Lovely Play & Recreation

Fun snow play ideas that captivate both kids and adults!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

When the snow piles up, kids’ eyes really sparkle, don’t they? Snow play usually brings to mind snowmen and igloos, which are great fun, but there are actually many more ways to play.

Here, we’ll introduce plenty of snow play ideas that will captivate elementary schoolers.

From snowball basketball and soccer on the snow for kids who love to be active, to easy treasure-hunt games and adorable pretend play with winter plants and flowers, there’s a wide variety to enjoy.

Discover unique winter fun, forget the cold, and dive into playing in the snow to your heart’s content!

Kids and adults alike will be captivated! A collection of fun snow play ideas (1–10)

Snowfield Werewolf Tag

HiHi Jets [Snowfield Werewolf Tag] The slopes are melting from... how much we want to play tag

Snowfield Werewolf Tag

Let us introduce Werewolf Tag played on snow, where werewolves chase citizens.

The werewolves win if they catch all the citizens, while the citizens win if they manage to escape.

Unlike regular tag, this is Werewolf Tag—so you don’t know who the “it”…

or rather, who the werewolf is.

On top of that, the ground is covered in snow, so you might slip or get your feet stuck.

Precisely because agility is limited on snow, the tension of the game is likely to rise.

Werewolves must act without revealing that they are werewolves and catch citizens at a moment when no one notices.

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Snow play unique to snowy regions!

[Snow Play ⛄⛄] We enjoyed snow play unique to a snowy region with the kids♪ Making shaved ice and building snowmen is so much fun!

Snow play unique to snowy regions!

When there’s a heavy snowfall that kids love, you want them to enjoy playing in the snow to their heart’s content.

Before they start, be sure to go over a few rules, such as “Don’t put snow in your mouth” and “Don’t throw snow at friends carelessly.” In areas where a lot of snow accumulates, it’s also a good idea to fill balloons with water the day before and bury them in the snow.

This lets children experience firsthand that “water freezes and becomes ice.” You can also prepare lots of cups, fill them with snow, pour colored water over it and play at running a shaved-ice stand, or make a big snowman and decorate it with colored water—the kids will have a great time with these activities.

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Let’s try making a sled slide.

For kids: Winter snow fun! We tried making a sledding slide!

Let's try making a sled slide.

When a lot of snow has piled up, why not try making a slide? Decide together what shape, slope, and length you want—whether it’s a big slide, a small slide, or a curved slide—share a clear image, and then start working.

Rather than packing snow into the shape of a slide, it may be easier to dig into the accumulated snow with shovels to create a path.

Making the path wide is recommended because it makes sliding easier.

Be careful to avoid falls and drops while working.

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Kids and adults alike will be captivated! A collection of fun snow play ideas (11–20)

The texture is fun! Snow play that even infants can enjoy

A popular winter activity that even very young infants can safely enjoy is sensory play using soft, fluffy snow.

Start by letting them touch the soft snow to experience its coldness and how its shape changes.

Simply squeezing snow with gloves on or scooping it into a cup will spark their curiosity.

Outdoors, riding in a sled pulled by an adult is also recommended.

If you keep the speed gentle, they can enjoy the pleasant sway and the feel of the wind.

For safety, choose a flat area and keep the session short.

It’s a fun way to experience winter-specific sensations like the texture and coldness of snow.

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Smelt fishing on a frozen lake!

Winter fun! We went smelt fishing on a frozen lake!

Smelt fishing on a frozen lake!

Drilling a hole in a lake frozen over and lowering a line to wait for tiny fish is a special experience where serenity and excitement mingle.

Inside the tent it’s surprisingly warm, and the moments spent around the stove with family and friends are exceptional.

The tension the instant you feel a small nibble, and the sense of accomplishment when you reel one in, captivate both children and adults.

One of the pleasures is frying the freshly caught smelt (wakasagi) into tempura right there on the spot.

The crispy batter and faint sweetness taste even better in the cold air.

It’s a winter-only pastime that lets you savor quiet time in nature and the joy of eating all at once.

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Frozen soap bubble play

https://www.tiktok.com/@mamasore_education/video/7287825020632550657

When the temperature is really low and it’s freezing, it’s tempting to just stay cozy indoors, isn’t it? But there are activities you can only do on cold days.

Why not head outside precisely because it’s cold and try making frozen soap bubbles? If the temperature is below freezing, even soap bubbles will freeze.

Just prepare regular bubble solution and a straw, then gently blow a bubble over ice or on fresh snow.

Normally, bubbles pop the moment you touch them, but when they’re frozen you can set them on your palm or even hold them.

Imagining how kids will react is exciting, isn’t it? Their perfectly round shape and shimmering colors look so magical—be sure to give it a try!

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Colorful Snow Heart

https://www.tiktok.com/@koharu138/video/7199897568023678209

Here’s how to make cute “Colorful Snow Hearts” when it snows! You’ll need string, heart-shaped snow, food coloring, a container, a plastic bottle, water, and a brush.

First, dip the brush into your favorite color of food coloring and dissolve it in a container filled with water.

Pour the colored water into a plastic bottle, then pour it over the heart-shaped snow attached to the string—and you’re done! Using a snowball maker to create different shapes is also adorable.

If the snow is very powdery and won’t pack well, use a little water to help it hold together.

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