Tips for Building a Snowman: Winter Fun for Kids

Winter is a time of year that most people start to think of playing outdoors in the snow. You can sled, ski and go snowshoeing for winter sun and exercise. Playing in the snow is fun when you are dressed for the weather with a hat, gloves and a parka. You can create some great winter memories by building a snowman with your kids but you may have to drag your children away from the television set to do it. Building a snowman is a great winter activity that the whole family can enjoy and participate in. Building a snowman is not only fun, it can also make a beautiful lawn ornament that will last until the snow melts and in some parts of the country that can be all winter.

The snow has to be the type of snow that is easy to make a snowball with for the best snowman. If you can easily make a nice round snowball that sticks together good then you have the right snow for a snowman. You can use snow of less quality but it is much harder to make the snow work the way you want it to.

A snowman typically has three layers or balls put on top of each other with the smallest ball on the top. The ball on top is the snowman's head.

To make a snowman you have to roll out three snowballs. The rolling of the snowballs can be the best part of making a snowman. You take a very large snowball, the biggest you can make and place it on a patch of clean undisturbed snow. Then you roll the snowball and as you roll the snowball new snow will accumulate onto the snowball. The more you roll the snowball the bigger it will get.

Roll three of these snowballs and place the medium size ball on top of the biggest ball. Pack fresh snow between the two balls so they stick together. Then take your smallest ball and place it on the top and pack snow under the small ball to keep it in place.

Decorating a snowman is the creative part of making a snowman. You can put a scarf on your snowman and a hat. Buttons, coal or any small dark object can be used for the eyes and a carrot makes a good nose. If you don't have a carrot a plain old stick will do. Every snowman needs a mouth and you can use a piece of ribbon or a line of cherries for a mouth.

Snowman can be made in many different sizes from a really large one in the front lawn to a very small one sitting on a window sill. You can also make a snowgirl or a snowdog. With enough snow and energy you can place an entire village of snow people in your yard.