It’s a winter wonderland. Or at least it will be! Our first snowfall has already melted away, but we all know that won’t last too long.Your kids are all set with their own snowsuits, snow mittens and boots – but are you? Invest in your own snow gear and take advantage of these 11 family snow activities that will encourage learning through play, during the most wonderful time of year.
1. Go Tobogganing. There’s nothing more fun than this classic winter activity! Find a safe hill and head out as a family. This is a great learning opportunity – make sure your children are aware of their surroundings and know how to stay safe. Once the safety rules are clear, you can encourage exploration.
2. Build a Snowman. How can you make this classic activity more fun? Search for different sticks or other nature-based items to dress up your snowman. You can even incorporate old clothing or food colouring.
3. Colour the Snow. Create colourful sprays using food colouring and water. Then let imaginations go wild! Your children will love spraying different colours all over the snow’s blank canvas, leaving trails and “artwork” everywhere. Our Forest School children loved this activity – see how much fun they had here.
4. Make a Snow Angel. Create your own angels and try exploring different depths of snow. Laying in the snow will also allow your children to explore a new perspective – encourage them to describe what they see.
5. Make a Snow Sculpture. Encourage your children to create their own snow masterpiece. Use hands, shovels, spoons – or any other tools you can think of!
7. Have a Winter Picnic. Hot chocolate is the perfect addition to any winter activity, so why not plan a fun outdoor picnic? Check fire regulations to see if you can incorporate a toasty winter campfire.
8. Go on a Winter Hike. Take a walk through the forest and explore the seasonal changes. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for animal tracks.
9. Set Up a Scavenger Hunt. In your backyard or during your forest walk, you can create an exciting scavenger hunt to find nature-based items such as pine cones or sticks. Consider incorporating colours, letters and numbers into your hunt. 10. Check Out Holiday Lights. You can walk around your neighbourhood or look for municipal light displays like the Barrie Festival of Trees display at Centennial Park.
11. Do A Good Deed. Consider shoveling your neighbour’s driveway as a family. Whether they are on vacation or have difficulties shoveling it themselves, your neighbour will be incredibly grateful and you will be passing along a valuable lesson.
Enjoy your family fun - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
About Discovery Child Care
Barrie Based Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means, your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs. For more information, visit http://www.discoverychid.on.ca
