Kids love playing outside no matter the season, and if the next few months don’t get too cold, you should encourage them get outside for some wintertime fun. You might even share some hot chocolate with them on their swing set.
If you’re looking for ways to help your children have fun this winter, the website She Knows offers some ideas for kids’ winter activities, as well as some tips for keeping kids warm and safe before they head out into the cold:
1. Dress Appropriately
Make sure they – and you – are bundled up. Put on gloves, coats and warm socks, along with footwear that’s right for the season.
2. Watch For Frostbite
Know the warning signs for frostbite: Pain or numbness in hands, feet, face or ears, or skin that feels waxy and hard, with a white or grayish yellow pallor. If you think your child has frostbite, bring them inside someplace warm and call a doctor.
3. Playing Outside Does Not Equal Catching Cold
The simple act of going outside in cold weather won’t give you a cold, although if someone has been exposed to a cold virus, wintry temperatures can accelerate their illness. Still, bundle up, and if it gets too cold, come inside.
4. Keep Them Hydrated
Proper hydration is important no matter the season. Make sure your kids are drinking enough water when they’re outside.
With that out of the way, let’s look at some fun kids’ winter activities you can enjoy this year:
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Build a snowman…or even a snow family
It’s fun and creative, but it’s also great exercise. Moving and lifting large balls of snow takes a lot of work. -
Wintertime bubbles
Blowing bubbles isn’t just for summertime. In the winter, it becomes a whole new sort of activity. If the weather is cold enough, soap bubbles can turn into crystalline ice bubbles. -
Shoveling
OK, so this one sounds like more of a chore than a fun winter activity. But it is good exercise. And if you’d like, you could get your child a kid-sized shovel and let them carve out a fun pattern in the snow in your backyard. When they’ve finished, head to a second story window to see what they’ve created. -
Search for animal tracks
Get a camera – or just use your smartphone – and join your kids on a hunt for animal tracks in the snow. Take photos so you can research which animal’s tracks you spotted, and let your kids learn more about that animal. -
Sledding
Another classic winter kids’ activity, and one that gives your kids more of a workout than you might first realize. Sure, it’s fun to zoom down a hill on a sled, but climbing back to the top takes a lot of work. -
Ice skating
Kids who are thrilled at seeing ice skating on TV may jump at the chance to try it for themselves. And don’t worry if your children have never skated before. Many skating rinks have special skates to help small children keep their balance as they learn to skate. -
Hiking
Taking a hike during the winter can be just as fun as enjoying one in the summer. There are trails everywhere you look. Just dress for the season, and try to not to stay out too long.
Here at Swingset & Toy Warehouse, we believe in the value of outdoor play in all seasons, whether it’s on a swing set, trampoline, or inventing a new game of your own.
We hope this winter gives you and your children the chance to get out and enjoy the season and discover some new outdoor play activities. Have fun!
