We may have plenty of snow outside for the kids to play with, but when it's too cold it's neither safe nor fun for kids to play outside in the snow for too long.
That doesn't mean they can't have plenty of fun with the snow inside, though!
Bring a big tub of it inside to the kitchen table or floor and you can take part in any number of fantastic activities with it.
Here are ten ways to bring the snow inside to spend some quality time with your kids.
1. Spray paint it with colored water.
2. Give the kids ice cube trays to pack the snow into bricks for building structures.
3. Set out ice cream scoops, small Tupperware containers and rinsed cans from the recycling bin for them to mold aliens, snowmen and snow beasts. Be sure to put out odds and ends like pipe cleaners and buttons for eyes and antennae! Afterwards, return them "to the wild" to stay cold and decorate outside.
4. Make snow ice cream.
5. Let the kids color it with dried out markers.
6. Make healthy snow cones. If you have fresh, clean snow (and don't live in a very polluted area), drizzle it with slightly diluted fruit juice concentrate for homemade, healthy treats.
7. Make watercolor snowballs.
8. Pack it in pie pans and give the kids colored water and eye droppers to make beautiful designs in it.
9. Bring a big pan of it into the bath. Kids can have fun making snowballs and melting them, experimenting with how it reacts to water and so on.
10. Give the kids various materials to experiment with. See what will melt the snow fastest and how various materials interact with snow. Try salt, sand, sugar, warm water, cold water and molasses, for instance. Tip: Use small bowls (or an ice cube tray) for the materials and baby spoons and eyedroppers.
11. Spread it out in a large container (we use an under-the-bed storage tub) and give your little one cars, trains and little city elements to make a snowy scene.
12. Use fun kitchen tools and toys with it. Bring in a big pan full and set out lots of tools to use to experiment with, such as playdough toys, chopsticks, meat tenderizers, candy molds, ravioli presses, whisks and anything that makes a fun design.
Tips: Spread out a couple of beach towels under your play area to help contain melting messes. Mittens can protect little hands from the cold.
Have fun!
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