Fun Winter Activities for Kids: How to Build a Snowman

While the majority of adults view the cold of winter with general disdain, kids universally see the cold weather as an opportunity to get out of going to school due to snow days, and delight in the chance to build snowmen. To a casual observer, all snowmen are created equally but in reality this is far from the truth - a snowman has a unique personality and demeanor that is unique to it's creator in both appearance and it's overall artistic statement. A well-built snowman lasts in it's designated form for much longer than just a few brief hours, after all, in the eyes of a small child a snowman is a magical entity that is only limited in it's presence by imagination. To make a lasting snowman is to make a lifelong impact upon a child's psyche, in terms of what they endeavor and how it's seemingly temporary status can result in a cherished family memory.

How to build a snowman begins with making certain that there is an adequate amount of snow present to enable a snowman of decent size. While smaller snowmen can be made, to kids bigger is always better and a larger snowman takes longer to melt. Gather a large mount of snow from a grassy area into a pile, and use the bare spot as the location of the snowman. Simply make a snowball packed tightly and roll it in the snow pile adding and pressing snow as you go to make it larger. When this gets to be about the size of a basketball, place it onto the bare spot and pack snow onto it a handful at a time until the base is of the desired size.

Using a wooden board or shovel, flatten the top of the snowman base to enable a level surface for the next snowball. Repeat the process you used to make the base, this time making the second piece about two-thirds the size of the first, and then place it atop the base. Continue this until the snowman is build up to the height that is desired. Using a spray bottle filled with cold water, lightly spray the snowman. When the water freezes, it will help hold the snowman together firmly.

When the body of your snowman is complete, the kids can create the eyes, nose and mouth by using buttons and a carrot, and a scarf around the snowman's neck is always a nice touch. Parents should be prepared, because once kids see the snowman they have built, they will likely decide it needs a companion.