Fun Winter Activities for Kids: How to Make a Snow Castle

One of the more fun winter activities for kids is to build a snow castle and then let their imaginations run wild while using it. Snow castles are pretty easy to make if their is an available quantity of snow and temperatures cold enough to ensure it will last without melting. The only tools necessary to build a snow castle are a straight-edged board, a square plastic box of appropriate dimensions, a good pair of water-proof gloves and a misting spray bottle filled with cold water. One of the best aspects of building a snow castle is that it has many uses - ranging from a good protective shelter for a snowball fight to an excellent vehicle in which to explore individual imaginations and participate in fantasy based play.

A good idea prior to attempting to build a snow castle is to do a little research on the various types of designs, and determine which is best suited to the age group of the children participating in the project. If little adult assistance is available, it is best to keep the design basic so that failure will be avoided. If an adult is willing to provide extensive help, a snow castle can quickly turn into a work of art that is certain to become the envy of the neighborhood. In either instance it is imperative to build a snow castle that is not excessively high, as snow can be quite heavy in weight and if a castle wall falls a child can be injured. A good height for a snow castle is in the 4 to 5 foot range, making certain that walls are packed tightly with a wide base for good balance.

Begin building a snow castle by taking a plastic container of the appropriate size (12" x 9" is perfect) and packing snow into it tightly, smoothing away the excess with the edge of a wooden board. Overturn the container onto the ground firmly, and repeat the process until the outline of the snow castle is made. On the second tier of blocks, stagger them so that they hold the first level together. Continue this process until the snow castle is build up to the desired size. On the top level of blocks, skip every other one so the appearance of a real castle is created.

When finished building the snow castle, take a quart-sized spray bottle filled with cold water and lightly spray the snow castle in a misting manner on both sides. Wait an hour and repeat this step again, as it will make the snow castle stronger and last longer should the weather warm up.