It’s winter in Minnesota, the holiday hustle and bustle are getting the best of everyone, and the kids are more than likely getting stir crazy! When we hit colder months, it can get tricky to find activities for your kids to do, along with getting caught up in thinking about the weather being a barrier to outdoor activity. Outdoor activity has been proven to have multiple benefits for both kids and parents, so let’s grab our boots, coats, hats and mittens and put some fun back into it!
Some of the most common winter activities you and your child can participate in together are sledding, building a snowman, snow shoeing, ice skating, and even ice fishing! Other fun activities you can do with your child might be making snowball targets, which involves setting a target on a tree and having a contest to see who can hit the bullseye. Have a full-filled day with spray paint art! Put food coloring and water in a spray bottle and let your kids be creative in the snow! Building a snowman is also a way to help your kids be active. Take a turn trying to toss a hat on the snowman’s head!
There are a few things you may want to consider as you get ready to bring your family outside in the winter:
- Avoid cotton as a base layer. Cotton absorbs moisture, which when exposed to the cold temperatures can lose its insulating ability. The best practice is to wear a moisture wicking material, such as polyester or spandex, as a base layer.
- Wear layers, and have warm, dry clothing available for after playing outside.
- Wear sunscreen on exposed skin! It is still possible to have sunburn in the winter months.