When snow hits, many parents groan and just want to stay inside. The kids, however, have other ideas and are dying to get out in the white stuff. Armed with these ideas, you can get involved in the fun and be the Best Snow Activities Director ever!
1. Pinecone bird feeders. When loads of snow hit, take care of the outdoor creatures. Grab a bag of bird seed, some peanut butter, string and pinecones you discover on the ground. You may need to do some digging in the snow to find some! Tie the string to the pinecone. Try to hang it so it almost rests on a deck railing or other flat surface so birds and small animals can sit or stand while trying to get their treat. Have your child take a butter knife and spread peanut butter all over the pinecone. Then roll the pinecone in bird seed that has been poured onto a plate or cookie sheet. Hang up the covered pinecone and wait for the creatures to come!
2. Make a snow castle instead of a sand castle. Who needs the beachy sand when you have a snowy wonderland? Dig out those buckets, shovels and molds used for the beach or sandbox and instead, make a snow castle. Grab some little plastic people and animals to play make-believe!
3. Snow forts for fairies. Instead of making a fairy house with shrubbery, trees and creatures, why not make a tiny snow fort for the little make-believe creatures to cavort in?
4. Snow creatures other than snowmen. After building your traditional snowman, snow-woman or snow-family, try your hand at making different types of animals. How about a snow-snake? A snow-dog? Let your imagination run wild!
5. Spray up some fun. Grab some spray bottles, fill them with water and put different colors of food coloring in each bottle. Now head outside and spray letters onto the snow using the colored water, make pictures in the snow and more!
6. Tic-tac-snow. A classic game taken to the snow equals loads of fun! Draw out the tic-tac-toe board and start inserting the Xs and Os using a stick or your finger. When the game is over, you can wipe it away and start fresh or move to a new patch of snow.
7. Snow cooking. Move over, mud pies. Dig out the pots, pans, molds, pie tins and wooden spoons and get cooking with snow. The possibilities for culinary creations are endless!
8. Snow amazing. Grab the shovels and dig out a snow maze. See if your neighbors will let you extend your maze into their yard to make it extra large. Grab your spray bottles of colored water and spray as you go!
9. When the forecast says snow, freeze some ice cubes with food coloring in them. When they are all ready, toss them in the snow for an ice cube scavenger hunt! This will keep your kids busy for hours!
10. Head inside and make snow ice cream. When you’re all wiped out from the snowy fun, grab a bunch of the white stuff, head in and make a sweet treat. Just add vanilla, sugar and a little milk and enjoy!
Kerrie hates shoveling snow but loves playing with her kids in the piles. Check out the fun at www.thekerrieshow.com.
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