Fun Wintertime Outdoor Activities for Kids

As an adult I’ll be the first one to admit…I hate winter. I don’t enjoy being outside in the freezing cold, sliding around on ice or shoveling snow. However, when I was a kid it was a totally different story. My brother and I loved to go outside and play in the snow!

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If you live in a part of the country that gets snow I think its important to get the kids outside into the fresh air and for some physical activity. Here are some Fun Wintertime Outdoor Activities for Kids, in no particular order.

1. Sledding
2. Ice Skating
3. Building Snow Forts and Igloos
4. Snowball Fights
5. Riding Snowmobiles
6. Making Homemade Snow Ice Cream
7. Ice Fishing
8. Making Snow Angels
9. Nature Walks to Collect Items for Crafting (see note below)
10. Snow Painting (see note below)
11. Build a Snowman
12. Snow Boarding and Tubing
13. Outdoor Ice Hockey
14. Skiing
15. Snow Frisbee
16. Family Sleigh Rides

Winter Craft Items: pine cones, acorns, pine branches, empty & abandoned bird’s nests, smooth river rocks, empty & abandoned snail shells, moss,  tree bark, driftwood, seashells, etc. All of these nature items can be found during this time of the year.

Snow Painting: We like to make our own “safe” paints by using Kool-Aid or colored Gelatin mixed with water. Place them in squirt bottles, squirt guns or spray bottles. Let the kids take them outside and make some colorful artwork in the snow.

If your children are going outside to play its important that you keep an eye on them and monitor their exposure to the cold. Always make sure they’re dressed in layers and dressed appropriately for the weather. If they get wet, don’t let them continue to play outside, make them come up to dry off, change clothes and to warm-up before returning outside to play again.

When my brother and I were little we had to practice the “buddy system” when we were outside. We had to go together, stay together and watch out for one another. We had to stay within our yard and we always got reminded that we should never talk to strangers. Good things to remind your children on a regular basis.

What kind of things did you enjoy doing when you were a kid? Do you still enjoy any of those same wintertime activities?

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