As snow blankets your home and your city, it creates a blank slate for wintertime fun. Children easily come up with creative ways to paint their fresh, blank canvas with snow angels, forts and makeshift sledding hills. "When parents join their children in favourite winter activities, everyone benefits from the physical activity and the bonding experience of having fun together," says cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson, a Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson. "Parents love to spend time with their children, and research shows that when parents join their kids for healthy activities, it helps their children develop their minds, exercise their bodies and build lifelong physical activity habits." So, what better time to get out and active with your children than when their creativity and inspiration is building faster than the pile of snow on your driveway?
Ten tips to get your kids outdoors
Kids are not usually fazed by the cold – but make sure you and your children are properly dressed to avoid frost bite. Wear layers, water-proof boots, toques and gloves. Remember, children need 60 to 90 minutes of daily activity, most days of the week. Although you may be a bit chilly to start, you'll warm up pretty quickly with these activities.
- Build a snow fort. When the snow is sticky, it's a good time to get outside and make a fort or an igloo with your children. Roll up balls of snow and stack them up to create walls. Use a spray bottle of water when the snow isn't quite sticky enough. Afterwards, you can hide inside and share a hot apple cider.
- Make an ice rink. Children and adults love ice skating. Whether idly skating around the rink, playing hockey or simply sliding around in your boots, an ice rink is a great place to get active. Here are some tips on how to make a great rink in your own yard.
- Get your neighbours together for a snow-man making competition. After the kids and parents make their snowmen, walk through the neighbourhood and see what other people have done. It'll be like your own winter festival – right on your street.
- Play a snow-ball game. Instead of a baseball, use a snowball to play a winter version of baseball. Running in the snow makes the game extra challenging.
- Go out for a day of sledding and tobogganing with the family. Bring a thermos of hot cider and some fruits or veggies along for an after-sledding snack.
- Shovel a sledding hill. When you shovel your driveway, use the snow to make a hill for your kids to sled on.
- Have a scavenger hunt. Whether there's snow outside or not, scavenger hunts are a great way to get people outside in the winter. This is also a great way to teach your kids about nature and get them interested in going for a walk. Make a chart with different types of trees, birds, animal tracks and other things you'd find outside. Run, skip and jump your way along.
- Try a new sport! Winter is a great time to try hockey, curling, cross-country skiing, skiing or snowboarding. Ask about renting equipment if you're not sure about making a big investment.
- Play capture-the-flag, tag or other running games. Whether it's snowy or dry outside, these are great games to get your heart pumping and your body heated up in the wintertime.
- When winter weather is just too cold for outdoor play, don't dismay. Turn off the TV and gather the family for indoor games. Play Simon says, musical chairs, freeze frame (where dancers must stop as soon as the music stops), playing toss with a bean bag sock, indoor obstacle course, jumping or jumping jacks, hide and seek or any other favourite games.
Last reviewed December 2006.
