What Can Children Do in the Snow?

Most children love playing outside, despite the weather. There are many benefits to outdoor winter activities for kids, including strengthening motor skills and improving overall health and muscle strength. It can be hard to get them entertained outside when it is snowing, and they can not do their normal activities like playing sports or riding their bikes. Having snowball fights can get a bit old, so here is a list of fun and creative snow activities for kids. Just be sure to bundle them up in a snow proof jacket, pants, and gloves before going out, so no one gets sick!

Make a Snow Castle

You can take the same buckets and shovels you use to build a sand castle on the beach and play with it in the snow. Have a contest amongst your family to see who can make the largest castle or work together to build a life-size fortress. Building snow castles is a fun way to bring out the creativity in your child and teach them patience as they take their time to make a royal structure.

Snow Art

Here is another creative activity to bring out your child’s inner artist. All you need is squirt bottles filled with water and a couple of drops of liquid gel food coloring, and you and your child can “paint” the snow. You can adjust the nozzle flow to spray narrower for lines or wider for mist. Your kids can paint a mural, play tic-tac-toe, or decorate their snow forts with their bottles.

Go Ice Bowling

Turn your driveway into a bowling alley by freezing ten bottles of water and a water-filled balloon. Set up the water bottles as pins and have your kids take turns rolling the water-filled balloon at them. You can turn this activity into a family bowling tournament to keep your kids occupied for a while and have them practice their math by keeping score.

Make a Snow Volcano

Chanel your inner science teacher and create a snowy explosion using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

Supplies:

• A small narrow plastic cup or old pill bottle
• Baking soda
• Dishwashing soap
• Red food coloring
• Vinegar

Directions:

1. Set the cup in the center of a snow pile and mound more snow around it to form a volcano shape with the top of the cup exposed.
2. Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda, a spoonful of dishwashing soap, and a couple of drops of food coloring to the cup.
3. Lastly, pour in a big splash of vinegar and watch the volcano erupt.

Build a Snowman

Building a snowman is a typical snow day activity, but you can take it up a notch with some snowman-centered games. One idea is to pin the nose on the snowman. A winter twist on pin the tail on the donkey, after you have built a snowman, take turns being blindfolded and seeing who places the carrot closest to where the snowman’s nose should go. Another fun activity is having a snowman fashion show. Take some old clothes and let your children dress up the snowman you all have made. You can also make it a competition and judge who dresses the snowman in the most fabulous outfit.

Search for Animal Tracks

Take a walk around your neighborhood or a local park and see what animals have been walking around the snow. Have your kids guess what animal they think left the track and where it may go. You can even bring a sketchbook and let your children draw the tracks for fun.

Snow Bathtub

Some kids do not like going outside when it is snowing because of the cold. If this is the case for your child, but you still want them to experience the snow, bring it inside to them. Using buckets or cups, fill your bathtub with snow so your child can play with it inside without making a mess. They can use cookie cutters to make snow shapes or toy shovels to build. This indoor snow activity is good for developing sensory skills.

Find more Fun Activities with Your Children

Snowy weather can be the perfect medium for fun and educational activities. These snow-centered activities will help keep your children entertained while allowing them to get creative and enjoy outdoor time. It is essential to encourage your kids to spend time outside in various weather situations, so they are comfortable outdoors year around.

If you are looking for a daycare to teach your children creativity and independent play, contact The Learning Experience to find a location near you. Learn more about The Learning Experience here, and find a daycare center near you by visiting Find a TLE Center.