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You can often hear people say that it can be challenging in winter to encourage children to go out and enjoy the outdoors in cold weather. Growing up in Siberia, where snow covers the earth for 7-8 months of the year, I learned to appreciate outdoor play immensely.

If it was too cold (-30C) we would usually stay indoors. However, the majority of our leisure time was spent skiing, sliding down the hills, making snowmen, tackling friends into soft snowdrifts, 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.
The children-led play is one of the best choices parents can make allowing their kids to 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
Make snow shower by standing under branches with caps of snow and shaking 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 fun activities:

Learn to identify animals by footprints on the 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 the 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 celebrations:
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!
Resources you might find helpful
Winter Children's Learning Resources and Books
I Have, Who Has Math - Valentine's Day Numbers 1-20 - Editable
Taiga Biome Boreal Forest - Characteristics, Animal and Plant Adaptations
The Arctic Vocabulary 3 Part Cards - Montessori - Editable Download
Antarctica 3 Part Cards
Compassion and Peace Preschool Pack Montessori Learning Activities
The Tundra Biome - Nature Curriculum in Cards - Montessori
How to Build a Snowman - Sequence Cards
Montessori Linear Calendar | Northern Hemisphere
15 Animals of Antarctica - Nomenclature and Information Cards
Types of Penguins Cards for Object to Picture Matching Activity with Safari Toob
Animals of Antarctica - Object to Picture Matching Activity with Safari Toob
Arctic Animals for Object to Picture Matching Activity with Safari Toob
60 DIY Coloring Cards
The Arctic and Antarctica Preschool Pack Montessori Learning Activities
Winter Pack - Montessori Inspired Hands-on Activities
Montessori Winter Pin Punching Cards
Learning to count 0-10 - Hands-on Printable Activity for Toddlers
Winter Pack for Pre-K and Preschool
Christmas & Winter Holidays Tracing Pre-Writing Math No Prep Busy Book
Winter Vocabulary - 3 Part Cards - Editable
I Have, Who Has - Winter ABC's - Editable

The Snowy Day Board Book

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder (Weather Books for Kids, Winter Children's Books, Science Kids Books)

Lu, the Little Ladybug and the Great Winter (Ladybug Lu Collection Book 3)

Little Red Sleigh: A Heartwarming Christmas Book For Children

Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

Winter Is Here

Snow

Winter, You Wonder

Little Owl's Snow

Winter Wonderland (National Geographic Kids)

When Winter Comes: (Christmas Gifts for Kids)

Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter

Winter in the Forest (Lift-a-Flap Surprise)

Winter Dance

The Snowflake

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Over and Under the Snow

The Shortest Day

Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story

Play Town Forest Nature Treasures Sensory Bin

10 Pieces Forest Animals Figures Miniature Animals Mini

Realistic Arctic Penguin Figurines Toy Playset

15 Pieces Wolf Toy Figurines Set Winter Animal Figurines

Promise Babe Wooden Tree Toys Balance Toys Wooden Peg Dolls

Polar Animals Figurines Toys with Large Activity Play Mat

Crystal Growing Kit, Science Kits for Kids Age 8-12

Wild Republic Polar Nature Tube

9 Pieces Polar Animal Toy Figurines Set

10 Pieces of Polar Bear Animal Toy Figurines

Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set

Thank you for highlighting these exciting activities!