Winter weather can make getting outdoors seem like an ordeal – cold temperatures, snow, frost and ice and a lack of warm sunshine can make even the most outdoorsy family want to hibernate inside.
In my experience, the kids are less bothered about challenging weather conditions than adults, especially if their are things to catch their attention and play with.
The important thing is to layer up and wrap them up nice and warm, with a special focus on hats, gloves and snuggly warm socks.
Fun things to do outside when it’s cold
A frozen puddle is a great source of fun. Not only can they try and slip and slide across it, but breaking the ice up is lots of fun and you can use the ice to refract light and make pretty rainbows or just pull funny faces through it.
If you are lucky enough to get snow, make the most of it. I know, it can be frustrating for us adults, especially when everything seems to come to a halt, but for kids it is a great learning opportunity.
Exercising while having fun is the best kind of exercise and walking through snow and throwing snowballs is great for developing their gross motor skills, going sledding is fun for all the family and building a snowman is a right of passage for any child.
Another fun way to stimulate their imagination is to use food colouring to make coloured snow. Simply fill up some squeezy bottles with food colouring and water and use the snow as your very own art canvas.
You don’t have to go far either, sometimes it is just as fun to spend time in the garden to see how the seasons make it change. Bouncing on the trampoline is a great way of getting some exercise and keeping warm, or let them take your teddies into their wooden playhouse for a special winter tea party.
Playing outside helps children develop their imagination, which is something that television, video games, computers, iPods, etc. don’t do.
Children who play outside learn how to solve real life problems better than children who are always in their rooms playing video games or secluding themselves. If you are lucky enough to live near the sea like us, head down for an adventure. Winter storms wash up all sorts of treasure on the shoreline.
Playing outside builds their immune system and also provides Vitamin D, which is provided by the sun. Vitamin D helps promote better moods, energy levels, memory, overall health and more. Just 10-15 minutes out in even winter sun will give your children their daily dose of Vitamin D.
What fun things do you like to do with the kids outside in winter?
Post written in collaboration with Big Game Hunters, browse their range of play equipment here.
We live close to a lovely forest and go on walks all the time in the winter. Getting some fresh air no matter what the weather does us all good!
We haven’t had any snow up here this winter but the kids love to go down in the woods and run wild!
Nice snowman 😉
We did all the old-school stuff this month. Snowman building, snowball fight, sledging. Not original, but great fun!
Love the frozen puddle. So simple yet there’s something about water magically transforming into ice that kids love.
I love this. It’s so important to get outside no matter the weather.
There is plenty of fun to be had outside in the winter. I do love it when it snows as you can have lots of fun then
This is such a great post. I’ve hated going outside recently – especially when the weather’s been as cold and horrible as this. The frozen puddle idea seems like heaps of fun, though, I’ll definitely try it with my younger cousins. I’m sure they’d love it.
These are lovely ideas! I wish it would snow properly again here! Hasn’t done for years! I also love going for walks or heading to the beach when it’s cold – as long as you are all wrapped up well!
I love going out and getting some sunshine but my son hadn’t been very well so we’re just avoiding going out much nowadays. Great ideas, hoping to get in the open for a longer time soon.
Such brilliant ideas and not ones I would ever have thought of! I love the idea of using food colouring to paint in the snow, it would be so effective, yet disappear without a permanent reminder. Just brilliant!!
I love when it snows so we can make our snowman and go sledging!!! Love winter walks too!
Playing in the snow was so much fun as a child, I love sledging!!
Getting to see my niece and nephew experience the snow for the first time a couple of weeks ago was amazing, I wish we had more snow for them to play in! x
I love when it snows, and enjoy snow falling with my wife.The weather looks beautiful.I love to wear snow jacket in this season.