Winter is No Exception to Getting Addy Outside Everyday: 10 Winter Outdoor Activities to Leave You Inspired

We live in Minnesota so the winters can be frigid. Going outside, January through March, can be challenging. When I say artic air, I’m not exaggerating! March is usually the snowiest month. When the plain’s states are starting to see signs of spring, we are still digging ourselves out. This winter, February’s snow falls hit record levels. We have had a lot of snow. 

Snow is motivating for my daughter and I. Activities are easier to come by if we have a foot or two of snow. Sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, downhill or cross-country skiing happen in abundance. If we are homebound, there are the classics like building a snowman or snow fort. Snow ball fights become part of our daily schedule!

I was raised by a winter-loving woman. Unlike most Minnesotans, my mom seemed happier when the snow was falling, school was cancelled and the car never left the garage.

I was raised by a winter-loving woman. Unlike most Minnesotans, my mom seemed happier when the snow was falling, school was called off and the car never left the garage. She would shoo us outside or serve as the trail blazer with a sled in one hand and a shovel in the other. On our acreage, we would dig tunnels to connect one snow cave to another. We looked for signs of critters and always made sure the birds were fed. Winters were magical with my mom.

I’m trying to channel a bit of my mom’s winter magic by showing Addy the fun that can be had outside! I will admit, I am growing a bit weary. So, I’ve been gathering up ideas for winter fun. Some are my own, but most are from winter aficionados like my mom. 

Here’s a list of 10 creative and fun winter activities that will have you and your child giving winter a second chance.

1. Make ice art. Freeze water with food coloring into blocks and other shapes, using ice cube trays, muffin tins, Jell-O molds, and old yogurt containers. Then bring your colorful ice blocks outside, along with any natural ice and snow you can collect, to create your own ice sculptures. In sub-freezing temperatures, you can stick the pieces together by dribbling water on them—it should quickly freeze them in place. Aaron and Addy used balloons and set them on our deck during a polar vortex. There wasn’t snow on the ground just yet, so Addy set them throughout our landscaping. It looked like a very large Easter Bunny made an early visit!
2. Head to the playground. Though the equipment can be quite slippery, the snowy landscape creates a brand-new experience for your child. After 3 feet of snow, Addy takes advantage of being able to reach the monkey bars herself. She also takes more risks knowing there is snow padding any potential falls. This winter she went down the firemen’s pole all by herself!
3. Roast s’mores. What better way to beat the cold than to warm up to a fire! Campfires don’t just have to be a summer thing. Find an appropriate spot in your yard to build a small fire and be sure to have the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers on hand. Or perhaps you can sip on some mugs of hot cocoa. Whatever the treat, your child will still be talking about this adventure next summer.
4. Blow some bubbles. Again, an activity not just for summer. In the cold weather, you can see the bubbles crystalize right before your very eyes. If you have access to a black top surface, blow them there and see how they roll around instead of pop. Touch the bubbles to see how they feel. This activity really only works on the days when the temperatures dip below freezing! A tip from Project Learning Tree is to place the bubble solution outside before bringing your kids out, because the colder the solution is the better this activity works.
5. Snow Graffiti. Addy and her dad did this project and she has been requesting it ever since. Give your kids spray bottles full of water that’s tinted with food coloring. Then have them decorate the white canvas in your backyard.
6. Hunt for color. Winter isn’t particularly colorful, but color can be found, especially if you are looking for it. While on a walk (Addy and I often do this on our short walks to and from school), take note of what colors you see and what makes them that color. One of our favorite colors to look for is red. Cardinals are everywhere in Minneapolis and the red stands out against the white snow. When you get home, give your kids some white paper and crayons and ask them to draw what they saw using the colors that stood out. The more kids look for color, the more they’ll see. And you too!
7. Scavenger Hunt. This is a traditional outdoor activity that can happen organically as much as constructed intentionally. First brainstorm with your child what kind of items they might find outside during winter. Then give them a basket to collect as many things as they can find. Help them engage more senses than just their sight. Look for something that is smooth or rough. Listen for birds chirping. Smell a pine tree. Feel a snowflake on your face. One day, Addy and I counted the different bird sounds we heard. Within only a 5 block radius, we heard over 10 different kinds of bird calls!
8. Try tracking wildlife. This is something Addy and I did not so long ago. Be animal detectives and go outside hunting for signs of wildlife. Give your kids an animal field guide. Because my daughter isn’t a reader yet, I made her a guide using pictures only. And since it was our first time, we kept it pretty simple: racoon, rabbit, bird, deer, and squirrel. Upon her insistence, we also added cat and dog. Invite your kids to look for the following clues: prints (claw marks and number of toes), feather marks (wing imprints or dropped feathers), gait patterns (do you think the animal was running or walking; was the gait parallel like a rabbit’s or diagonal like a fox’s), scat (Addy giggled at this one; you can use this to see what the animal was eating), and browsing marks (claw marks in the bark or nibbles here and there of surrounding vegetation; my favorite is the evidence of antlers rubbing on tree bark).
9. Build the biggest snowball. If you’re not up for getting pummeled by snow, try a cooperative approach. Starting small, keep rolling the snowball until it’s too heavy to move. Then try to stand on top!
10. Make snow cream. Or rather, make ice cream in a bag with snow. Last winter, Minnesota experienced a very snowy April. The snow was heavy and wet, so many of our favorite activities were harder to do. That’s when Addy and I discovered how easy it was to make ice cream using snow and a few other common ingredients. You can find a simple recipe at Mommysavers: Frugal Moms Living Well for Less. https://mommysavers.com/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag-with-snow/

Still need some inspiration?

Check out this kid! Addy will not be stopped in her efforts to play outside. Most days, I call my daughter stubborn. Sometimes, defiant is a good descriptor. On this particular day, I saw hopeful! Spring will arrive and getting outside will be easier. Until then, dress for the weather and try one of the creative ideas from the list above!