Winter game ideas

29 fun games kids can play in the snow – Active For Life

Snow! It’s basically winter’s sand. You can roll in it. You can build with it. And you don’t want it in your home.  

Kids love to play in fresh snow. Do they want to build a snowman? Of course they do! But there are so many other activities your kids can do to have fun and keep moving once winter comes along. From sledding to snowball fights, catching snowflakes and making snow angels, wintertime affords the whole family so many options and so much fun.

Wrap your kids up warmly and get them outdoors to play in the snow. They’ll be active, they’ll get fresh air, and they may never again want to trade snow in for sand. 

1. Buried (in snow) treasure hunt

Unleash your child’s inner pirate and send them off to find hidden loot. Hide a number of items in an area of snow (large or small depending on the age of your child) and let your kids know what you’ve buried (12 toy cars, 15 plastic dinosaurs, etc. ). They’ll love digging to find the treasure.

2. Snow baking

Pack hard snow onto a cookie sheet and use different shapes of cookie cutters to create snow cookies. Move the “cookies” onto a second cookie pan and pretend-bake for as long as your child’s imagination feels it should take to make the perfect treat. Decorate the cookies with bits of twigs, berries, or any other items kids discover near their baking area. This fun activity is a crowd-pleaser among many different age groups.

3. Snow maze

Use shovels, snowshoes, or just your plain old feet to dig a maze at home around your yard or local park. Kids will love finding their way through the twists and turns.

4. Winter scavenger hunt

Make a winter scavenger hunt together. You can look for icicles, snowmen, holiday lights on people’s houses, a pet wearing a winter coat, a shovel, animal tracks in snow, a squirrel, a pine cone, a red hat, or a dead leaf. Kids love to find each item and to cross out the object on the list. Make the list longer for the older crowd and smaller for the little ones.

5. Throw the buttons on the snowman

Build a snowman and take turns throwing rocks to “button up his coat.” Make sure everyone’s standing back so no one gets their own coat buttoned up!

Related read: How to dress for the weather in every season

6. Winter bubble blowing

On a really, really cold day take regular old “bubble juice” and wands outside to see the beauty that icy bubbles make. Kids will oooh and aaah when they see the cool shapes float in the air or land on surfaces in icy globes. See if they can catch the bubbles in their hands before they burst. Use a variety of wands to see an even bigger variety of icy bubbles.

7. Snowball targets

To redirect your kids from throwing snowballs at their siblings or friends, set up a variety of bulls-eyes to redirect their fun. To make targets, draw chalk squares on a wall, or see how high your kids can throw their snowballs at a tree trunk. Or make targets on the ground with hula hoops, a circle of rocks, or a ring “drawn” using coloured water in a spray bottle.

8. Snow raceway

Bring out your child’s toy cars and use shovels and mittened hands to build an Indy-inspired track. Be sure to include twists, turns, and even ramps for the cars to slide down.

9. Snow golf

Bury a bowl or empty can with the opening facing up under the snow. Use the bottom of a shovel or a lid of a storage tub to even out the snow into a smooth “putting green” that your kids can use to practice their short game. Snow games are the best games!

10. Snow volcano

Combining science and outdoor play could not get any more fun (and, trust me, when I did this with my four-year-old, we were both very excited!) Make a mountain of snow about adult-shin height and bury a small bowl or empty water bottle at the top. Pack snow around the container and make sure the top isn’t blocked by the snow. Fill the container with vinegar and a few drops of food colouring. Give your child a heaping tablespoon of baking soda, have them dump it in, and stand back while the “lava” flows. As the bubbling starts to slow, add more baking soda to get the volcano erupting again.

11. Snow obstacle course

The combinations and permutations of this activity are endless! Put together an easier course for the younger crowd and a harder one for the older set. Have kids jump over hurdles made of snow, run around, do three jumping jacks, roll five snowballs, throw those snowballs into a bucket at a certain distance away, twist a hula hoop around themselves, and crawl through the snow to the finish line.

Related read: Mastering movement skills on ice and snow

12. Snow fort

Kids love to have their own hangout spot, especially when they’ve built it themselves (or with a little help from their parents). Bring out empty planter boxes or tubs and pack them with snow to make igloo-like bricks for walls. Want even bigger bricks? Use recycling tubs! To make the walls super-sturdy, pour water on them overnight to freeze them. To make your fort stand out, use food-coloured water in a spray bottle to decorate, or use sticks and leaves to make flags.

