Eight Ideas for Fun in the Snow

There's nothing like the excitement of the season's first snowfall. Kids and adults alike bundle up and go outside to enjoy the fresh, beautiful snow painting the world around them white. Unfortunately, the thrill is usually short-lived and parents are left with bored, housebound kids. After all, how many snowballs or snowmen can a kid build before it becomes monotonous? These eight ideas for fun in the snow will help you take advantage of the winter weather and give your kids some new ways to play in the snow. So bundle them up, and get them outdoors for some fun in the snow!

1. Carve out a circle and play tag in the snow. Make a large circle in the snow by shuffling your feet and divide it two ways (horizontally and vertically). Players for this snowy version of tag are only allowed to run in the lines you've drawn.

2. Have a scavenger hunt in the snow. Hide several brightly colored objects outside and cover them lightly with snow. Make clues to lead to the hiding spots for each one and enclose them in a waterproof plastic bag. Start the kids off with the first clue, and bury each of the other clues with the objects. The buried clue should lead to the next location, and so on. The card found with the final prize should lead them indoors where you have a tasty treat and warm drink waiting. To make the digging easier, arm each kid with his or her own dustpan to use as a snow shovel.
*Tip: Be sure to make a master list in case any clues or objects get lost.

3. Fill a squirt gun or spray bottle with colored water (just add food coloring), and let them paint. Be sure to set limits on what can or cannot be painted, such as no squirting cars, the house, pets, or each other. This idea works great for coloring their own snowman or snow fort, or for simply creating masterpieces in the snow. Not only will the children have a blast, you will have the most colorful yard on the block!

4. Organize sled pulling relays. This game can be played in the snow or on an ice-skating rink. Pair the kids in teams of two. One child rides on the sled and the other stands in front and pulls her partner. Once they make it around the designated area, have the kids switch places and race again so that the rider becomes the puller. Whichever team gets around both times the quickest is the winner.

5. Go bowling outside. The great thing about snow is that when it's packable, it can be formed into almost any shape. Get the kids to help pack the snow into several bowling pins, miniature snowpeople, or any other shape they choose. Flatten out an area in the yard, and set up the snow pins at one end. Let them use a soccer ball or small rubber ball and bowl away.

6. Build a snow village for younger kids' toys. Who says sand toys are only for sunny days? Bring out the buckets and simple sand castle molds, and help younger children create a small village with houses and roads. Once the village is frozen solid, kids can add their own water-resistant toy cars, people, and animals.

7. Take throwing snowballs to a whole new level by creating a large target in the snow. Fill spray bottles with food coloring and water (use three different colors). Have the kids stomp out a flat circle in the snow and draw a large bull's-eye, making each ring a different color so it will easier to keep score. Make small point markers out of sticks and assign point values to each ring. Designate an adult or teenager to keep score, give each player the same number of snowballs to throw, and let them played until someone reaches the predetermined number.

8. On days when it is too chilly to play outside, bring buckets of snow inside. Set up a play kitchen or sand and water table in the kitchen, or use the bathtub to hold the snow. Dress the kids accordingly, with waterproof clothing, gloves, etc. and let them enjoy the snow while keeping warm indoors.

Resources:
"Winter Fun and Games" by FamilyFun
Anne Feenstra, "12 Things to Do in the Snow" at Power to Change
"Snow and Ice Games" by FamilyFun