Winter Fun for Children

Baby, it's cold outside... and the motivation to go out is hard to find. I give myself goals for getting my children outside because it is incredible for their physical and mental health, and mine as well. Typically, I try to have us spend at least an hour outside in snow, rain, or shine. It is always well worth it! But what are you to do once you are out there? Here are some of our go-to winter activities:

• Food Coloring in the Snow—Purchase condiment bottles from the grocery store (3-5 bottles, depending on how many colors you want to make.) Fill each bottle with water and varying colors using food coloring. Your kids can then just spray the snow, which is great fun, or they can build snow sculptures and then "paint" them with the food coloring bottles.

  
  

• Buckets of Snow—Provide each child with their own gallon-sized bucket and a shovel. Then, task them with clearing a certain area of the yard and moving the snow elsewhere. My toddlers always loved this one, because it made them feel as if they were doing something useful for me. ;)

  
  

• Squirt Guns and Ice Sculptures—- This one is quite simple. Show your children how pouring water on snow creates ice. Then, explain that they can make different shapes or sculptures and turn them to ice too.