13. GIANT snowball

Kids may use up all of the snow in your yard or local playground pushing a snowball to make it bigger, and bigger, and…

14. Hoop rolling

Hula hoops aren’t just for summer! How far can you roll a hoop along, or down, a snowy surface?

15. Snow creature

Instead of a snow “man,” have your kids build a snow dog, a snow bunny, a snow turtle, or a snow caterpillar. Or tie in a Halloween feel (we’re really mixing up seasons!) and build as crazy a monster as your kids can imagine.

16.

Pull out your shovels and pails and have your kids make the castles of their dreams. Pack snow into pails just like you’d do with sand and make perfect (or not) towers. Decorate your castle with any nature elements you can find, such as a leaf for a flag or twigs for a path to the palace.

17.

With leaves off trees, it’s much easier to spot the nests of animals such as squirrels, birds, and raccoons. It’s also possible to spot empty wasps’ nests still hanging around after the summer and fall.

18. Snowball knockdown

Roll a number of snowballs together and stack them into a tower. Give your kids balls or beanbags and have them knock that tower down. How many tries will it take? (And how tall can a parent build a tower of snowballs without it falling down?)

19. Snow balance beam

Use the snow from shoveling your sidewalk or driveway to build up a beam out of snow. See if your child can walk all the way across. Make sure the beam is surrounded by soft snow so if they fall, the landing will be easy. Once they’ve mastered the beam, see if they can walk across holding an item like a snowball on their head without the ball falling off. Can they walk backwards on the beam?

Related read: How to develop snowboarding skills indoors

20.

Take a walk or hike and see what animals have been ambling around your yard, local park, schoolyard, or hiking trails. Can you tell if raccoons, squirrels, cats, dogs, deer, skunks, foxes, otters, or birds have been bouncing, galloping, or walking in the snow? Have your kids take a sketchbook along to draw the tracks for further fun.

21. Snow shovel relay race

Put out large buckets or tubs for each kid playing, and have them race around using their hands to pick up and dump snow into their bucket in a certain amount of time (five minutes is plenty). The winner will have the most snow in their bucket. If the snow is sticky, use the snow in the buckets to build snow castles or to make a snow fort.

22. Follow the Leader

Choose one child to be the leader and have the rest line up behind them. The first child walks in the snow with the others walking in their footprints. The leader can take giant steps, zigzag, or make tiny tracks. As often as the leader decides, they must stop in place and make a movement such as a jump, a crazy dance, or a jumping jack.   The others must then copy the movement before moving on. Make sure to step in the footprints!

23. Build an upside-down snowman

Turn a traditional winter activity on its head! The tricky part is having the smaller snowball on the bottom but there’s so much fun to be had balancing the larger snowballs above it.

24. Snow slide

Leave your outdoor slides outside for the winter. Slides become super-slippery if you throw snow on them. Have kids land on a regular snowy ground or build up a pile of snow for your kids to slide into.

25. Snow paint

Fill spray bottles with water and food colouring. There’s no limit to the designs your child can create!

Related read: Try this winter bucket list

26. Make your own snowfall

Have little ones sit on the ground or bigger ones stand, and have them, or you, throw snow in the air. Kids will love trying to catch the snow as it falls to the ground.

27. Roll down snowy hills

While this might cause parents like me to feel dizzy at the thought of it, kids will feel exhilarated and giggling is almost definitely guaranteed. Have them cross their arms around the body and set themselves a-rollin’!

28. Snow construction site

Bring your children’s building toys, such as dump trucks, diggers, excavators, front loaders, and bulldozers, outside and have them dig, push, and dump. Kids love having material to move around with their construction toys, which is why snow makes the perfect substance for these trucks.

29. Long jump

Make a start line in the snow by using a stick to draw a line, or with a skipping rope, and see how far your child can jump. Snow makes a soft landing spot! Can your child jump a further distance?

Snow is the best reason to get outside in the winter! Bundle up, enjoy the winter wonderland, and once you’ve headed indoors, a small cup of hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows) is the perfect way to cap off a snowy, active day. And if your kids exhaust this list? I’m sure there’s always a car to brush off or a sidewalk they can clear!

