Weathering the weather in winter.

How to keep your kids active when it’s cold outside.

 
The winter months are often the hardest time of the year for a lot of parents when it comes to keeping kids active and occupied. The cold temperatures and gloomy weather keep kids trapped indoors and less motivated to “go and do”, which can lead to Netflix, video games and announcements of “I’m boooorrrred”.

Having kids go outside to play is not only helpful to your sanity, there are other benefits as well. Contrary to the general belief, being cold isn’t what makes us sick in the wintertime, it’s all the time spent indoors breathing recycled air and increased exposure to others who are sick. Research shows that there are actually health benefits to playing outside during cold tempratures.

• Less exposure to bacteria and viruses that live inside and cause colds and flu.
• Keeping physical activity up during the winter months, providing children with different challenges for their developing muscles and brains.
• Ensures kids get their daily dose of Vitamin D, which is critical for mood regulation.
• More outdoor play means less time spent on screens!

We found a great list of wintertime outdoor activities complied by CertifiKID. Some are things your kids can do on their own and some you can do with them! TIP: print this page and keep it on your fridge!

25 Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids When It’s Cold Outside

• • 1. 1. 1. Go on a winter scavenger hunt.
          2. Make fairy houses out of sticks, bark, dry grasses, pebbles, leaves, feathers, pine cones and other natural materials.
          3. Freeze water colored with food coloring in ice cube trays, plastic food containers and muffin tins and bring outside to construct colorful ice sculptures.
          4. Collect pine cones – see how many different kinds you can find over the winter!
          5. Draw a Tic-Tac-Toe game in the snow or dirt and use sticks and pine cones to play.
          6. Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring and draw in the snow. No snow? No problem! As long as you use washable food coloring, you can do this one on the sidewalk, too.
          7. Make a pine cone bird feeder using peanut butter and birdseed.
          8. Create a nature book or journal by collecting and taking pictures of things you find on nature walks over the winter and gluing them in your book as you go.
          9. Collect rocks and use them to make kindness rocks or other rock crafts.
          10. Go for a family bike or scooter ride around the neighborhood.
          11. Build a bonfire and make s’mores.
          12. Grab some binoculars and go bird watching. Keep a journal documenting all the different birds you spy on your adventures!
          13. Go on a winter picnic complete with blanket, sandwiches, and hot cocoa in a thermos.
          14. Set up an outdoor treasure hunt by hiding items around the outside of your house, backyard, or neighborhood playground.
          15. Take your dog for a walk. No dog? Ask a neighbor or friend if you can take their dog on a walk!
          16. Set up a nature-based obstacle or challenge course using logs, trees, rocks, etc.
          17. Go letterboxing or geocaching. There just may be treasure waiting to be found right in your own neighborhood.
          18. Hang a target in a tree and take aim with pine cones or rocks.
          19. Windy day? Fly a kite! Yep, this one’s not just for summer.
          20. Snow on the ground?
              • Build a snow fort or a snow man.
              • Go sledding.
              • Make snow ice cream.
              • Use shovels to create paths or cool mazes in the snow.
              • Go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
              • Make snow angels.
              • Gather the family or some friends together and have a snowball fight.
          21. Grab an old cardboard box, find a hill and go cardboard box sledding!
          22. Draw pictures with sidewalk chalk.
          23. Summer activities work just as well in the winter – and warm you up in the process!
              • Hula Hoop
              • Jump Rope
              • Catch and Frisbee (Gloves with grips will keep your hands warm and help you catch!)
              • Dodgeball
              • Corn Hole
              • Horseshoes
          24. Research which plants can grow in cold weather over the winter and plant and tend your own garden.
          25. Gather a group and play Capture the Flag, Kick the Can, or Hide and Seek.