5 Fun Winter Activities for Families

Does your family have a case of the winter blahs? Just because the weather is cold doesn't mean that you can't get outside and have fun. In fact, there are activities that you can only do during the winter when the snow falls and the ice forms.

However, while you're planning winter fun, don't forget about safety. Frostbite and hypothermia are serious health risks that can pose a threat. Be sure your family wears appropriate winter gear like coats, hats, scarves, boots, and gloves or mittens all the time they are out in the cold. Limit the time you spend out of doors, and set a timer on your phone if you have to. Be sure to check the weather report.

1. Build Things Out of Snow

If the snow is wet enough, it will stick together. Then it can be shaped and molded into fascinating shapes. Snowmen and snow forts are traditional, but you can also make any number of snow creatures. A snow caterpillar, for example, is easy to make by rolling medium-sized snowballs and lining them up along the ground, then adding berries or other natural elements to make eyes or other features. Perhaps you could make a whole snow family, complete with dog and cat. Ask your kids for suggestions of what they'd like to build.

Even if you opt for the traditional snowman, you can decorate it in creative ways. For example, you could use candy to create the features of the face to make a colorful "sugar daddy."

2. Go Sledding or Tubing

Nothing matches the breathless excitement of hurtling down a snow-covered hillside on a sled or toboggan. However, you can experience the feeling even if you don't have winter toys. By repurposing your inflatable pool toys, you can experience the same feeling by tubing.

Many communities have areas specifically designated as snow hills. If you don't have an area like this in your community, you can still go sledding. Just be safe and smart about it. Make sure that the spot you choose is separated from cars and free of obstructions. Don't sled on private property belonging to someone else unless you get the owner's permission. Be sure your children have appropriate outerwear like kids snow suits.

3. Have a Snowball Fight or Contest

This activity is more fun the more people involved, so you might want to involve the kids in the neighborhood. If the combative nature of a snowball fight doesn't appeal to you, there are alternative activities you can try, such as a snowball throwing contest in which you try to hit a target or see who can throw the farthest.

Here again, it is important to communicate safety rules to your kids. For example, they shouldn't put make snowballs out of anything but snow, and they also shouldn't throw snowballs at icicles.

4. Try Winter Sports

Snow and ice transform even familiar territory into a totally different landscape. You can explore this brand-new wintery world, and get some good exercise into the bargain, by trying sports like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Other winter sports options include ice skating, downhill skiing, hockey, and curling. Some of these can be played indoors as well as out, and all can be shared by the entire family.

If you want, you can join an organized team for one of these sports. Your community may have family options available. However, you and your family can also participate on your own, just for fun.

5. Help People in Need

There's never a bad time to encourage your kids to care for others and give back to the community. Winter offers unique volunteering activities. For example, snow removal can be difficult for those who are elderly or infirm. As a family, you can volunteer to shovel the driveway of a neighbor who is in need of some assistance. Not only will your kids learn valuable lessons about kindness and generosity, but you can build wonderful family memories and maybe even start a tradition that will last generations.

Winter sometimes seems to last forever, but childhood is all too short. Take advantage of the former to get the most out of the latter.