40 Indoor and Outdoor Winter Games for Kids

When the summer heat finally breaks, the last leaves fall, and the first flakes have fallen, it's thrilling. Holiday seasons are in full swing and everyone is happy--if not a little stressed. But when it all ends, the wrapping paper is thrown out, the fireworks have been shot, what are you left with? 3 more months of cold and slush. When you don't want your kids sitting in front of the tv or computer, it can be really exhausting to try to figure out what to do to help the dark, slow days pass by with purpose and fun. That's why this list of winter activities was created to help you keep your kids busy!

There's nothing quite like building forts and arming everyone with different Nerf weapons to the entire family and letting everyone play. Make sure you hide anything fragile though!

Learn more: Happy Mom Hacks

Maybe you don't feel like being shot at with foamy darts. That's fair. Instead, try setting up targets around the house. You can use water bottles, plastic or paper cups, paper plates, or anything else you might like. Whoever has the best aim wins!

Learn more: Happy Mom Hacks

Never underestimate the power of a good, old-fashioned game of cards, especially Uno. This game is super fun for travel & family game night, as well as for entertaining kids without having to put too much thought or planning into it. Just go on Amazon, order some cards, and you're ready to go!

Learn more: Household Management 101

When the temperature dips into subzero temperatures, you might be craving an indoor game to keep you moving and warm. Nothing is simpler than blowing up a balloon, tossing it in the air, and yelling "go!"

Learn more: Kid Spot

It's never too cold outside to practice your balance! Using painter's tape, create a line on the floor as long and as zig-zaggy as you please. Have your child see if they can walk the whole line. Then, have them do it backward, too. When they're done, tape a new line.

Learn more: Family Fun Twin Cities

If you love hockey, but you don't want to deal with the ice of the winter season, just play it indoors--with socks! Create goals with plastic laundry baskets, select a goalie, and use socks as pucks to throw around!

Learn more: Family Fun Twin Cities

This popular summer camp game is actually really easy to play indoors! Simply divide up the family into 2 teams, have each team hide their flag, and begin the hunt! The first team to capture the other's flag wins.

Learn more: Pivot

Looking for something a little less active? Try Fish Bowl! Similar to charades, everyone writes down 3 nouns (person, place, or thing). All 3 of the nouns go in the bowl, then you split into 2 teams. The game is played in 3 rounds. A round is over when all the paper slips have been guessed. One player at a time goes up for 30 seconds and pulls a slip of paper out of the bowl, then their team has to guess what is on the paper. If they guess it before time runs out, that same player draws another slip and the process is repeated. At the end of the round, all the slips go back in and the next round begins. In the first round, they can use words to explain it. The second round only motions/movements. The third round is a single word. Whichever team has the most points at the end of the 3 rounds, wins!

Learn more: Fun Attic

Using pins (or water bottles) and a ball, set up your own indoor bowling alley! This indoor activity is simple and easy fun for all. Simply keep score as you usually would and have fun!

Learn more: Preschool Toolkit

This next indoor activity can be as easy or as difficult as you choose to make it! Take vague pictures of or describe objects around your house and send the kids out to find them. Each household object provides a new clue for where to go next. The winner gets the prize at the end.

Learn more: Thirty Handmade Days

There's nothing more satisfying than watching a giant domino chain reaction. While the winter season is in full swing, take the time to set one up. The longer it stretches, the better!

Learn more: Hevesh5

If your domino extravaganza isn't enough satisfaction for you, try spending your winter day building a Rube Goldberg machine! It doesn't have to be too involved, but it can be if you'd like it to be. If you have multiple kids to entertain, try making it a competition!

Learn more: Scout Life

13. Paper Airplane Contest

Gather lots of paper for this one! Have everyone make a few paper airplanes out of sheets of paper using different folding techniques. Then see whose can fly the furthest, the most accurate, or the highest!

Learn more: The Thinker Builder

Sometimes on a cold winter day, you really miss the fun activities of summer. The good news is, one of these activities is easily done inside, too! A bubble activity could be just what you need. Just get some containers of bubble solution or make your own with dish detergent and water in a metal dish. Dip a bubble stick in and blow!

Learn more: 23 Brilliant Bubble Activities for Kids

Set up different cups and dishes in the bathtub, then let your kid pretend to be a mad scientist as he/she concocts all different soap/water ratios. Bubbles and kid giggles galore! If you plan ahead, you can even try bubble path potions!

