Dear parents, we hope the title of this post doesn’t give you chills. We hope you are really looking for outdoor winter fun ideas because you have gone beyond the title to see what it is all about.
The post in front of your eyesight is about the health of your children and yourself. There are parents who, by hibernating their lives during the winter, do the same to their children. And in so many ways, it’s wrong!
Kids benefit from being outside!
The average child spends 7 hours using various technologies daily. I can’t bear that most parents are fine with that. Um, my child mostly never exceeds the daily dose of 40 minutes (2 times for 20 minutes). And he doesn’t need it! There are so many outdoor winter fun ideas I’d like to share with you here! But, first.
I know we live in a hurry. Hey, I face it myself every day! Not everyone can be rested enough and think of screen-free activities every day. However, your children need a screen time limit. Too much of it can cause depression and negatively affect the development of imagination and personality. Not to mention the physical health consequences!
On the other hand, if you allow your child to be outside as much as possible, the health benefits list is too long. By playing outside, children strengthen their immunity. The only weather you should avoid are snowstorms, thick fog, strong wind and excessive humidity.
Otherwise, you’re good to go outside and play. Staying in the fresh air, especially when it’s snowing, cleans the lungs. The colder it is, the safer the air. Excessive stay in the playrooms in the shopping centre exposes the child to many viruses. Everyone is sweaty and hot – and it’s an ideal place for viruses and bacteria to spread.
Many older children spend a lot of time at the computer playing games or visiting social networks, and today they have a problem with obesity, high blood pressure and sugar. Habits are best built when children are younger. Still, teenagers need to be encouraged as well!
Scientists established that children who spend a lot of time outdoors grow into healthy, happy adults. And with the movements of the hands, feet and eyes, children develop synapses too.
30 best outdoor winter fun ideas
From the most common outdoor winter fun ideas like snowball fight and sledding to running through a snow maze, these are some of the ideas worth trying out with kids when it’s so brr outside that you freeze at the thought of taking a walk!
1 Make frozen colored ice globes.
2 Use the wooden snow shovels to help your neighbor. Practice gratitude!
3 Ice painting when outside’s not comfortable (snowstorm or similar).
4 Snow paint spray bottles. Another activity they can make on their own.
5 Snow volcano is another great activity.
6 Go animal track spotting in woods.
7 Give the kid cookie cutters (and other kitchen supplies) and ask for snow cookies or let him “cook” whatever. That’s a great activity for them to express imagination.
8 Make frozen suncatchers. Give your kids a chance to make something on their own, following your instructions, every day.
9 Find the objects hidden in the snow!
10 Fly a kite.
11 Go sledding with a snow tube together.
12 Catch the ball on a slippery sufrace if you can! Try this pop-pass-catch game. Let’s check the balance!
13 I had a great bonding game with my son last year. He needed to fix my car due to bad weather with his tool set. We had so much fun together!
14 Go hiking.
15 We love the idea of spider rider swing on a fresh air too.
16 Go snowball fighting.
17 Snowball maker tool is such a cool stuff to make different shapes!
18 Don’t forget to make a snowman this year.
19 Backyard obstacle course. It’s important to still exercise gross motor skills during wintertime.
20 Give food and blankets to abandoned dogs.
21 We have similar outdoor activity tubs to these. Our son loves to play with water, sand, snow, dirt at the same time. This is a great sensory activity where kids develop imagination playing on their own.
22 Let the kid simply run around and explore on his own!
23 Build a nest. Encourage kids to do good everyday and learn a lot everyday too!
24 Or make a bird feeder. If you’re not crafty at all, you can also buy one and fill it with food together.
24 Build a snow fort. My husband used to build this every year when he was little, and now our son loves this activity too!
25 Beach toys are for snow too!
26 Go swimming in a hot pool – my son’s favorite thing to do when it’s snowing outside!
27 Go ice skating.
28 Have a picnic on the snow.
29 Organize a playdate in the park and let the kids run around, scream, make snow angles or whatever they want to!
30 Drink hot cocoa outside.
Must-have clothing items
You have to be the layering master. I would always suggest a thermolite base layer set, sweater and trousers, jacket, waterproof boots, hat and gloves for a walk. On top of all that, for sledding, snow angels and similar activities, I suggest a bunting for babies and waterproof pants for older kids. Next on the list – enjoy in these outdoor winter fun ideas!
