Are you looking for fun outdoor activities to keep your daycare kids entertained during winter? Look no further! We’ve put together a list of 10 exciting outdoor activities to keep the little ones engaged and active. From building a snow fort to going on nature walks, there’s something for everyone on this list. So get out there and enjoy the winter weather!
1. Make A Snowperson
One of the most important things to consider when making a snowman is choosing the right spot. You want to find an area with enough snow for packing but not so much that it’s challenging to move around. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, it’s time to start making the body. Have your kids help you pack two large balls of snow for the body and one smaller ball for the head. Once you have the balls packed, you can start adding the features. Use sticks or carrots for the arms and buttons or rocks for the eyes and mouth. Finally, it’s time to decorate your snowperson. Have your kids help you choose hats, scarves, and other accessories to give your snowman personality.
2. Make Snow Animals
Another fun winter activity is building a habitat for snow animals. Have your kids help you build tunnels out of snow to get started. The animals will use these as their homes. Once the tunnels are made, it’s time to start creating the animals themselves. For example, you can use a small snowball for a lion’s body and a scarf for the mane. Be creative and have fun!
3. Build A Fort Out Of Snow
What You’ll Need
Building a snow fort is a reasonably straightforward process, but you’ll need a few things to get started. Of course, you’ll need snow – the more, the better. You’ll also need some large cardboard boxes, a shovel, and a few other household items like towels, blankets, and pillows.
Getting Started
Getting started is one of the most complex parts of building a snow fort. The key is to start small and work your way up. Have the kids start by packing snow into balls. Once they’ve got the hang of that, they can begin packing the balls into walls. Once two walls are built, it’s time to start on the roof. Use cardboard boxes for the roof. Alternatively, you can use cardboard boxes for walls as well. Just expect the boxes to get soggy quickly!
Making It Comfortable
Once your fort is built, it’s time to make it cozy! Line the inside with blankets and pillows so the kids have somewhere soft to sit. If you’re using cardboard boxes for walls, you can also line the inside with tinfoil to help keep warmth in.
4. Play Tag In The Snow
If you’ve ever been to a playground, you’ve seen children running around and playing tag. For some, it may seem like a simple game with no real benefits. But the truth is, tag is much more than just a game—it’s a tool that can help children’s cognitive, social, and physical development. And there is no reason why you can’t play tag in the snow! That is why we have included it in our favorite winter daycare outdoor activities.
Here are some of the benefits of playing tag
Cognitive Development
One of the benefits of playing tag is that it can help in cognitive development. When children are playing tag, they have to think quickly on their feet and make split-second decisions—helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that they can use in other aspects of their lives.
Physical Development
Tag is also an excellent way for children to get some exercise. Running around and chasing after each other requires quite a bit of energy, and this can help kids work off excess energy while also getting their hearts pumping. Tag is also a great way to improve coordination and balance as children learn to navigate their environment while running at high speeds.
Social Development
Last but not least, tag is also beneficial for social development. When playing tag, children have to interact with others and follow the rules—helping them develop critical social skills such as communication, teamwork, and cooperation. It also teaches them how to resolve conflicts peacefully.
5. Make An Obstacle Course In The Snow
Another great way to keep daycare kids entertained is to set up an obstacle course in the snow. Here are a few ideas for obstacles.
Ideas for Obstacles
- Hang a string of holiday lights between two trees and have the kids crawl under it.
- Set up a small play fort or tent in the yard and have the kids crawl through it.
- Make a “tunnel” out of the snow by packing it down and then having the kids crawl through it. Or use a hula hoop.
- Hide small toys around the yard and have the kids search for them.
- Set up a bowling lane using plastic water bottles as pins and a small ball as the bowling ball.
- Make a small maze in the snow.
6. Go Sledding
Sledding is one of the best winter daycare outdoor activities for kids of all ages. It’s also a great way to get some exercise! But before you take your kids sledding, you should keep a few safety tips in mind.
- Dress the kids in appropriate clothing for the elements. Layering clothing and a hat or scarf will help to protect their face from the cold wind.
- Inspect the sledding area before letting the kids loose. Look for obstacles like trees, rocks, or fences that could pose a danger. Also, make sure the hill isn’t too steep. You want your daycare kids to be able to control their sleds. If the slope is too steep, they could lose control and crash.
- Once you’re at the top of the hill, have your kids sit in their sleds and push off with their feet instead of standing up. Starting from a sitting position will help them stay in control of their sleds.
- And finally, encourage your kids to take breaks every so often. Sledding is a lot of fun, but it can also be tiring! Encourage them to take a break, drink some hot cocoa, or eat a snack to replenish their energy levels.
