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!

Ideas for Fun in the Snow That Kids and Adults Alike Will Love (41–50)

Snow Strider

Strider even in the snow ❄️ (2 years 6 months) #strider #2yearsold

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.

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snow tube

We played with various snow tubes! Snow tube

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.

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Snow Flag

Winter Grand Adventure Camp ⛄ Snow Sports Day ✨ #Shorts

Let me introduce a fun group game for snowy days called Snow Flag.

Here are the rules: First, lie face down on the snow.

At the start signal, get up and run to grab a flag stuck in the snow.

Whoever gets the flag first wins.

It’s a crowd-pleaser at snow field days, and in more formal events, the number of participants competing at once and the number of flags are set according to the group size and number of teams.

Of course, it’s also great for everyday play—kids and adults alike can enjoy it together, so give it a try!

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Icicle hunting

You just can’t help wanting to snap icicles, right?! I want to snap icicles!!

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.

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Playing in the snow with a hula hoop

Kids Lesson — Snow Play: Hula Hoops

Playing in the snow with a hula hoop

By incorporating hula hoops—often associated with indoor play—this activity helps participants get a feel for wearing bulky winter clothing and walking on snow.

Even a simple motion like spinning a hula hoop becomes more challenging due to the gear and environment, encouraging greater focus and enjoyment.

Repeated walking and running movements on snow can help them grasp the unique sensation, potentially sparking interest in other sports as well.

We also recommend having them dive through a rolling hula hoop—something hard to do indoors—to let them experience the softness of the snow.

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Treasure Hunt Game

[Experience Event] 1) Let’s search for ○○ in the snow with a midwinter treasure hunt game 💎 Come play at Kamuinoyu Forest Park in winter ☃️ Asahikawa, Hokkaido ✨ #ninjya #shorts #Asahikawa #Tracy #Steve #KamuinonomoriPark

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.

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dog sled

Dog, children, playing in the snow, Mount Akagi

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.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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