Learn more: MrBubbleBubbleBath

16. Read a book

Never underestimate the power of sitting down and reading a book. Sometimes just the simplest activity can turn a dull snow day into an adventure. Plus, instilling a lifelong love of reading in kids starts when they're young!

Learn more: Scientific American Blog

If you really get hit hard by the winter weather and find yourself with a large amount of fluffy, cold snow, try bringing it into you to enjoy this fun winter activity! Using buckets, fill your tub with snow then let yourselves scoop, mold, and build whatever you can think of. When you're done, let it all melt down the drain.

Learn more: Totally The Bomb

Do you want to build a snowman? No, not really? Well, how about an indoor snowman instead of a regular snowman? This activity is simple! Just fill a metal pan (or even a shoebox) with corn starch and shaving cream until you have the right consistency, then build away!

Learn more: Modern Parents Messy Kids

19. Paper Snowflakes

If outside is cold, but lacking the "winter wonderland" look, make it yourself! You'll need scissors, white paper (LOTS of paper), and your hands. Fold the sheet of paper into a triangle three times, then cut along all of the sides. When you open it up, you should have a 5-inch paper snowflake with your unique artistic design! Hang them up to create a winter-themed wonderland!

Learn more: HGTV

Once you've decided to put on your winter coat, snow boots, and scarf to venture out into the cold winter air, you might as well drop down and immerse yourself completely! Spread your arms and legs and pull them back into yourself to create some of the most magical snow angels.

Learn more: Time

This outdoor snow activity will be the sweetest part of your day! Just heat up some pure maple syrup on the stove, then go outside and (making sure to use clean snow) pour strips of the hot syrup on your clean snow. Watch as it hardens into candy, then enjoy!

Learn more: Happy Hooligans

If you've got a lot of snow for this snow day, you can easily build an igloo. This may seem difficult, but all you really need to do is mound up snow into a huge pile, then use a snow shovel to hollow it out (not too thin, though). Crawl on in!

Learn more: Your Modern Family

Some outdoor snow games that are great for the color-enthusiasts in your life: painting snow. To do this, simply fill a spray bottle or two with water, add in food coloring, and spray your food-colored-tinted water on the snow to color it. Coloring ✓ Snow ✓happiness ✓

Learn more: Glued to my Crafts Blog

Missing the beach? Ease the pain with a little snow castle building! It's the same concept as with sand, but you might want to wear gloves or your finger will get a little cold. Take it a step further and make it giant so kids can play in it!

Learn more: Chicago Parent

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Gather everyone up and see who can make the biggest snowball! Or work together to make something truly spectacular!

Learn more: The Backyard Gnome

Once you've rolled your giant snowballs, use them to help you out with one of the best snow activities of all time--building a snowman! Stack 3 balls of snow on top of each other, then add some sticks as arms, a scarf, a carrot nose, and a pebble face. Add a top hat if you've got one!

Learn more: Fun Boy

Another fun activity that you can do is sledding. All you need is a sled (or a flat metal pan or smooth trash can lid) and a hill. Have fun and be careful!

Learn more: Backyard Sidekick

This can be done indoors or outdoors at a skating rink. If you go somewhere public, just rent some ice skates and put them on! Kids can often use traffic cones or skate walkers to help them stay up while they learn the basics. If skating on a lake, make sure it's solidly frozen all the way through.

Learn more: Today's Parent

Build some snowballs and have kids pass them from person to person using spoons as they compete in a snowball relay race! This activity during winter can also be played indoors.

Learn more: Party Game Ideas

Gather some heavy-duty balloons, food dye, and glitter (if you want). Drop a bit of food dye into the balloons, add the optional glitter, and fill the balloons with water. Be careful not to fill the balloons with water all the way! Set them outside in subzero temperatures or in the freezer. When they're solid, peel away the balloon.

Learn more: Exploratorium

12. Snow Maze

Shovel paths through the snow to create a maze. Your limit is how much land you have!

Learn more: Life with Moore Babies

There's nothing crisper than a clear winter night. Grab some hot chocolate and find the winter constellations!

Learn more: Sunset

Learning is easiest when you're young! Get a cheap kid's snowboard or skis, and let your kids play on soft hills to practice the basic skills. Before you know it, you'll have a WinterKids Winter Games in your own backyard!

Learn more: Men's Journal

Build up a snowball around small toys (or even puzzle pieces that can get a little wet). Have kids smash the snowballs to find them all! You can also use sheets of paper.

