kind of intense proprioceptive input that helps overexcited or dysregulated toddlers burn off excess energy and return to a calmer state.

Variations

  • Wrap a small surprise inside one special snowball — whoever finds it wins a bonus point.
  • Play 'snowball basketball' — toss balls into a laundry basket from increasing distances.
  • Use different paper types — tissue paper, foil, cereal box card — and compare the sounds they make.

Safety tips

  • Use only newspaper or scrap paper — avoid glossy magazines with staples or sharp edges.
  • Ensure your toddler does not put paper in their mouth, especially younger children.
  • Supervise cleanup carefully to collect all paper balls, preventing slipping hazards.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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