You can often hear people say that it can be challenging in winter to encourage children to go out and enjoy outdoors in cold weather. Growing up in Siberia, where snow covers the earth for 7-8 months of the year, I learnt to appreciate outdoor play immensely . If it was too cold (-30C) we would usually stay indoors. However, majority of our leisure time was spent skiing, sliding down the hills, making snowmen, tackling friends into soft snow drifts and playing snowball fights. For those of you who are enjoying winter break with your children, here is a list of activities and ideas to do outdoors that are fun and educational.
Children-led play is one of the best choices parents can make allowing their kids choose, create and follow their outdoor adventures in nature – discovering and satisfying their curiosity:
Drawing on snow with sticks
Creating patterns on snow with sticks and rocks
Dig tunnels in snow
Make snow shower by standing under branches with caps of snow and sharing the tree and branches
Play with sticks and stones in the snow – Happy Hooligans
Go on a winter-themed nature walk – Rain Or Shine Mama
Learning to appreciate nature and make observations during this special and magical time of the year is a great way to enlarge child’s world and engage their senses in educational activities:
Learn to identify animals by footprints on snow
Go on a Nature Scavenger hunt in winter – Montessori Nature (subscriber freebie)
Make a snow volcano – Growing a Jeweled Rose
Decorate an outdoor edible tree for the animals – Wilder Child
Find out about 10 ways to study nature in winter – iHomeschool Network
Learn how to build an igloo out of snow – Your Modern Family
Study winter backyard astronomy with kids – Go Explore Nature
Do nature study in winter – Elemental Science
There are plenty of outdoor fun activities to do that are a great way to spend time outside as a family or include in birthday celebration:
DIY Snow Paint – The SITS girls
Snowy Obstacle Course – The Inspired Treehouse
Paint a Snowman – How Does She
Snow Lanterns – Little Green Fingers
Ice Ornaments – RED TED art
How to Make Water Balloon Marbles – Hurrayic
Marvelous Snowshoe Monster Feet – Apartment Therapy
Creating an Ice Jewel Dig Outside – Wilder Child
How to Make Maple Syrup Taffy – The Kitchn
Make Snow Cream – Sugar Pie Farmhouse
Make Winter Nature Craft – Growing Family
I hope you got inspired and will have awesome fun this winter with your children!
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