Learn more: Speckled Egg

Mound up snow on different levels and place buckets with black construction paper numbers on them on the snow. Then try to roll snowballs into the buckets!

Learn more: Everyday Dishes

Using whatever you can find (hula hoops, sleds, balls, just mounds of snow) build an obstacle course! Have kids go through it forwards, backward, and however else you can think of!

Learn more: Paper Heart Family

Draw a tic-tac-toe board in the snow. Using pinecones and sticks, play the game on a large, kinesthetic board!

Learn more: Building Our Story

This bubble activity works best in subzero temperatures. Using containers of bubble solution, blow the bubble softly and let it freeze on the wand!

Learn more: Building Our Story

Using the facial pieces from a Mr./Mrs. Potato Head kit, create snow potatoes, and decorate their faces. It's like a mini snowman, but sillier!

Learn more: Building Our Story

Winter fun: 17 active games and other outdoor activities

January 2 Likbez Life

When skates and skis are already tired.

1. Modeling a snowman and other figures

If loose and sticky snow has fallen, then it's time to make a snowman! You can not limit yourself to a standard snowman with a bucket on your head, but show your imagination and make something unusual. Watercolors or gouache, old clothes and any other props that come to mind will help you with this. nine0003

Show your imagination ☃️

• 20 snow figures that are easy to make by yourself and with children

Also, making a snowman can be turned into a fun game: who will roll up the biggest ball in a limited time. To do this, you need to divide into teams (it is better that there are no more than two participants in each), note the time (5 or 10 minutes) and give a signal to start the competition. After the time runs out, the participants determine the largest ball, and those who blinded it become the winners. The resulting snow globe can be made the basis for a common large snowman. nine0003 Photo: FamVeld / Shutterstock

2. Building a slide

You can build an ice slide on your own property or even in the city yard. It is not difficult to make it: heat the snow, tamp it down, fill it with water and wait until it freezes. See our separate article for more detailed instructions.

Children will be happy, especially if they are involved in the process.

3. "King of the Hill"

For this game you need to find a high snowdrift of dense snow or throw a snowy "mountain" yourself. Its height depends on the age of the players. nine0003

One of the players rises to the top and becomes its "king". He must prevent the rest from taking the "throne", because the goal of each other participant is to become the king of the hill himself. Since during the game the participants will often fall, it is necessary to take care of safety: make sure that there is a layer of soft snow under the “mountain”, and there are no fences, trees, corners of buildings and cars nearby that you can hit or get hurt.

4. "Icicles"

For this game, a circle with a diameter of about 5 meters is drawn on the snow with a small depression in the center. 10-12 pieces of ice are placed in it. It does not have to be just pieces of ice: you can use small pieces of wood, cardboard, and so on. nine0003

Players choose a driver who stands in the center of the circle. The rest of the participants are distributed outside of it. Their task is to pull (or knock out) all the ice pieces outside the playing area. Players can enter the circle, and the driver can only be inside it. If the driver touches one of the participants, the "singed" takes his place. The game ends when all the pieces of ice have left the playing area.

5. Playing snowballs and building snow forts

Both adults and children like to play snowballs, as this is a great opportunity to spend time actively with friends or family. The construction of snow fortresses will help to diversify the process. In this case, the snowballs will turn into a full-fledged snow battle. You can introduce a rule: the one who is hit by a snowball is out of the game.

6. “Who is on the mountain?”

For this fun, a big snowball is molded, which will play the role of a mountain. Participants stand around him, holding hands. On command, each of them must pull the neighbors to the "mountain" and try not to fall on it himself. Those who still touched the “mountain” are eliminated. nine0003

7. Dodgeball

To play this game, participants stand in two lines opposite each other. There should be 3-4 steps between players, and 12-15 steps between lines. A leader is also selected who will give commands. He must either know the participants by name, or distribute them by numbers (the same for both teams). The host calls the names or numbers of the participants, and after they have responded, commands: “Pli!” After that, the named players must make snowballs and throw them at each other. nine0003

It is allowed to dodge and crouch, but not to move. The one who is hit by a snowball is out. The participant who “knocked out” his opponent can throw a snowball at any of the opposing team. The team with no players left loses.

The facilitator must give instructions quickly so that the game does not stall and is fun.

