The first snowfall of the year turns the world into a blank canvas, offering endless opportunities for creativity and adventure. While traditional activities like sledding and building snowmen are classic for a reason, there are many unique ways to enjoy the wintry landscape.
Drawing from creative outdoor play ideas, here are 12 fun and engaging things to do in the snow.
1. Tie-Dye the Snow
Transforming the backyard into a colorful gallery is one of the easiest ways to engage with the snow. To do this, fill several spray bottles or squeeze bottles with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each. Kids can use the spray bottles for a “mist” effect over large areas or squeeze bottles for more precise “drawing.” This activity allows for endless creativity and can even be used to teach color mixing—try spraying yellow over blue to watch the snow turn green.
2. Construct a Snow Road for Toy Trucks
For children who love construction and vehicles, the snow provides a perfect 3D environment. Use a shovel or a piece of wood to clear narrow paths through the snow, creating a network of roads, intersections, and parking lots. You can even build “tunnels” by piling snow over a section of the path. Adding natural elements like twigs for trees or small rocks as boulders enhances the imaginative play as they navigate their trucks through the wintry terrain.
3. Create a Snow Volcano
This classic science experiment is even better in the snow because there is zero cleanup required. Start by mounding snow into a large cone shape and place a small plastic cup or jar at the very top, buried so only the rim is visible. Fill the container with a few tablespoons of baking soda, a squeeze of dish soap, and some red food coloring. When you are ready for the “eruption,” pour in a cup of vinegar and watch the vibrant foam flow down the sides of your snowy volcano.
4. Blow Frozen Bubbles
This activity feels like a magic trick and works best when the temperature is well below freezing (ideally 15°F or colder). Using a standard bubble wand and solution, blow a bubble gently into the air or onto a cold surface. If the air is still and cold enough, you can watch as tiny ice crystals begin to form on the surface of the bubble, eventually turning it into a delicate, translucent orb before it finally shatters like glass.
5. Grow Colorful Icicles
Creating rainbow icicles is a lesson in patience and physics. Find a spot where icicles are already forming, or set up a structure like a fence or a low branch. Using a pipette, dropper, or a small cup, slowly drip colored water (water mixed with food coloring) over the top of the icicle. As the water runs down and freezes, it creates beautiful layers of color. Over time, you can build up quite a collection of vibrant, frozen ornaments.
6. Play “Mr. Potato Head” with Snowballs
Instead of using the traditional plastic potato, roll several large, firm snowballs to serve as bases. Bring out a bin of Mr. Potato Head accessories—eyes, ears, hats, and arms—and press them into the snow. The moisture in the snow acts like a natural adhesive, holding the pieces in place much more easily than the plastic body does. It is a fun way to create a “family” of snow characters with distinct personalities.
7. Hunt for Buried Treasure
A snow-based scavenger hunt is an excellent way to keep everyone active. Hide waterproof items such as plastic “gold” coins, colorful building blocks, or even small toy dinosaurs at various depths in a designated area. You can provide “treasure maps” or simple verbal clues to help the hunters. For an added challenge, use a grid system or give them small shovels and hand-rakes to “excavate” the finds.
8. Practice Letter Learning with Snowballs
Education meets physical activity in this game. Use a stick to “write” large letters of the alphabet in the snow, or write them on pieces of cardboard and set them up as targets. Call out a specific letter or a word that starts with a certain sound, and have the child try to hit the correct target with a snowball. This tactile approach helps with letter recognition and coordination at the same time.
9. Light Up the Night with Glow Sticks
Winter evenings come early, but the fun doesn’t have to end at sunset. Activate several glow sticks and tuck them into snowballs or bury them just beneath the surface of the snow. The snow acts as a natural diffuser, spreading the light and making the entire yard look like it is filled with glowing, colorful orbs. It creates a magical, neon landscape that is perfect for a quick evening walk before heading inside to get warm.
10. Make Maple Syrup Snow Treats
This is a delicious winter tradition that dates back centuries. Boil pure maple syrup in a saucepan until it reaches the “soft ball” stage (about 235°F). Once the syrup is ready, head outside to a patch of fresh, clean snow and pour the hot syrup in thin lines or circles. The snow instantly cools the syrup into a chewy, taffy-like consistency. Use a wooden popsicle stick to roll up the candy and enjoy it right on the spot.
11. Build a Snow Menagerie
While everyone else is building traditional snowmen, try sculpting a whole zoo. Snow is a remarkably versatile medium; you can stack small snowballs to make a long snow caterpillar or use larger mounds to carve out the shape of a sleeping bear or a sitting dog. Use pinecones for scales, pebbles for eyes, and dried leaves for ears to give your animals realistic (or whimsical) details.
12. Design a Snow Fort
Building a sturdy fort requires a bit of engineering. Use square plastic storage bins or specialized snow-brick molds to create uniform blocks of packed snow. Stack the bricks in a staggered pattern (like a real brick wall) to ensure the structure is stable. You can build a simple wall for protection during a snowball fight or go all out and create a four-walled enclosure with a small “doorway” for a cozy winter hideout.