7. Go On A Nature Walk To Find Animal Tracks In The Snow
One of the best ways to learn about nature is to go outside and explore it firsthand. A fun outdoor activity you can do with your daycare kids in winter is looking for animal tracks in the snow. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do just that.
Finding Animal Tracks: Depending on where you live, there are different animals whose tracks you might find in the snow. To give you and your kids a better chance of seeing some tracks, try to go off the beaten path a little bit, away from busy roads and sidewalks where footprints are likely to get covered up quickly. Once you’ve found a possible spot, take a good look around and see if you can spot any tracks. If there are fresh tracks, try to follow them and see where they lead.
Identifying Animal Tracks: Once you’ve found some tracks, see if you can identify which animal made them. Identifying tracks can be tricky, but there are a few key things to look for. First, look at the size of the track. The size of the track can give you a general idea of which animals might have made them. For example, smaller tracks are likely from rodents like mice or squirrels, while larger ones could be from deer or coyotes. Next, look at the shape of the tracks. Are they round? Is the track elongated? Does it look like there are four toes or five? This information can help you narrow down your search even further. Finally, look at any other distinguishing features of the track that could help with identification, such as claw marks or patterns in the snow left by the fur on an animal’s paw pads.
Interpreting Animal Tracks: Once you’ve identified which animal made the tracks see if you can interpret what they were doing when they made the tracks. Were they walking? Running? Standing still? This information can give you insights into an animal’s behavior. For example, if you find deer tracks that zigzag back and forth across a road, this could indicate that the deer was trying to avoid being seen by predators or cars.
Preserving Animal Tracks: After you’ve had a chance to study the tracks, it’s time to move on so that other people can have the opportunity to enjoy them, too (and so that animals can reuse them!). When walking away from the tracks, try to avoid stepping on them so they remain intact for future onlookers.
8. Go On A Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt
Get the kids outside this winter with a nature scavenger hunt! This activity will help kids learn about the different animals that live in your area and how they adapt to the winter season. It’s also a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Animal Tracks: Look for animal tracks in the snow. See if you can identify the animal that made them.
- Bird Nests: Look for bird nests in trees and shrubs. See if you can identify the type of bird that built it.
- Icicles: Look for icicles on roofs, trees, and other structures. See how many different shapes and sizes you can find.
- Snowflakes: Look at the snowflakes falling from the sky. Try to identify the different types of snowflakes you see.
9. Have A Winter Picnic
The winter is a great time to have a picnic! It may seem cold, but with the proper preparation, a winter picnic can be a fun and memorable experience for you and the kids. Here are some tips for planning your winter picnic.
Planning Your Winter Picnic
When planning your winter picnic, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to ensure you have enough blankets to keep everyone warm. It’s also important to pack food that will stay warm in the cooler, like soup or chilli. And, of course, hot chocolate is a must!
What to Pack
In addition to food and blankets, you’ll also need to pack extra clothes in case anyone gets cold. Hats, gloves, and scarves are always a good idea. You might also want to pack a first-aid kit, just in case. And don’t forget the marshmallows for the hot chocolate!
Where to Go
There are lots of great places to have a winter picnic. If there’s snow on the ground, you could go sledding before your picnic. Or you could find a spot with a great view of the snow-covered landscape. Just make sure you dress warmly!
How to Stay Warm
Once you’re at your picnic spot, you can do a few things to help everyone stay warm. First, make sure everyone is wrapped up in their blankets. You can also bring along a thermos of hot cocoa or apple cider. And if anyone starts to feel chilly, have them do some jumping jacks or run around in place for a few minutes.
10. Make Snow Angels
Snow angels are a fun activity you can do with your kids when it snows.
Instructions for Making Snow Angels
To make a snow angel, start by lying down on your back in the snow. Then, spread your arms and legs out to create an angel shape. Next, use your hands to make sweeping motions through the snow, starting at your head and moving down to your feet. Finally, stand up and admire your handiwork! Snow angels are a fun way to enjoy the winter weather and create a great photo opportunity.
Winter days can be long, but they don’t have to be boring. With creativity and some outdoor activities, you can keep your daycare kids active and entertained all season long. We hope you enjoyed this blog post on 10 Winter Daycare Outdoor Activities. Please let us know your favorite winter daycare outdoor activities in the comments below!
Winter Daycare Outdoor Activities
- Make a Snowperson
- Make Snow Animals
- Build a fort out of snow
- Play tag in the snow
- Make an obstacle course in the snow
- Go sledding
- Go on a nature walk to find animal tracks in the snow
- Go on a Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Have a Winter Picnic
- Make Snow Angels
Check Out Our Etsy Shop
Pin Me For Later