8. Vorottsa

Ordinary slides can be made even more fun. Below, under the hill, build a gate of snow, sticks without sharp ends or spruce branches. They do not have to be in the center of the descent, because the task is just to slide down and get into the gate. You can ride on anything: on a snow scooter, ordinary sleds, tubing or just on an ice rink. nine0003

9. “Battlefield”

For this game, you also need to split into teams: “shooters” and “targets”. "Targets" are divided into two lines and stand 15 steps opposite each other. The “arrows” do the same, standing in two lines perpendicular to the “arrows”. The resulting square is the battlefield.

On a signal, one of the "targets" group runs to his teammates from the opposite side. His task is to dodge snowballs, and the goal of the “shooters” is to hit the runner on the spot in order to knock him out of the game. As soon as one of the "targets" ran to another line or dropped out of the game, the next one starts moving from the opposite side. After several rounds, the teams change places. nine0003

10. "Snowball tag"

For this fun, you need to designate a large square, which will become a playground. All players are on it, except for two drivers. It is impossible to run outside the square, otherwise the offender will join the drivers. They must hit the rest of the players with snowballs: in this way, the drivers knock other participants out of the game. You can add a rule that the dropouts also throw snowballs. Those two, in which they could not get into, become the new drivers.

11. Winter football

If you miss summer and its entertainment, arrange winter football! Mark the goal in the snow, split into two teams and simplify the rules a bit, because playing in the snow is not only more fun, but also more difficult. For example, you can cancel goalkeepers and not penalize random handball.

12. Sled racing

You can arrange real races on sleds if you divide into crews: one person is carrying, the other is driving. You can come up with a difficult route or just compete on a straight line. It is best if parents or older children are carrying. nine0003

In another version of the race, you can remove the drivers so that the “riders” ride on their own with the help of their legs. To do this, it is better to find a flat area and mark the start and finish lines on it. For more fun and excitement, participants can sit on the sled in pairs.

Another variation of sled racing can be the relay race. In this case, it is also desirable to choose a flat area with marked start and turn lines. To do this, you need to break into teams with an even number of participants in order to make several pairs of them. The first crews get on the line, start at the signal, reach the opposite side of the site, turn around and come back. Then the next pair goes. The team, all the “crews” of which complete the relay faster, wins. nine0003

To add to the fun, you can come up with additional conditions. For example, leave one sled for each team so that the “crews” change every time. Or arrange a relay race in which each participant must pass his stage himself, sitting on a sled and pushing off with his feet.

13. "Who is stronger"

You can also arrange an analogue of tug of war on the sled. To do this, two participants sit on the same sled with their backs to each other and with the help of their legs try to leave each in their own direction. Also, one participant may try to leave, and the second must slow him down. nine0003

There is a third version of this fun: participants on two sleds are placed opposite each other. Each holds a rope from the opponent's sled. On a signal, they should try to pull each other to their side.

Unfortunately, not all regions of our country have enough snow in winter for the activities described above. Therefore, we offer several options for a situation where there is little or no snow at all.

14. "Two Santa Clauses"

For this game, with the help of a rhyme, you need to choose two drivers - Santa Clauses. After that, mark two lines at a distance of 15-20 steps. On one of them stand the rest of the participants. nine0003

To add a New Year's mood (especially if children are playing), Frost can say: “I am Red Nose Frost!”, “And I am Blue Nose Frost!” Then they give a start to the beginning of the game: “Well, which of you will decide to go on a path?” The players answer: “We are not afraid of threats, and we are not afraid of frost!”. And the Frosts command: "One, two, three - run!"

After that, the players run to the opposite line, and the Frosts must touch the participants so that they stop on the spot - “freeze”. When all the players, except for the “frozen”, reach the goal, the drivers give the command for the next start. During each subsequent race, participants can “unfreeze” less fortunate teammates with a touch. nine0003

Another version of this game involves dividing the participants into two teams and standing facing each other so that there are 15–20 steps between groups. Frost is chosen from each team. On a signal, one player runs out from both sides. Their task is to run to the opposite team. Frosts, on the other hand, try to hit the members of the other team with snowballs in order to “freeze” them. "Frozen" should freeze in place. As soon as the player reaches the opposite side or is “frozen”, the next one starts moving. nine0003

15. “North wind, south wind”

For this game, participants choose two drivers. One becomes the North wind and the other becomes the South. The rest of the players run around the court. The north wind catches the contestants and "freezes" them to make the contestants stop. And the South wind “thaws”, touching them with his hand and saying loudly: “Free”. Moreover, the South wind can also be “frozen”.

