Six Fun Winter Outdoor Activities to do with Grandkids

Winter has been pummeling the United States and I as write this, a majority of the country has snow cover.  Brrrr.

As the frigid temperatures rise you may want to get outside with your grandkids to explore the environment, release energy, and get the cobwebs out.

Six Outdoor Winter Activities to do With Grandkids

Today I want to share six fun ideas for activities to do with grandkids outside in winter.

1. Be winter seasonal detectives.  

Take a walk and search for all that you can find that is unique to the winter season. This is an opportunity to compare winter to the other seasons of the year in your community.

2.  Search for animal tracks.  

This is particularly fun after a new snowfall when the snow has been undisturbed by humans.  Take pictures of the tracks you find with your smartphone.  When you return home, draw the tracks on pieces of paper and research the animals that made the tracks.

3.  Gather natural elements for an art project. 

Leaves, sticks, stones, and seed pods all make interesting additions to art projects. Use what you gather to make landscapes or animal drawings when you get back inside.

4.  Snow Art.  

Fill squirt bottles with colored water. Use the squirt bottles to make colorful designs in the snow. Choose primary colors of food coloring so your grandkids can have fun mixing colors in the snow. Spray bottles filled with colored water will be fun, too.

5.  Make natural windchimes.  

Gather some sticks and stones you can secure to string for natural windchimes.  Your grandkids can then choose treas in your yard to hang the chimes from. Check out this rainbow-colored windchime made with sticks.

6. Make a snowman. 

You can make your snowman unique by dressing him using only natural elements you can find nearby.  Be sure to take pictures.

After the Outdoor Fun

1. Hot Chocolate 

Of course, once you come inside you'll want to have some hot chocolate.  Be sure you have all the ingredients for yummy hot chocolate embellishments on hand, too.  You can never have too many marshmallows.

2.  Make Salt Snowflakes

Salt snowflakes are a fun art project for any age.  

Read the Salt Snowflakes blog post. 

Watch the How to Make Salt Snowflakes video.

3. Make Cotton Swab Snowflakes

Snowflakes made with cotton swabs are quick easy.

Read about how to make cotton swab snowflakes.

Watch the Cotton Swabs Snowflakes video.

Have fun, grandmas!