5 Winter Activities That Bring Out the Kid in All of Us
I have always loved the wintertime, especially growing up in Central New Jersey. I can still remember sitting at our kitchen table with the radio on full blast, listening to the long list of school closings being announced in the hopes of being one of the lucky ones to be able to declare, “YES, we have a snow day!”
Things haven’t changed very much now that I’m raising kids of my own, except we now receive our school closing via a text message. And I still love to play outside in the snow – in fact, here is a list of my family’s favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors during the winter:
Take a winter photo walk
I love taking my camera along on family hikes, especially this time of year. The peaceful tones cast by wintertime hues of soft whites and grays make everything look so much more sparkly and bright. If you have older kids, pass the camera (gently) and have them take a photo of something that begins with a specific letter to help encourage them to be a little more aware of their surroundings.
Sledding, it’s not just for kids
There is no better thrill than racing down a snowy hill on a crisp winter day; except perhaps for the thought of a thermos filled with hot chocolate and a nutritious snack waiting for you, when you get to the bottom.
Snowball fun
Snowball fights are fun, but they can also get out of hand (trust me, I have teens, I know) and getting whacked with a slushy ball can be downright painful. Set up a couple of empty coffee cans, empty plastic bottles, maybe a even a flower pot (or twenty) and play a painless round of snowball toss. Choose smaller containers and then move them a few feet, after each toss, to make it even more challenging.
Build a snowman
Building a snowman can get the heart rate up and give your kids something to work on together as a team. Throw in a couple of snow angels and you’ve got another way to spend a fun winter day outdoors.
If snow is not your thing, find your energy balance bliss indoors
For those days when it’s just too gosh-darned cold to do anything outside, try a local indoor skating rink or head to your community recreation center!
As a parent of teens and an ambassador for the Together CountsTM program, I believe keeping active with my kids is more than just an opportunity to be physically healthy: I have learned to treasure these moments of togetherness and well-being, with each passing season.
How about you? What are some of your favorite wintertime activities?
For more winter activity inspiration, check out these Together Counts’ resources:
Liz started blogging at This Full House in 2003 (when blogging was still in diapers) to connect with other parents, share stories and feel a little less disconnected with life outside her front door, beyond all the dust bunnies and diapers.