It is best if the game takes place on a limited area, and the South Wind could not be frozen permanently - for example, only for the time in which he counts out loud to 30.

16. Twelve Sticks

To play Twelve Sticks, you need a wooden board set on a stone or block so that one part of it is up and the other is on the ground or snow. It turns out a kind of "swing". On the half of the board that lies on the ground, put 12 small sticks. The first driver is also selected.

The game begins when one of the players, having stepped sharply on the top edge of the board, scatters the sticks. After that, the driver must collect them, and the rest are hiding at this time. The task of the driver is to find them. Having learned where one of the participants is hiding, the driver must loudly shout his name, and also indicate the place where he took refuge. If the driver named everything correctly, the one found should go out. nine0003

While the driver is searching, one of the participants can imperceptibly run up to the board and, shouting “Twelve sticks are flying!”, scatter the sticks again. While the driver collects them, all the detected players can again hide, and they will have to be searched again. 17. Winter has come . The driver says: “Today it’s warm, the sun is shining, go for a walk!” - and the players run out of cover to the site. When the driver says “Winter has come! Hurry home! ”, the other participants in the game again run for cover. And the driver tries to catch them before they have time to hide. nine0003

Dress warmly, go outside more often and enjoy life!

Read also ☃️🛷🎄

• 50 activities that will not let you get bored on New Year's holidays
• What to do in order not to gain weight over the holidays
• How to celebrate the New Year: 25 ideas for every mood
• How to fill the ice rink right in your backyard

10 outdoor winter games for the whole family

Photos: Depositphotos / Illustrations: Julia Zamzhitskaya

Together with Nadezhda Kulikova, the creator of the 4D Games: Children, Movement, Friendship, Yard festival, we have prepared a selection of active games for the whole family.

Photo: Yulia Neumolotova / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhitskaya

Age : 5+
Number of players: from three participants.
Equipment: colored water, ice. nine0003

Rules: The sun is drawn on a snowy field with colored water — a circle two or three meters in diameter and beams 1.5 meters long. At the end of each beam there is a participant with an "icicle". At the signal of the host, the participants, jumping on one leg, try to drive the "ice" into the circle and back. Participants must jump strictly along the beam forward to the circle on the right foot and back on the left.

If there is no snow, ice can be replaced with a pebble or a puck, and colored water with a long cord or ropes. nine0003

What develops: eye, accuracy, orientation in space, coordination of movements.

Photo: Tatiana Mryats / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 5+
Number of players: from 3 participants.
Equipment: stick 80-100 cm long.

Rules: Children stand around a stick with one end on the ground. Participants take the stick with their right hand and walk around it. In this case, the players pronounce the words:

We walked, walked, walked!
We found a staff!
That staff was magical,
Our hands stuck!
Tili-mili-trommy…
All stuck except….

At this point the facilitator calls someone's name. The named player must jump back, the other players continue to move. The task of the players is to react in time and hold the staff.

To make the game more difficult, ask the participants to walk around the staff on tiptoe, backwards or in a semi-squat position. nine0003

What develops: attention, coordination of movements, endurance, ability to play in a team.

Photo: Anastasia Davydova / Illustrations: Julia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 5+
Number of players: from 4 participants.
Inventory: "magic wand", cape for the snow queen.

Rules: With the help of a rhyme, two drivers are determined: the Snow Queen and Gerda. The players, along with Gerda, are on the court, and the Snow Queen is on the sidelines. Children read a poem:

You are the Queen of Ice and Snow,
Your dress is the color of the sky.
Cold, cold, blizzards -
These are your servants.
But at heart you are tender.
Snow Queen

At the end of the poem, the children run around the playground. The Snow Queen is trying to catch up with them and "freeze". The one touched by the Snow Queen turns into an "icicle" and remains standing still. Only Gerda can save the "ice" if she touches it with her hand. The game ends when all players are frozen. nine0003

What develops: attention, endurance, speed and dexterity, memory, expressive reading, ability to play in a team.

Photo: Tatyana Trefilova / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 4+
Number of players: from 3 participants.
Stock: not required.

