There’s lots of ideas for play when it is snowing or icey and we have a few suggestions below. Should you have any ideas you would like to share please email these to info@playscotland.org
If you don’t have snow, you can also make your own!
Make your own snow
You can make you own snow with:
- Shaving foam
- Granny soap flakes and water
- Use cotton wool balls
Link to sparkly snow dough
Potato Head Snowmen
Using the items from your Mr Potato head, make an ice/snow ball and use this instead of the potato.
Painting with Snow
Playing with Sticks and Stones
Build a snowman, or any shape and using sticks and stones, see what face and shapes you can make.
Can you build
- A snowman
- A snow fort
- An animal – a caterpillar is good as can make this out of lots of small snow balls, add some twigs for the antennas!
Snow Detective
- Get you and your friends to make footprints in the snow, can you tell who’s footprints are whose
- Can you track and animal print
- Can you find a bird foot print
Make your own sledge
You don’t need to buy a sledge you can make your own!
You could use:
- Cardboard
- Tarpulin
- Large baking tray
Pin the nose on the snowman
You will need:
- Snow
- Carrot
- Blindfold
Build a snowman and take in turns to place blind fold on and see who can pin the nose on the snowman!
Paint the snow
You will need:
- A spray bottle or water pistol
- Food colouring
- Water
Mix the food colouring with the water and then use to spray on the snow. See what patterns this makes.
You can also use turkey baster or an empty plastic bottle and pierce the lid instead of a spray bottle.
You could use different colours and paint a rainbow !
Ice Bubbles
Using your own bubble mixture if the temperature drops below freezing, blow these and see if they freeze on the stick.
Ice Balloons
You will need:
- Balloons
- Water
- Food colouring
Add a few drops of food colouring inside an empty balloon.
Put open end of balloon on tap and slowly fill with water.
Hold steady then knot balloon at neck.
Leave outside in the freezing cold overnight. Once frozen, cut the balloon off carefully and you are left with ice balloons.
Now they are ready to play with!
Knots and Crosses
Make a knots and crosses board on the snow.
Knots – find some stones or pine cones
Crosses – find sticks and twigs
Play knots and crosses.
Snow/Ice Moulds
Using your baking or sand pit moulds use these with the snow and ice. Can you build a tower? Make a house?
Snowball Toss
Draw a circle in the snow. Make lots of snow balls. Stand back and see if you can toss your snowball into the circle.
You can also use some food coloring to make the circle a target and see if you can hit the colours.
Sensory Snow Fun
You will need:
- Ice cube tray / plastic tray
- Nature items
- Water
Go a playful walk in the snow and see what nature items you can find.
Can you find:
- Berries
- Leaves
- Holly
- Pinecone
Once home clean items and place these into trays and fill with water. Put in freezer.
Once frozen you can play with these until you find the nature item.
Disclaimer: please ensure berries are not eaten.
Mini Ice Cube Igloo
You will need:
- Ice cube tray
- Food colouring
- Ice or water
Fill ice cub with ice/water and add in food colouring. Try a different colour for each ‘brick’.
Once frozen pop out brick and build you own mini igloo.
Make a snowball lantern
You will need;
- Snowballs
- Battery operated tealight or glow sticks
Make lots of small snowballs. Stack these igloo style. When its’s dark add tealight or glow sticks in the middle.
Now you have your very own snowball lantern.
Snow Drawing
Using a stick or a twig can you draw a picture in the snow?
You can also see what shapes these make if you go a walk in the snow and drag this behind you.
Crack the Puddle
Can you find a shallow frozen puddle, then jump on it until it cracks. Watch you don’t slip or fall.
Catch a snowflake
Can you catch a snowflake ..
- on your tongue
- in your hand
- on your foot