All right mama’s , we all heard that there might be some snow tonight in the area…. So I figured I would write a blog about things to do with your little ones and big ones outside when it snows! =) I actually really enjoy the snow because I get to play in it, and my kids like to as well!
The only thing I don’t like is that if I didn’t remember to buy something, I can’t go out and get it because my car is not going to make it anywhere in the snow. So here is a perfect example…
Have you ever heard “Mom! I want to go sledding!” … and then realize that you don’t have a sled? I know, how can I be that parent that doesn’t have a sled!!?? But hey, it’s happened to me before, and so I’m assuming it has happened to other parents as well. Sleds either mysteriously grow legs and walk away, or sleds have broken the winter before and got thrown out. So here are other household options to use if you find yourself in the same predicament as I have been.
**Some of these ideas are more suitable for us pro sledding mama’s or for our older children, so please use common sense when figuring out which option is best for your child’s age =)
Laundry basket – If you’re a regular at crowded sledding hills, you’ve probably seen them.
Inflatable pool lounge chair – Yupp. You can sled down a hill and pretend you’re on a beach somewhere sipping a margarita, well only for a minute.
Cookie sheet – You’ll never make cookies on it again, but thanks to the smooth metal surface they go pretty fast.
Carpet – It’s a mover’s trick, if you need to move something over a hardwood floor without scratching the floor, you can use a properly-sized scrap of carpeting, carpet side down. This will work on icy and fast hills but not on fresh powder.
Cardboard – Just about any size will work, from refrigerator boxes to pizza boxes to recycled poster board yard signs. It needs to cover your bottom and keep your coat and feet from touching the snow. Try keeping larger boxes intact for as long as they’ll hold together. Break up packing boxes along their seams or use an X-acto knife to break one into a long, wide strip.
Boogie board – They’re not just for hitting the waves, so if you can access your summer beach toys, then this option is great!
Plastic container lids – From a large container, such as a clothing tub or gift wrapping container. Like any sled, it needs to be large enough to cover your bottom and keep your clothing and feet from touching the snow.
Shower curtain or tarp– It’s slick, and you can wrap it around yourself or let multiple riders climb on.
Trash bag – Ever ride a potato sack down a slide? It’s like that.
Yoga mat – Like carpeting, you’ll need a fast, rather icy surface. Ride it with the fabric side down. You probably won’t be doing your yoga moves on it again though.
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So of course there are always the classic activities like sledding (which we talked about), snow ball fights, building a snow man, and making snow angles, which are a lot of fun! But here are some other fun things to do!
Snow Mazes- While you’re out shoveling the driveway or sidewalk, give your kids a small shovel or a beach shovel. My kids love making snow mazes in our yard with their shovels.
Animal footprints- look for animal prints! Do you find rabbit prints? Squirrels? Deer? What’s in your backyard?
Snow ice cream- Fresh snow is perfect for making snow ice cream with your kids and there are dozens of recipes online. Good news! You probably already have the basic ingredients in the kitchen.. milk, sugar, salt and vanilla extract. They can even flavor it with berries, chocolate morsels, or caramel. It is fun for the kids to see snow transform into a tasty fun dessert!
Snow Graffiti- Give your kids spray bottles or water guns full of water that's tinted with food coloring to decorate the white canvas in your backyard.
Tic-Tac-Snow- Two players go for the championship in this classic game. Use crisscrossed sticks and pinecones as game pieces.
Blow a frozen bubble- Your kids can blow a bubble with ordinary bubble blowing solution. If the temperature is low enough (below freezing) the bubble will freeze after a few moments. Be sure to catch it on their wand before it freezes so they can pop it and watch it shatter!
This activity you can actually even do if you have a little one and don't want to take them outside. Just open the window and stick your head out!
So whether we get snow tonight or some other time this winter, I hope that you can try some of these ideas with your kids and let me know if they liked them!