Rules: The lead hoe stands up and extends his arm forward, palm down. Each participant places their fingers under the palm of their hand. Host says:

Hares were standing on the mountain
And they shouted: “Hide your fingers!”
Tsap!

At the last word, the "hook" tries to grab someone's finger, and the players must remove them in time. Children who managed to grab the finger are out of the game and step aside. The dropouts jump in place on two or one foot until a new dropout appears and comes up with a new move. The game ends when the "king" catches everyone.

What develops: attention, reaction speed, memory, expressive reading, coordination of movements. nine0003

Photo: Lyailya Gracheva / Illustrations: Julia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 5+
Number of players: from 3 participants.
Equipment: snowman hat or scarf.

Rules: Players dance around the "snowman", singing a poem and performing movements according to the text:

Dashing sideways
Old bucket.
Leaned on the fence
Snowman Yegorka. nine0135 His nose is on fire
Fun and bright.
There is a big frost in the yard,
And Yegorka is hot.
One, two, three,
Egorka, catch up with us!

At the end of the poem, the participants scatter in different directions, and the snowman tries to catch them while the music is playing.

What develops: attention, dexterity, memory, expressive reading, coordination of movements.

Photo: Galina Turchaninova / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 1.5+.
Number of players: from 3 participants.
Stock: not required.

Rules: Players approach the “bear” sleeping at the end of the court. They “gather” mushrooms and “put” them into an imaginary box, singing:

At the bear’s forest
I take mushrooms and berries.
And the bear is sleeping
And he doesn’t look at us”

Then the players approach the bear even closer and say:

“We caressed the bear,
We tickled him.
The bear growled - trouble!
Run away whoever!

On the last line, behaving in accordance with the text of the poem, the bear is stroked and tickled, and then they scatter. The task of the bear is to catch the players who violated the dream.

What develops: artistry, attention, memory and concentration, dexterity, speed.

Photo: Tatyana Martynenko / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 5+
Number of players: from 5 participants.
Equipment: colored blue water, penguin masks, medals according to the number of participants.

Rules: On a snowy platform, two ice floes are outlined with blue water, on which driver penguins stand. The remaining penguin players are randomly placed around the court. On the command “One, two, three, we went to catch,” the penguins begin to catch the penguins, taking them to their ice floe and handing them fish medals. The task of the penguins is to catch as many penguins as possible. nine0003

What develops: attention, artistry, memory and concentration, dexterity, speed.

Photo: Yulia Filatova / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 5+
Number of players: from 3 participants.
Equipment: clothespins.

Rules: A “chicken” is chosen by a rhyme - clothespins are attached to her clothes. Players scatter, "chicken" tells the story:

The hen began to count little chickens,
Yellow five and black five,
And only ten.

At the words “only a dozen”, the chicken starts running and clucking, and the players try to remove the clothespins from it, without allowing themselves to be touched. Whoever is touched by the hen becomes a hen himself.

What develops: attention, artistry, memory and concentration, dexterity, speed.

Photo: Ekaterina Grebina / Illustrations: Yulia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 3+.
Number of players: from 2 participants.
Equipment: rod with a cardboard mosquito.

Rules: The host holds a rod 1-1.2 meters long with a cardboard mosquito tied to a cord. The length of the cord is 50 cm. The teacher draws a rod slightly above the heads of the players, depicting the flight of a mosquito. The task of the players is to catch a mosquito. You can catch it only with two hands, without moving from the spot and bouncing on two legs. nine0003

What develops: attention, concentration, dexterity, speed.

Photo: Gavrilova Svetlana / Illustrations: Julia Zamzhtsikaya

Age: 3+
Number of players: from 2 participants.
Inventory: fox mask

Rules: With the help of a rhyme, a fox is selected. The fox sits in the center and pretends to be asleep, the rest of the bunny players dance around the fox and say:

Cunning cheat,
Red head,
Fox mink in the ground,
The sly one sleeps in warmth.
After the players stop the round dance and quietly say:
Fox, open your eyes,
Have fun with us!

The bunnies repeat the request to wake up twice, each time increasing the volume. When the fox wakes up, the bunnies stretch out their “tails” in front of them. The task of the fox is to hit the bunny on the palms, and the bunny must have time to remove the palms behind the back. The one whom the fox touched on the palms is out.

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  Short 2 minute stories
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  Seven year old activities
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  Prepositions on in under
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  Show and tell for the letter j
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