101 Snow Games and Activities for Kids

After a heavy snowfall hits, it can be tempting to stay snuggled indoors. But no one likes cabin fever. Staying inside all day brings down your energy and can leave you feeling restless. So play some snow games instead!

Plus, getting kids out of the house and out into the snow is a great way to encourage the development of their gross motor skills and coordination, says Vanessa L. Kahlon, executive director and founder of Kahlon Family Services.

But what can you do in the snow besides building a snowman and go sledding? Here are 101 fun snow games that are guaranteed to keep you and the kids boredom-free.

What are you waiting for? Climb into those snowsuits and take a plunge into that winter wonderland!
 

1. Blow bubbles! Watch them freeze in the air if it’s below 0 degrees Celsius.
2. Make a hanging butternut squash bird feeder.
3. No two snowflakes look the same. Grab a black piece of construction paper and a magnifying glass, carefully catch snowflakes on the paper, and observe their fascinating details with a magnifying glass.
4. Make snow paint by putting a Kool-Aid packet or food coloring in an empty spray or squirt bottle, adding water and shaking.
5. Learn how avalanches work by building this fun homemade avalanche project.  
6. Take advantage of the soft cushion to play some safe tackle football before the actual game is completely obsolete,” suggests Mike Julianelle, author of the blog Dad and Buried.
7. Build a city of snow sand castles using snow, shovels and beach pails.
8. Spend a weekend taking skiing and snowboarding lessons.
9. Create sugarplum fairy ballerinas with these templates, hang them on your porch and watch them dance in the wind.
10. Reenact the movie Frozen in your backyard (here’s how to make a snowman Olaf costume).
11. Play tug of war — which is much safer in the snow than grass or pavement.
12. Follow the leader: snow version. With sturdy boots, make a path in fresh snow (or have one of the kids do it). Tell the rest of the kids to see if they can try to step exactly in the footsteps, to make it look like only one person has walked through the snow.
13. Go on a sleigh ride.
14. Host a wintertime scavenger hunt.
15. Make a human snowman! See how well you can cover someone in snow… while they’re standing up.
16. Try skipping in the snow.
17. Play a game of flashlight tag.
18. Try doing a cartwheel or somersault in the snow.
19. Go watch a professional skiing race.
20. Build a table and chairs out of snow and have a snow date.
21. Go snowmobiling.
22. Skate on a frozen lake.
23. Need a break from the cold? Bring some snow inside, and create small sculptures.
24. Build an upside down snowman.
25. Have a snowball fight.
26. Pass the icicle. Just like Hot Potato, everyone passes the icicle around the circle to music (while wearing gloves!). If you’re holding the icicle when the music stops, you’re out. Keep playing until the ice is completely melted.
27. Bake snow cookies using cookie cutters to create crisp, fun shapes in the snow.
28. Play snow soccer.
29. Build a snow game obstacle course, asking kids to do things like make a snow angel, jump over a snow mount, toss a snowball at a target, etc.
30. Have a reading circle outside.
31. Make colorful ice cubes using food coloring and hide them in the snow. Whoever finds the most wins!
32. Pin the carrot nose on the snowman, just like pin the tail on the donkey. Blindfold players and spin them around three times, then gently push them in the direction of the snowman.
33. Build a rainbow igloo using milk cartons.
34. Give a helping hand and shovel the driveway for an elderly neighbor.
35. Make your own sled out of an old cardboard box. Cut it into a cool shape!
36. Have a three-legged race in the snow.
37. Build a snowball centipede.
38. Go snowshoeing.
39. Watch an ice carving competition.
40. If you have brave feet, check out these fun penguin footprint characters.
41. Spend a couple of hours building forts on either side of the backyard and play capture the flag in the snow.
42. Hula hoop! It’s much more of a challenge to hula when you’re all bundled up.
43. Play a game of snow baseball.
44. Create natural frozen ornaments — fill the molds with shells, ivy, berries, etc.
45. Have a winter campfire
46. Create a tic-tac-toe board in the snow and play.
