Well, winter has officially arrived. Last week, an arctic blast took over most of the country, sending temperatures plummeting and blanketing some areas with snow. So, how are we going to entertain the kids while the temperatures are frigid and there is snow on the ground? Here are some ideas for outdoor winter fun.
If there’s snow on the ground:
- Build a snowman
- Build a snow fort
- Make snow angels
- Have a snowball fight
- Write in the snow with colored water – mix water and food coloring in a squeeze bottle, then squirt it on the snow. They can decorate their snowman or snow fort too!
- Go sledding
- Make snow ice cream – mix 5-6 cups of snow with 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir and enjoy! Pop it in the freezer if it starts to melt.
If the kids are tired of playing in the snow:
- Go ice skating or teach the kids to skate – the best part of winter is you can bundle up and try an outdoor rink
- Go on a hike and take snowy pictures
- Admire the holiday decorations at night – pile the kids in the car in their pajamas, sip hot cocoa and drive through the neighborhoods. Check local websites to see if there’s a park/nature preserve/zoo near you that has light shows during the holidays. Our local paper usually has a list of neighborhoods with big light displays too.
- Do a good deed – this is time of year when charities or food banks are always looking for extra help. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, ring the bell for the Salvation Army, visit residents in a nursing home, help out at a local animal shelter, or even shovel a neighbor’s driveway. The possibilities are endless!
- Feed the birds – make a simple pinecone birdfeeder with peanut butter and birdseed. Get out the binoculars to see which birds visit.
All outdoor activities should be followed up with hot cocoa and snuggling by a fireplace. We hope you have a fun winter season!
