Cabin fever? Snowy activities to do with the kids
It’s exciting when Mother Nature’s snow fall causes school to be cancelled… for about three hours. Then many parents face the dreaded cabin fever. Try these activities to get your kids outside!
Photo: Kate Powers
1) Have a hula hoop contest. It’s much harder to keep the hoop from falling with all those layers of warm clothes!
2) Build a snow sculpture. A snowman is so passe! Try critters instead… how about a snowsnake or snowdinosaur?
3) Blow ice bubbles. When the temperature drops below freezing, it’s fun to blow bubbles and watch them freeze on the wand.
4) Create a snow castle. Dig out the plastic buckets and pails that you put away at the end of summer and start building a snow fort or castle. (Storming the castle is an optional next step.)
Photo: rosy posy
5) Make maple snow candy… yum! Just make sure you select a clean snow drift… avoid the dreaded yellow snow. Here’s a recipe.
6) Search for animal tracks. Here’s a good guide for identifying what you find.
7) Have an outdoor color hunt. Save empty yogurt containers and milk or juice cartons (or just use plastic food storage containers), then add different food coloring to water and freeze in the containers. Pop out the colorful shapes and place them outside for your kids to hunt for.
Photo: artfulkids.com
8) While you are freezing things, how about making ice suncatchers? Submerge pretty evergreen leaves and berries in water and freeze overnight in plastic food storage containers. Then pop them out and place in the sun to enjoy. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
9) String treats for our feathered friends. Snow is tough on birds that overwinter in our part of the world. Give them a helping hand by stringing natural treats on yarn and hang from the trees in your yard. Try popcorn (unsalted and unbuttered, please), fresh cranberries, and Cheerios.
10) Play tic tac SNOW! Or how about snow hop scotch? These classic games are more fun in the snow.