47. Have a snowman fashion show. Let the judges decide who has the most fashionable snowman.
48. Snow sketch. Do you have markers that are drying out? The moisture in the snow does a great job of pulling out any leftover ink.
49. Make a pretend ice cream shop. With a real ice cream scooper, take turns doling out scoops of snow.
50. If your dog loves walking outside in the snow, buy a pair of reindeer ears and pretend he’s Dasher, Dancer, Prancer or Vixen!
51. Buy some snow cone papers and make real homemade snow cones
52. Have a snowman-building race!
53. Freeze tag!
54. Build a family of snowmen, then add some unique details to make them look like your family members.
55. Have children practice writing their names in the snow.
56. Practice math by counting snowballs.
57. After a heavy snowfall, wrangle up a team of friends and shovel out a maze in your backyard.
58. Play a game of snow golf.
59. Spend an afternoon making these beautiful ice suncatchers.
60. Create a snow mural using spray paint made from food coloring.
61. See who can walk the quietest in the snow.
62. Give your snowman rose cheeks. Add some red food coloring to water, pour it into a spray bottle and spritz the cheeks with the mist.
63. Make snow angels.
64. Collect pinecones, sticks, rocks, and berries and create artsy patterns with them in the snow.
65. With tubes and boogie boards, take turns sliding down a hill, pretending you’re riding down a wave!
66. On a budget? Get some honey and make these great pinecone bird feeders.
67. Go on a toboggan ride.
68. Play snow house. Bring out a mini table and chairs and pretend the winter wonderland is your home.
69. Have a snowman hat-toss — take turns trying to throw and land a hat upon the snowman’s head.
70. Go winter camping.
71. Footprint tag! It only works if you tag someone while standing in another’s footprints.
72. Play dodge ball with snowballs instead of a regular balls!
73. Stage snow theater! Pick a play and start rehearsing.
74. Create a life-size snow globe. Get out the extension cords and fans and watch the snow swirl around.
75. Have a winter picnic.
76. Have a snowball rolling contest to see who can roll the biggest snow ball in 2 minutes!
77. Go ice fishing.
78. Buy a track identification guide and go for a hike and point out the various animal tracks you come across.
79. Take your dog for a walk in the snow.
80. Make a candy-coated snowman. Give him gummy peach slices for eyes and leftover candy corn for a nose.
81. Freeze popsicles in the snow instead of the freezer.
82. Make these simple yet gorgeous “Ice Luminaries” with just some balloons and tea lights.
83. Pour maple syrup over cups of fresh snow for a sweet treat.
84. Play hide-and-go-seek (dress all in white for an extra challenge).
85. Draw large circles in the snow and have a snowball tossing contest. Whoever can get the most snowballs in the circles wins!
86. “While building an actual snowman, sing Frozen’s ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’ over and over and over and over and over until the snow isn’t the only thing that’s melting,” suggests Julianelle.
87. Go cross-country skiing.
88. Be a good Samaritan and sprinkle sand on your neighborhood’s sidewalks so that your neighbors don’t slip and fall.
89. Make different colored paper snowflakes and hang them outside on your porch
90. Go on a winter morning hike.
91. Follow these instructions on how to build an igloo.
92. Make some hot chocolate, pour it in a thermos and go for an after-dinner stroll.
93. Play bumper cars with tubes on a frozen pond.
94. Play hopscotch in the snow.
95. Take turns sliding down the hills the snow plow makes.
96. If you live near a ranch, go horseback riding in the snow.
97. Fill a single-spout plant waterer with warm water and slowly pour it over the snow in swirls and shapes. Add food coloring to the warm water for extra fun!
98. Have a sledding race.
99. Follow these instructions on how to make your own snowshoes and go for a hike!
100. Make a snow beach. On a sunny day, get out some towels and sunscreen and layout on the snow as if you were on sand.
101. Try walking on stilts in the snow. If you fall, the snow will cushion your fall!

What are your favorite things to do in the snow? Share your snow games and activities in the comment section below.