There are many family snow activities which offer family winter fun. Just because the temperature has dropped doesn't mean you can no longer take your kids outside and watch them enjoy the beauty of nature. Family day snow activities can be as simple as making snow angels or having a snowball fight -- or even just catching flakes on your tongues and feeling the wetness on your cheeks.
One of the earliest snow activities we tried with our son was shoveling. He loved the idea that he was 'helping' daddy, and the two of them went up and down the driveway and the sidewalk, with son D mimicking his daddy's every move. As soon as our daughter got big enough, we sent her out with a shovel too...now, when we have snow, the two of them immediately put on their snow pants and gear and hightail it outdoors to be the first in line to help out. Family bonding happens in so many ways, and showing our kids how to do tasks they'll need for future years is a great way to build memories and enjoy time together.
The classic snow activity is sledding. We're fortunate to live in a hilly area, but even if you're on the flats, running (in good boots, of course) and pulling a saucer sled behind you still works for most kids. There's something about the family bonding and memories which come from sledding...I still recall the days I spent riding on our old sled, usually on my dad's back or sheltered between his legs. I remember the clouds coming from our mouths on those particularly cold days, the crunch of the snow beneath our feet as we hiked back to the top, and the exhilaration which held just a touch of fear as we flew down the hill. Our kids love to sled already, and we take them every chance we get.
A few years ago, we had a huge snow storm, followed about two weeks later with another huge storm. We had feet of snow, and that's when our kids learned about snow forts. Snow forts are wonderful family snow activities -- I still remember building them when I was a kid. My dad would give us tips on how to tunnel through the snow and how to pack it just so. We don't have tons of huge storms like that, but when we do, we try to take advantage of them.
The more obvious family snow activities such as skiing and snow-shoeing are also on our list. We took our son skiing for the first time last winter, and he loved it! We plan to get up a family skiing page soon...and hopefully we'll be able to share our daughter's first experiences then, as well. If you want some great Colorado skiing ideas, try here. As for snow-shoeing (and cross-country skiing), those are my favorite family snow activities. I can't wait to try them with our kids!
There are many family snow activities which offer family winter fun. Just because the temperature has dropped doesn't mean you can no longer take your kids outside and watch them enjoy the beauty of nature. Family day snow activities can be as simple as making snow angels or having a snowball fight -- or even just catching flakes on your tongues and feeling the wetness on your cheeks.
One of the earliest snow activities we tried with our son was shoveling. He loved the idea that he was 'helping' daddy, and the two of them went up and down the driveway and the sidewalk, with son D mimicking his daddy's every move. As soon as our daughter got big enough, we sent her out with a shovel too...now, when we have snow, the two of them immediately put on their snow pants and gear and hightail it outdoors to be the first in line to help out. Family bonding happens in so many ways, and showing our kids how to do tasks they'll need for future years is a great way to build memories and enjoy time together.
The classic snow activity is sledding. We're fortunate to live in a hilly area, but even if you're on the flats, running (in good boots, of course) and pulling a saucer sled behind you still works for most kids. There's something about the family bonding and memories which come from sledding...I still recall the days I spent riding on our old sled, usually on my dad's back or sheltered between his legs. I remember the clouds coming from our mouths on those particularly cold days, the crunch of the snow beneath our feet as we hiked back to the top, and the exhilaration which held just a touch of fear as we flew down the hill. Our kids love to sled already, and we take them every chance we get.
A few years ago, we had a huge snow storm, followed about two weeks later with another huge storm. We had feet of snow, and that's when our kids learned about snow forts. Snow forts are wonderful family snow activities -- I still remember building them when I was a kid. My dad would give us tips on how to tunnel through the snow and how to pack it just so. We don't have tons of huge storms like that, but when we do, we try to take advantage of them.
