Snowy Day Activities to Do with Kids

When it snows, the outdoors becomes a whole new type of playground for kids. They can build snowmen, snow forts, and go sledding. But if you live in a place where snow lingers for months, the same old snow day activities can start to lose their appeal. These snow games and activities allow kids to use the snow and ice as supplies to play in new and fun ways, keeping them entertained and active in the dreary winter months.

Mini Snowmen
This is a fun activity to do indoors or out, depending on how your kids are holding up in the cold temperatures. It's also great for little ones who can't build a full-sized snowman or for snowfalls without much accumulation.

You'll Need:
Fresh snow
Small scoop or melon-baller
Tiny snowman accessories: mini stones or chocolate chips for the eyes, nose, and mouth; small twigs for the arms; yarn or ribbon for a scarf; etc.

Directions:
1. Gather up a fresh bowl of snow and some cookie sheets or another flat surface (use a sheet with a lip for indoors to catch the melting snow).
2. Scoop up small, packed snowballs and stack them two or three high to make your snowmen.
3. Decorate them with whatever you have on hand and enjoy!

Tip: These would also be cute lined up in an empty window box or porch planter for a festive, wintry decoration that you and the neighbors can enjoy.

Colored Ice Ornaments
Winter doesn't have to be so white; give your yard a festive, party atmosphere by hanging these colored ornaments from trees, bushes, porch awnings, or anywhere else that could use a fun pop of color this time of year.

You'll Need:
Water
Food Coloring
Shallow Plastic Containers, Lids, or Ice Cube Trays
Heavy-duty string or yarn

Directions:
1. Mix water with the desired amount of food coloring in a pitcher or other container with a pour spout (1 container per color).
2. Pour the colored water into various containers.
3. Place a long piece of yarn (at least 12 inches) into each water-filled container.
4. Set the containers in a freezer or outside and wait until they're completely frozen.
5. Pop out your ice ornaments and hang them outside from the attached yarn. You could even string them together to make a party bunting.

Tip: Experiment with different sizes of containers. While larger containers will take longer to freeze, the effect of various sizes and colors hanging together is pretty and interesting to look at.

Ice Bowling
When it snows, flat ground is terrible for sledding, but perfect for this entertaining winter activity.

You'll Need:
Water
Food Coloring (optional)
Quart- and Half Gallon-sized Cartons for milk, juice, etc.
A playground ball (soccer and basketballs work fine as well)

Directions:
1. Fill each container with water as high as you'd like to make your bowling pins. Add food coloring to each container and stir (optional).
2. Place the cartons in the freezer or outside and wait until they're completely frozen.
3. When they've frozen solid, cut off the cartons from the ice; these are your bowling pins.
4. Pick a flat stretch of ground and set up your pins on one end. Draw a line in the snow as the start line, and take turns ice bowling. If you don't have ten pins for traditional scoring, simply give yourself a point for each pin you knock down.

Tip: Make your pins different colors and assign point values to each color (i.e. red is one point, blue is two, etc.).

Snow Painting
Take the fun (and mess!) of painting outside by using snow as your blank canvas.

You'll Need:
Water
Food coloring
Large paint brushes OR spray bottles
Bowls or small buckets (if using brushes)

Directions:
1. Fill bowls or buckets (if using brushes) or spray bottles with water.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring to each one to make your colors.
3. Brush or spray the snow outside with your "paints" to make pictures in the snow.

Tip: Try painting a face and clothes on a snowman, or making a snow angel and painting it to make a self-portrait.