With this past weekend’s huge snowstorm and another on the way, snow days can cause some unexpected changes to an au pair’s normal daily routine. She may not be used to having to find ways to entertain all the kids all day, so hopefully the ideas included here will be helpful–it looks like we may be snowed in for a bit!
I know there are some au pairs out there from our warmer countries who haven’t even seen snow before, so hopefully they will get out and try some of these things too!
- Snowmen: Everyone knows about building snowmen, but maybe you didn’t know about some variations on the age-old theme. Dress your snowmen (and women) in Halloween costumes or old clothing. Use drops of food coloring to make colorful streaks through the snowman’s sparkly flesh. Have contests to see who can make their snowman look most like the president, a favorite teacher, or Mom or Dad.
- Snow Turtles (or Owls or Alligators, Etc.): Create a wintertime zoo out of snow. You can sculpt just about anything out of snow with a little creativity. Start with turtles because a round mound is less frustrating than a complicated animal (such as a porcupine).
- Tracks: Lots of kids like to run across a field of freshly fallen snow just to see their tracks. Put a twist on this activity by having your kids create animal tracks. Check a field guide out of the library and let them study what different animal tracks look like. Then they can use different tools (wooden spoons, spades, empty spools, or whatever you have around the house) to recreate the tracks on your lawn. They might be able to trick neighbors into thinking a deer has run across their lawn.
- Snow Fort: This activity is so fun and so involved that you may have to remind your kids to take a break to warm up inside before finishing. I recall staying outside until after dark on a freezing night as a child because I was so involved with my snow fort. Snow fort building is more satisfying than sand castle building because the snow holds its shape better. Use the same principles as with sand castle building. Find big containers (paint buckets are great) to fill with snow. Then empty them upside down. That’s your basic building unit. The walls can grow very tall, so remember this activity when you have a giant snowfall, the kind that keeps everyone home for the day. Snow forts can get very elaborate; kids will make tunnels from fort to fort if they don’t run out of time or snow.
- Snowflake Catching: Snowflake catching is perfect for those gentle snowfalls with great big flakes. Don’t try it when a blizzard is blowing snow almost horizontally or your kids will run headlong into a tree with their mouths wide open. Not fun. Here’s how it works: Look up into the sky. As soon as you can decipher individual snowflakes, focus on one and follow it with your eyes as it floats down to the ground. Then catch it on your tongue. It’s fun to watch kids play this game because they look so funny staring at the sky, wandering back and forth with their tongues sticking out.
These snow activities are a springboard to the world of fun snow play. As you and your kids play these games, variations on each will develop, depending on the interests of those involved. So go ahead and bundle them up from head to toe, and don’t forget to have a good supply of hot cocoa on hand for when you come back inside.
INDOOR ACTIVITIES:
Of course, they may not want to stay outside all day, so the following site has some craft ideas as well:
Indoor and Outdoor Winter Crafts
Need more ideas: Google “fun snow activities for kids” or “fun snow activities for toddlers” and you should find more ideas of things to keep them busy on these long winter days!
Feel free to share ideas or photos with me of great activities that au pairs have done with kids — it’s fun to see what you’re up to and can be a great way to share ideas with others!
