When the weather is cold and snowy it’s easy to stay inside
where it’s warm. But winter can offer some amazing experiences that can’t be
had at any other time of year, especially for children! These are the top
winter experiences (in our opinion) along with what your student or child can
learn from them.
1.
Ice
Fishing. There’s a lot to be learned from the sport of ice fishing. While
it isn’t so unusual to take kids out fishing, ice fishing comes with an
entirely different skill set. Children can learn about the right types of
clothing they need not only to stay warm, but dry. They’ll learn about the
basic safety gear needed when going on an adventure like this. Most
importantly, they’ll learn more about the dangers of ice.
2.
Create a
New Snow Sport. Who says outdoor fun has to stop just because there’s snow
on the ground? Push kids to be creative by thinking up their own winter version
of the sports they love. What about ice bowling? Snow golfing? This gets kids
outside but also forces them to think critically and creatively.
3.
Go Winter
Camping, or rent a cabin with the absolute bare necessities. This is
another fantastic way to teach kids basic survival skills and to see how their
ancestors used to survive in winter weather. Plus winter camping comes with a
whole range of activities, such as ice skating and winter hiking.
4.
Attend A
Winter Festival. While we tend to think of festivals as a summer activity,
winter festivals are a unique experience that can only be had when surrounded
by snow and ice. Common activities include snow and ice sculpture contests,
chili contests, dog sled rides, and more.
5.
Build A
Snow Fort. Make it extensive, with mazes and hiding areas. There’s tons of
ways to make a snow fort, so watch your kids go at it (though of course, ensure
that it is safe). This can help with construction skills, critical thinking,
and fine-motor skills.
6.
Take Kids
Tracking. If you can get to a forest this is even better. You can teach
kids about different animal prints, how to track, and how humans have been
tracking animals for hundreds of years. If you don’t believe you’re experienced
enough to do this, there’s sure to be a tracking class or event somewhere
nearby.
7.
Make Art
Using Ice. This is more complicated than making a snowman and really makes
kids think. Start by freezing water into ice. Use ice cube trays, muffin tins,
old containers…whatever you can find. You may choose to use food coloring to
turn the ice different colors. Next take your kids outside and have them build
their own ice art and structures. A bit of water will help connect the different
pieces of ice together.
8. Play Classic Children’s Games In Winter. Playing
these games in winter adds a fun extra challenge. Tug of war becomes a slippery
challenge. Dodge ball uses snowballs instead of balls. Freeze tag becomes even
more challenging when you have to freeze in the snow. How else can these games
take on a winter twist?
9. Use The Snow To Cook. There’s tons of
snow-themed recipes out there, which can be used to help teach younger kids
about basic cooking. Snow ice cream is a popular favorite, and you can also try
making maple candy (just like in Little House On The Prairie).
10. Go Snowshoeing. This activity started
as a mode of transportation and has evolved into a classic winter pastime. It
is easy to learn and allows you to see places you may not otherwise have easy
access to in winter. Teach kids about staying safe while snowshoeing, and about
how snowshoeing came to be.
