From the moment a snow day is called, you can be sure that your kids are going to want to do two things: drink hot cocoa and play outside. After all, who could resist a fresh white blanket of snow and an entire day off from school to do as you please? If you want to up your outdoor, cold-weather fun-having game, here are some new ideas on how to play in snow with your kids and actually have fun doing it this winter. Don’t forget to bring the baby along too — you’re about to earn that cup of cocoa this year!
How to play in snow without fancy winter gear
Snow activities for kids when you can't go outside
Sometimes it’s just too cold or hazardous to go outside and you need to wait out the storm until it’s safe. Snowy day activities are a great way to bring on the winter weather fun while remaining warm and cozy inside. These ideas may work particularly well for children with sensory processing concerns as the wet, cold snow or bright glare from snow and ice can pose a challenge when playing outdoors.
7. Get creative with frozen water balloons
If your kids are patient enough for delayed gratification, grab a few small water balloons, fill them with water and add food coloring. Set them outside in the snow overnight so they freeze completely. Once frozen, peel the balloons off of the colored ice balls, then let the kids play with them.
8. Make a birdfeeder
Combine crafts with science and make a bird feeder. Take an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, slather it with peanut butter, then sprinkle it thoroughly with birdseed. Though most of this activity takes place inside, the final product requires putting on boots and heading outdoors. Slide the roll onto a branch that you can see from a house window, so kids can watch as critters snack on their creation.
9. Make snow-inspired snacks
Anything with powdered sugar will work for a winter-themed snack idea. One fun option is using a tortilla as a snowflake canvas. Simply fold a large burrito-sized tortilla into a triangle shape and cut out bits and pieces as you would a paper snowflake. Pan-fry in a little bit of coconut oil or butter, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!
“Sometimes you just need fun things to get you through the long winter months, after the holiday season has passed,” Atlanta mom Kimberly Stroh wrote on her blog, Savy Mama Lifestyle. “Our family looks to indoor kitchen fun, games, and crafts. Make these Polar Bear Pretzels and theme an entire afternoon around learning about real polar bears.”
And a few final notes about winter weather safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents and caregivers to dress children in several thin layers to avoid the risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Boots, mittens, and gloves are must-haves.
“Layering is also important because if they’re playing outside, they may start to feel warm, and so they can take off a layer if they need to,” pediatric emergency medicine physician Lois Lee explained to Family Safety and Health Magazine.
Also, be sure to remind your kids not to climb into snow tunnels or caves they built, without an adult present. As structures melt, they can cave and fall in on children, posing an injury or suffocation risk.
