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Winter is a magical season, but it’s all too easy to simply enjoy that glittering blanket of snowy beauty through a window tucked inside a cozy home. That stops now!
Dress the family in light layers, as the body will warm up during activities, and getting sweaty will actually make one feel colder. Put on some sunscreen, as the winter sun can do damage, particularly as it reflects off the snow. Then pull on warm socks and boots, gloves, and a scarf or neck warmer, and embrace this seasonal wonderland. Bring a water bottle, as it’s easy to get dehydrated, because one doesn’t feel as thirsty in the cold—or at least hydrate before and after activity.
Bring a camera as well, as there will be plenty of photo ops—perhaps for next year’s holiday card photo.
Quick Games
Got some pristine snow? Draw a tic-tac-toe board on it to amuse everyone from toddlers to competitive adults. Want to up the stakes? Set up several boards for an elimination tournament pitting various players against each other until an overall winner is declared.
Or there’s always the classic snowball fight. Play it as individuals or teams. Homeowners with a large yard can use those same snowballs to play snow baseball. Mound up some snow for home plate and first, second, and third bases, and top them with empty water bottles. The pitcher who uses the fewest snowballs to knock down the bottles wins.
A snowball fight encourages movement, laughter, and friendly competition for the whole family. Courtney Hale/Getty Images
Snow People
Building a snowman or a snow family is a rite of childhood passage that every child—or an adult’s inner child—should experience at least once. To make the event even more notable, skip the store-bought snowman accessory kit and make them from scratch. The nose can be an actual carrot; one made out of clay, baked, and painted orange (or use orange clay); or made out of a heavy felt, stuffing or fill, and a wire so it holds the shape. Don’t sew? Use fabric glue.
The eyes, smiling mouth, and buttons can all be made from coal (charcoal briquettes), leftover buttons of various sizes, pieces of felt, or decorative rocks with pebbles for the mouth. The scarf can be an old scarf lying around or a long piece of leftover fleecy material or felt. The hat can be constructed of felt (patterns online), simply use an old knit hat, or give him a team cap to show loyalty.
While not all snowpeople have arms, they are perhaps the easiest to make, assuming there are some fallen tree or bush branches around. Adding a pair of old gloves to their ends is optional.
Homemade snowman decorations add charm and creativity to a timeless childhood activity. Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock
Snowpack Structures
Next on the evolutionary scale, after mastering snowman construction, is a snow fort, castle, or igloo. This can be set up for epic snowball fights or used as a playhouse for kids. It can be as simple or complex as desired. It all starts by selecting a level site and walking the perimeter to mark the walls. Be sure to step inside to make sure there’s enough room.
While snow brick molds aren’t expensive, a small cooler, plastic box or container, square bucket, or even a sturdy cardboard box will also work to form the bricks. Crunchy, moist snow is best. Fill the mold, pack it down, and level it off, then slowly tilt the mold over to release the brick. Gently slap on the back to release a stuck brick; any other jostling may weaken the brick. If there’s not enough snow to make an entire fort, consider building a defensive wall for snowball fights. This is also a way to start simple with younger kids.
Ice Ornaments
Decorating the indoor Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition; consider the outdoor trees as well. Start with a mold. Muffin tins are very popular, but a lot of other kitchen items will work as well: Pyrex bowls, baker’s pie and loaf pans, tin pie pans, plastic plates with a lip, ice cube trays, and even Bundt cake pans. Fill the mold with water and natural items (pine cones, pine needles, leaves, or berries), cut a pattern in felt and lay it in the water, or swirl around some food dye to make an eye-catching suncatcher. Be sure to add a loop of string or twine so the ornament can be hung. Set them out in below-freezing temperatures to form. If they don’t want to come out of the mold, run some warm water (carefully!) over the bottom of the pan to release them.
When temperatures drop and the holidays draw near, decorating can become a holiday tradition in the family. Irina WS/Shutterstock
Skaters’ Paradise
Budding figure skaters, hockey players, and kids in general won’t want to come back inside if they have their own backyard rink. The first step is to find (or clear) a flat, level surface with no sharp objects that can pierce the ice rink liner (available online; get some repair tape, too, just to be safe). Next, frame the area with 10- or 12-foot two-by-six ground-contact rated lumber (two-by-eight and two-by-10 will provide more side support but are more expensive), and attach the corners with sturdy exterior-rated angle brackets. Lay out the tarp, draping it over the frame, and fill it with water. It should freeze fully in two to three days if the temperatures are right.
For those whose weather doesn’t get cold enough, there are skateable synthetic ice tiles that can be assembled to form an indoor/outdoor rink as large as space allows.
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More Chilly Entertainment
Snow is truly a blank canvas. Take budding young artists and their watercolors—or food coloring—to make masterpieces in the yard. Have the camera ready.
Chilly Exercise
A rousing game of snow soccer is as simple as marking the goals and getting kicking. Similarly, snow golf only needs an open area. Substitute hockey pucks for golf balls. Or get out the summer tug-of-war rope for some outrageous snow-filled antics.
One With Nature
Take out the phone cameras and guide the kids on a brisk hike around the neighborhood, encouraging them to snap interesting snow forms. Winter is also a great time of year to bird-watch, without tree leaves in the way. Get them an identification book.
Angelic Behavior
No list of winter activities would be complete without mentioning making snow angels. Photograph the kids over the years as they grow. Also, teach children and teens the importance of giving by handing them a shovel and encouraging them to clear an elderly neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk.
