When the snow starts falling, it can feel magical for kids. From making snow angels to having snowball fights, snow days provide plenty of fun outdoor activities to enjoy. Here are some of the best things to do with children when it snows this winter.
Build a Snowman
Building a snowman is a classic snow day activity if you are long-term fostering. Start by rolling up snowballs of different sizes – one big ball for the body, a medium-sized ball for the head, and a small ball for the head. Stack the balls on top of each other, with the largest on the bottom. Decorate your snowman with sticks for arms, rocks for the face, an old hat, scarf, and any other items you have on hand. Your kids will love watching their snowman come to life! For an extra fun touch, use food colouring and water in spray bottles to paint designs on the snowman.
Make Snow Angels
Snow angels are simple to make and fun for young kids. Have your child lie down in an undisturbed area of snow and sweep their arms and legs back and forth to create an angel shape in the snow. You can even organise a snow angel making contest to see who can make the most or biggest snow angels. For an easy twist, add food colouring to the snow first for colourful snow angels.
Go Sledding
One of the best ways to enjoy the snow is by sledding down hills. Find a nice slope in your local park to spend the afternoon sledding. If you don’t own sleds, make your own by using a plastic sheet or plastic trays. You can even slide down on inner tubes or flat pieces of cardboard in a pinch. For added fun, build snow ramps to sled over.
Make a Snow Fort or Igloo
Kids will love playing outside all day if you build a snow fort or igloo. Have your children help pile up and pack down snow into thick walls. Igloos are dome-shaped structures carved out of packed snow, while forts can take any shape. Let your kids decorate the inside of their snow structure with sticks, rocks, and other items as their pretend play sets their imagination free. An afternoon of fort and igloo building provides hours of fun!
Have a Snowball Fight
What better way to enjoy the snow than with a snowball fight? Divide into teams and use bin lids as shields during your battle. Or build a snow wall to hide behind. Set ground rules like no ice balls or throwing at faces. When you finally call a truce, come together to build a snowman battlefield with your leftover snowballs. Snowball fights help kids burn off energy in the cold weather!
Go on a Winter Nature Walk
If your kids need a break from high-energy snow activities, take a peaceful winter nature walk. Look for animal tracks and see how many kinds you can identify. Observe how trees and plants look different covered in snow and ice. Let children use magnifying glasses to inspect the patterns on snowflakes up close. A winter walk encourages kids to appreciate the quiet beauty of the snow.
The possibilities for snow day fun are endless! Let your kids’ creativity shine by mixing up classic snow activities with new ideas. With the right cold weather gear, you and your children can enjoy memorable times playing in the snow together all winter long.
