Fun snow play ideas that captivate both kids and adults!
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!
- Fun winter activities: Recreations that children can enjoy
- Enjoy winter! A roundup of snow-play gear
- Fun nature activities that children will love. Recreational games.
- [For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
- [For Kids] DIY Snowman Craft Ideas!
- Fun for kids and adults alike! A collection of DIY beanbag (otedama) ideas
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- Outdoor games for large groups. Fun, exciting games for kids.
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- Let's play with a big group! A collection of fun children's recreational activities
- Popularity ranking of recreational activities for children
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
Ideas for Fun in the Snow That Kids and Adults Alike Will Love (41–50)
Color Ball Search
When the snow piles up, try an easy “Color Ball Hunt” in your yard or at the park! It’s just like a treasure hunt: set a boundary and hide several colored balls in the snow.
Give the kids toy shovels or similar tools and have them search for the balls! By adjusting the area and how deep you bury them, children of all ages—from little ones to older kids—can enjoy it.
You can simply have them find the buried balls, or make it more like a treasure hunt by changing the type of snacks they get at snack time based on the colors of the balls they find!
skiing
A world covered entirely in white snow is so magical, isn’t it? Skiing isn’t very familiar to children in the Tokyo metropolitan area, but I’ve heard that schools in snowy regions even include skiing in their P.E.
classes.
Kids are highly adaptable, so they can learn to ski quickly, even within the short time of a class.
If you’re a child who’s never tried skiing, why not go have fun at a ski resort? And if there isn’t one nearby, you might still be able to get a taste of the experience by standing on a pair of skis in your yard when there’s a little snow on the ground.
Making a snow angel
It’s not a very familiar activity, but it’s fun to watch and looks great on Instagram.
Lie down on untouched snow and spread your arms and legs as if smoothing it out.
Don’t move your torso.
Then your arm marks will look like an angel’s wings, and your leg marks will look like an angel’s robe.
It’s adorable when several children make them in a row.
Adults can make big angels, too!
snowscoot
This item is like a cross between a bicycle and a snowboard, letting you enjoy sliding down slopes using handlebar steering.
A key feature is the loose fastening: you just slip your feet through the rear loops, so you can quickly pull them out in an emergency, reducing the risk of injury.
Because you steer left and right with the handlebars, you can balance upper- and lower-body control, making it easy to go straight.
Shifting your weight to turn and braking with the edges are basic techniques but require some knack, so start on gentle slopes and gradually get used to the movements.
Snow Strider
The kick bike known as a Strider is fun even for small children, and by adding a separate “ski attachment,” they can play with it in winter too! Here, we’ll introduce the Snow Strider, which kids can enjoy when the snow piles up.
By fitting ski-like boards to a Strider, it can glide over the snow.
It’s a great way for kids to casually enjoy winter sports during the long winters in snowy regions.
Please note that it cannot be used on public roads, so be careful if you live in a snowy area.
snow tube
A snow tube is a rubber sled, and its key feature is its donut shape.
Some come in animal shapes or winter-themed designs, so why not pick your favorite and have fun? Because it’s circular and made of lightweight material, it can spin while you’re sliding so you lose sight of what’s ahead, or even catch a little air over small bumps—adding thrills you can’t get with a regular sled.
Since it’s lightweight, it can be hard to pick up speed at first, so giving a push at the start or adding some weight might help.
Icicle hunting
It’s fun and feels special to go looking for icicles that you can only see in the cold winter.
You can gently touch them, or snap a thin one.
You can also look for other winter-only natural sights like frost and frozen puddles—touching them and observing them closely is not only enjoyable, but also a great stimulus for children’s development.
Please be careful, though: children could get hurt if icicles melt and fall or if they slip on ice, so make sure to play with close attention to safety.
Treasure Hunt Game
Kids get excited when it snows a lot, don’t they? Here’s a snow activity you can enjoy on those big snowfall days: a treasure hunt where you hide colored paper in the snow and search for it.
Competing to see how many pieces of colored paper you can find within a set area is super fun.
I think doing a treasure hunt while feeling the chill of the snow makes it feel extra special and even more enjoyable.
If it’s hard to find them, giving hints can be a great idea too.
Try making it even more fun with team play and role assignments.
dog sled
Dogs pull sleds carrying people.
It might be a bit tough on the pups, but it’s like a dream ride.
In snowy regions, there are even major dog-sled racing competitions.
It can be a little dangerous for children to play with on their own, so please make sure an adult is with them.
If you have a small dog, how about handcrafting a small sled for your pup? You could place a stuffed animal on it and take some adorable photos.
A game where you guess pictures drawn with footprints
A game of “Guess the Picture Drawn with Footprints,” played on untouched fresh snow! Within a one-minute time limit, use your footprints to draw a picture.
Once you’re done, have the guesser figure out what the picture is.
The artist needs to plan their movements carefully, or they’ll leave unwanted footprints—so be careful.
You might slip and fall, but that could be part of the fun, too (haha).
Try coming up with a simple picture and give it a go!