Outdoor Fun For The Whole Family

By Sherrie Le Masurier

Does the thought of spending a winter day outdoors give you cold feet? If so, shake of the feeling, put on a few layers of clothing and follow your kids to the nearest snow drift for a pile of fun. You’ll end up thanking yourself for it.

Nothing beats the winter blues like fresh air and some one-on-one time with your loved ones. Relive your childhood with a snowball fight, create some snow angels, toss snowballs at a target, make a snowman or construct a chilly fort with its very own “snofa”.

You may even want to call your outdoor experience part of an informal snow appreciation day. Snow itself offers an endless array of impromptu fun. Still in need of a little inspiration? Try some of mine and Crystal favourite family winter activities on for size. I’m sure at least one activity will instill a love of the season in you.

Turn Getting Ready Into A Game

Let’s start by getting the kids out the door in quick order. For young ones, make a game out of getting their winter gear on by saying, "Let's see who can get dressed first." Or play, "Who can - zip a zipper, button their buttons, pull on their boots...?"

Snow Hurdles

Lightly pack several large snowballs together to form a course of hurdles to jump over.

Snow Tug

For a fun slip-sliding variation of tug-of-war, create a shallow and wide trench (in the snow) to act as the mid-line. Next, have both teams take up positions at opposing ends of a long, thick rope. Now, let the tugging and towing commence. Whichever team pulls the other over to its side of the trench wins.

Snowman Fun

Turn topping off your snowman into a fun game. Take turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it Frisbee style from a few feet away.

Another cool idea is to create a rosy cheeked snowman. Add about five drops of red food dye to a cup of water. Pour into a spray bottle and set the nozzle on fine.

The Biggest ‘Ball’ Wins

Create equal teams for a contest to see who can make the largest snowball. The winner is determined when one of the teams can no longer roll their ball or when you run out of snow.

Follow The “Snow Tracks”

Gather a group of neighbourhood kids together for a game of "Snow Tracks." Assemble in a plastic bag a snack for each participant and give one to each child. Have them all start from the same point and head off in different directions. Suggest they travel slowly, making a careful path of their footprints around trees, over sandboxes, or through swing sets to make their path more interesting.

When they find a good ending point, have them bury their snack bag in the snow, turn around, and retrace their own footprints back to the starting point. They can then exchange trails with other children and set about to find a buried snack. (Note: make sure the game is played out in the open, avoiding clumps of trees or thick underbrush where a child may become lost.)

More Creative Play Ideas

  • Let your children draw, or paint in the snow using a plastic squeeze or spray bottle filled with water and food colouring.
  • If you don't have a sled suitable for a small child, or baby, use an old plastic baby bathtub. Punch a hole in the front rim and attach a rope. It won't slide too fast, and the sides will keep a small child from falling out.
  • No snow shovel? Give toddlers a dustpan – it’s the right size and height.
  • A little planning ahead will be rewarded on the hot days of summer if you freeze a small snowman (wrapped in foil), and bring him out on a hot afternoon.
Outdoor Comfort Tips

  • Put special marks on a large outdoor thermometer to let children know when they must wear jackets, boots, and other heavy clothing.
  • Put inexpensive rubber gloves on over children's knit gloves to keep hands dry when playing in the snow.
  • For the young ice skater, help keep little feet warm and little toes from freezing by cutting a slit along the bottom of a pair of large heavy socks and slipping the sock over the entire skate, with the blade protruding through the opening in the bottom.

Also see: Indoor Winter Fun Ideas