Winter is a magical time for children, filled with frosty mornings, sparkling snowflakes, and boundless possibilities for fun. When the world turns white, it’s like nature has handed kids a whole new playground! At The Kids Point, we believe that snow days are meant for joyful exploration, creative play and unforgettable family bonding. That’s why we’ve curated this comprehensive guide to 10 exciting snow activities for kids to enjoy outdoors—designed to keep them active, smiling and making the most of the winter wonderland around them.
Build a Classic Snowman—with a Twist!
The traditional snowman is a timeless winter favorite. But why not take it a step further? After building the basic three-ball structure, encourage kids to give their snowman a unique personality. Use old clothes, funny hats, sunglasses, scarves or even kitchen utensils. You can create a:
- Pirate snowman with an eye patch and bandana
- Chef snowman holding a wooden spoon
- Family of mini snow-people, each with a different theme
This activity nurtures imagination and allows siblings or friends to collaborate on creating their own snowy characters.
Pro Tip: Use food coloring in spray bottles to “paint” your snowman for a colorful finish!
Snow Painting
Bring out your child’s inner artist with snow painting! All you need are spray bottles filled with water and food coloring. Have your kids “paint” the snow by spraying it with different colors to create designs, write messages or make large murals.
This simple activity encourages creativity and is surprisingly soothing. It’s perfect for kids who love art but may be less enthusiastic about rough-and-tumble winter play.
Materials Needed:
- Clean spray bottles
- Food coloring
- Water
- Gloves (to keep their hands warm while spraying)
DIY Snow Obstacle Course
Why not turn your backyard or local park into a winter obstacle course? This is a fantastic way to keep kids active while challenging their motor skills. Use items like cones, sleds, snow mounds and hoops to create a variety of stations.
Some obstacle ideas include:
- Jumping over snow logs (or piles)
- Crawling through snow tunnels
- Balancing on a snowy beam (use a log or planks)
- Sled racing to the finish line
You can even time each participant and give small prizes for the best effort!
Go Sledding (or Make Your Own Sled Track)
Sledding is an iconic winter activity that never goes out of style. Whether it’s a traditional hill or a small backyard slope, it provides endless thrills.
If you don’t have access to a hill, no problem—build your own mini sledding ramp by piling snow into a mound and carving out a slide path. Use sleds, trays, or even sturdy cardboard. Just ensure the area is free of rocks or obstacles for safety.
Safety Tip: Always supervise younger kids and provide helmets for added protection.
Frozen Treasure Hunt
Kids love a good scavenger hunt—and snow makes it even more exciting! You can bury small toys, colored ice cubes or holiday-themed trinkets in the snow and give the kids clues or a treasure map to find them.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Freeze small toys in ice cubes to make the hunt more challenging
- Color-code the treasures by points for a competitive twist
- Let them use sand shovels, kitchen spoons, or their gloved hands to dig
This activity enhances problem-solving skills and keeps kids moving without even realizing they’re exercising.
Build a Snow Fort or Igloo
Snow forts are the ultimate in outdoor winter construction. With a little guidance, kids can build impressive hideouts or igloos using snow bricks. You can mold bricks using plastic storage containers, cake pans or even loaf pans.
Encourage kids to:
- Design blueprints for their forts
- Build walls using compacted snow bricks
- Decorate with icicles or pinecones
Snow forts encourage teamwork and patience, and they make a great base for snowball battles or imaginative games like “winter castle defense.”
Snow Bowling
Transform your snowy yard into a bowling alley with DIY snow bowling. This is a blast for all ages and incredibly easy to set up.
You’ll need:
- 10 empty plastic bottles (filled halfway with water for stability)
- A medium-sized snowball or any soft, round ball
- A flat surface on the snow to set the pins
Let the kids take turns rolling their snowball and keeping score. You can even assign silly names to each pin like “Frosty,” “Blizzard,” or “Sledzilla” for more laughs.
Animal Track Detective Game
After a fresh snowfall, head to a local park or trail and go on a nature detective walk. Look for animal tracks in the snow and try to identify which animals passed through the area.
Bring along a guidebook or use your phone (if it’s warm enough) to match tracks to common wildlife like rabbits, birds, deer, or foxes.
This activity promotes observation, curiosity, and a love for nature. It’s also a quiet, mindful way to enjoy the outdoors during winter.
Snowball Target Practice
Forget snowball fights (though those are fun too!)—set up a snowball target practice station for some safe and focused fun. Use cardboard boxes with holes cut out, hang up paper targets on trees, or stack plastic cups.
Create different levels of difficulty and award points for accuracy. This can be turned into a family challenge or a solo goal-setting game.
Variation: Assign different colored snowballs using food dye and give each player their color to keep track.
Winter Wildlife Feeding Station
Teach children about compassion for animals by building a snow-friendly bird or squirrel feeding station. Gather some pinecones, peanut butter (check for nut allergies), and birdseed to create homemade feeders. Tie them to branches or place them on top of snow mounds.
You can also:
- Scatter seeds in patterns or shapes
- Create a snow “buffet” with dried fruit and oats
- Track what kinds of animals come to visit over time
This outdoor activity teaches responsibility and appreciation for living things—even in winter.
Bonus Tips for Safe & Enjoyable Snow Play
While the snow opens up endless play opportunities, safety and comfort are essential. Here are some quick reminders before your kids head out:
- Dress in layers: Waterproof boots, thermal socks, gloves, hats, and insulated jackets are key.
- Stay hydrated: Cold weather can mask thirst, so remind kids to take water breaks.
- Use sunscreen: Snow reflects sunlight, which can cause sunburns even in winter.
- Take breaks: If kids start shivering, it’s time to head inside and warm up.
Make each outing feel special by following it up with a cozy warm drink, a family movie, or hot chocolate with marshmallows!
Celebrate Winter with Joy and Adventure
Winter should never be a season of boredom or screen overload. It’s a chance to explore, laugh, create, and make memories in a landscape that feels almost magical. By trying these 10 exciting snow activities, your kids will not only enjoy the outdoors but also develop essential physical, social and creative skills.
At The Kids Point, we’re committed to inspiring families to play, learn and grow together through every season. Whether it’s building snowmen, solving snowy scavenger hunts, or painting colorful masterpieces on a white canvas, every moment in the snow holds the potential for magic. So grab those mittens, head outside and let winter adventure begin!