February is just around the corner.  I can feel it.  The grey skies.  The minus 40 degree days.  The blustering, whipping snow.  The colds and flus. Oh yes, it will be here soon.  I really have trouble liking February.  The Christmas festivities are a distant memory, the novelty of the snow has warn off, mittens and boots have been lost, ripped, or outgrown.  Yes, February and I have never really seen eye to eye.  But this year I am going to try very hard to be the bigger person and play nicely with February.  I am going to give it a fair chance.  So my plan?  I am going to fill February to the brim with fun and colors. Including fun things to do in the snow with preschoolers!

We have already started with some bright and sunny art projects and crafts.  And I have quite a few fun indoor activities planned too.  But my kids love being outside, and I love them being outside. But it is so so cold.  And I am so so done with the cold.  There are so many fun things we like to do outside.  But I have written about that a few times.  So today, I thought I would put a twist on some fun things to do in the snow for preschoolers (and big kids too!)  to hopefully brighten your February (I certainly hope they help mine stay bright too!)

Here are 5 summer activities that are MORE fun to do in the winter

1.  Build sand castles.  Well snow castles.  At no point in the summer is it very feasible to build a sand castle in your backyard so big that you can play inside of it.  But in the winter you have an endless supply of snow!  We build a snow castle as soon as we can, and add to it throughout the winter with each snow fall.

2. Wheelbarrow races.  Which kid doesn’t love going for a ride in a wheelbarrow in the summer?  Well in the winter, we like to have fun with snow shovel races.  It is an incredible workout for a Mama too.  We have a great big scoop shovel and pop both boys in it for some winter-style wheelbarrow racing.  I am undefeated (just wanted to mention)

3. Play on the slide.  A slide in the summer is fun.  But a slide in the winter – well that is fun to another degree.  With wet snow and slippery snow pants, it takes sliding to a whole new level!  A more dangerous level … quite possibly …

4. Play on the swings and gliders.  Again with the simple addition of slippery snow pants, swings and gliders can be much more fun for kids in the winter!  And our swing has been a saving grace with the baby this season.  My little toddling babe has a bit of trouble maneuvering in his snowsuit – especially when the snow is taller then he is.

5. Bring out the cars and trucks.  Snow is wonderful for imaginative play.  When my wee ones bring the cars and trucks outside, they create their own imaginative world.  If Sam would like a gas station, he simply builds up a little mound of snow.  Needs some people to go for a ride – and endless number of passengers are only snowballs away.

There you have our 5 summer activities that are more fun in the winter.  I hope they give me (and you) 5 days of fun outside this February!  For days when we all need a little push out that door and added inspiration to find fun things to do in the snow with preschoolers!

Alright February … I am ready.  And I am playing nicely, so please, perhaps we could start the month with a bit of sunshine?  Maybe kind of close to zero degrees? Or at least with 2 mittens for each child?  I wish you luck this February friends!

Please consider liking us on Facebook so we can share more creative activities with you and your wee ones.  Thank you!