Snow Kids
Adult-sized snowmen can be overwhelming for young kids, so bring the fun down to their level with mini-men! They're easy to reach and don't take as long to build as the bigger ones. Root through your kids' outgrown winter gear for jackets, mitts, hats and scarves. Other adornments to try: large buttons for eyes and mouths; mop heads or yarn for hair; soothers and rattles.
The Perfect Snowball
For the perfect snowball, you have to start with perfect snow: fresh, slightly wet white stuff binds together well. Temperatures around 0°C are the best: too warm and the snow is too slushy; too cold and there isn't enough moisture in the snow for it to hold together. Scoop the snow in both your hands and gently but firmly pack it into a ball, rolling it around in your hands so that it is evenly shaped. And then it's ready to lob (at your snowman only, of course!).
Spray Art
Fill a spray bottle with water and several drops of food colouring (until the water is nicely tinted) and let little Picassos go at the snow. Some ideas: Play tic-tac-toe, paint your snow angels and snowmen, make a target for snowball throwing, colour snow-covered trees. Tip: Make sure kids aim away from each other, as food dye stains.
For the Birds
While many feathered friends head south for the winter, you can still catch a glimpse of birds, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, finches and cardinals in many areas of Canada. Invite them into your yard with this cold-weather treat.
1. Cut a 4 cm (1 1/2 in.) x 1 cm ( 1/2 in.) piece of cardboard.
2. Fold a 38 cm (15 in.) length of string around the middle of the cardboard and tie it very tightly. Tie the ends of the string together to make a loop; this is your hanger.
3. Form a snowball around the cardboard square, being careful to leave a good portion of the hanger exposed.
4. Roll the snowball in birdseed - if it's not sticking well, spritz a little water on the ball and immediately roll the ball in the seed again.
5. Hang your snowball bird feeder on a tree - preferably outside a window so you can view the feast.
Alternative: Cover a pine cone in peanut butter and birdseed, and hang it from a tree with a piece of string or ribbon.
Making Tracks
A fresh snowfall is a great opportunity to see the tracks of squirrels, mice, cats, rabbits and foxes.
Or kids can make their own, more exotic tracks and baffle friends and neighbours, suggests Susan Dazzo, in her book, Mom's Guide to Being a Superhero. Draw shapes of different tracks, even dinosaurs if you like, on heavy cardboard. Cut them out, put a small hole on each side and attach them to boots with rubber bands or shoelaces.
Jewel Hunt
If you've got a group of kids, try this variation on a treasure hunt. Fill ice cube trays with water tinted with food colouring - make lots of cubes of different colours, but make only one red one. Hide them around your yard. Have a prize for the one with the most "jewels" and for the finder of the special red gem.
Cold Warning
Bundle kids up in layers and be sure ears and fingers are cozy. Kids feel the effects of the cold more quickly than adults and are more susceptible to frostbite, so be sure to pay attention to "I'm coooooold," even when you're not. And don't forget the sunscreen - the sun's rays can still be intense in winter, especially when they're reflected off the snow.
Frost Bites
Cold-weather adventurers need their fuel. Fill a thermos with hot chocolate or apple cider, and pack this no-bake snack mix:
2 cups (500 mL) Shreddies-type cereal
2 cups (500 mL) Cheerios-type cereal
1/2 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
1 cup (250 mL) dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 cup (125 mL) chocolate chips
In a large bowl, combine cereals and cinnamon. Toss in remaining ingredients and pour into a zip-top plastic bag. Tip: Pack plastic spoons so that kids don't have to remove their mitts.
Winter Birthdays
Sure it's tempting to rent the local pool - again - to celebrate your child's January birthday. But why not embrace the season rather than disdain it? Try these winter birthday ideas - just make sure all guests come prepared for an outdoor celebration:
Winter Olympics party Send out invitations shaped like gold medals or torches. Some events to try: shooting on goal, throwing snowballs at a target, sled pulling. The final event could be how quickly each team gets out of their winter gear. Don't forget the medal ceremony, where participants get cupcakes with gold sprinkles.
Snowman party Stock up on snowman invitations and decorations at after-Christmas sales. Have a snowman-building contest with prizes for silliest, most original, strangest, most beautiful.... (Make sure you have plenty of garb and accessories on hand.) Follow up with a snowman-shaped cake.
Nature party Inquire at your local conservation area or public farm about winter activities such as guided nature hikes and wagon rides. Many have education programs and group rates.
Toboggan party Decorate the front of the toboggans with birthday greetings (a new sled also makes a great gift). Spend an hour at your local hill and then head home for cake. Make sure you have lots of adult supervisors. For sledding tips, search "Slip Sliding Away" at Todaysparent.com.
Skating party Whether it's on a backyard rink or a rented one, shake up the traditional skating party with an obstacle course, hockey game or conga line. To learn how to make your own backyard rink, search "Ice Time" at Todaysparent.com.
Originally published in Today's Parent, January 2006. This content was current at the time of publication.
