Fun Winter Activities for Kids
Winter Poems
One of the most interesting indoor winter activities for kids is to have them recite some fun winter poems. You can read out these poems to the children and ask them to repeat after you. Here are three cute winter poems which the kids are sure to enjoy immensely.
A Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose
Along came a rabbit
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for his lunch,
ATE the snowman’s carrot nose…
Nibble, nibble, CRUNCH!
Snowflakes
Snowflakes, snowflakes falling down,
On the trees and on the ground.
I will build a man of snow,
Tall black hat and eyes of coal,
If the sun comes out today,
I will watch you melt away!
January
January opens
The box of the year
And brings out days
That are bright and clear.
And brings out days
That are cold and gray,
And shouts, “Come see
What I brought today!
Winter Crafts
Kids’ crafts activities are a great way to engage them and at the same time, make them learn a thing or two about the winters. A simple craft activity that you can undertake with the kids is to make a snowman out of paper plates. Given below are the step wise instructions on how to do the same.
How to Make a Paper Snowman
Things Needed: Two paper plates, a red ribbon, black and red construction paper, colored markers, scissors, a hole punch and glue.
Instructions: Take one of the paper plates and cut out about two inches from all sides so as to form a smaller round paper plate out of it. This paper plate will serve as the face of the snow man. Next, punch a hole near the edge of both the paper plates. Take the red satin ribbon and tie both the paper plates together, by inserting the ribbon in these two holes. Tie it in such a way that you are able to make a beautiful bow with it in the front.
Take the black construction paper and draw two boots and a hat on it. Make the cut outs with scissors and stick them on the paper snowman. Next, take the red construction paper and make two mittens on it. Again, take out the cut outs and stick them on the snowman. In the end, with a black marker draw the eyes of the snowman as well as the buttons on the body. With a red marker, draw a triangular nose and a smiling mouth. This simple paper craft activity can be easily conducted with kids above five years of age. However, make sure that you use the scissors and the glue yourself. If it’s a large group of children, see to it that you have two to three adults to help you out with such winter craft activities for kids. You may further go to Christmas craft ideas.
Outdoor Winter Fun
When it comes to outdoor winter activities for kids, you just have to be a bit creative and you will be surprised at the number of ideas you can come up with. Here is a list of a few fun outdoor activities.
A snow ball fight
Building a snow fort
Building a snowman
Shovel snow around the house or on the school playground
For younger kids – taking a nature walk. For older kids – taking photographs of the snow, birds and trees
Building an igloo
Check out the animals and birds around and draw pictures of the same
Observe the changes in the sky at different points throughout the day, right from morning to afternoon to evening and finally, night.
Enjoy hot chocolate in the sun
Play winter games for kids such as writing names on the snow with the feet or making different shapes on it using spray bottles which have colored water in them
Winter Flashcards
Winter flashcards are a good way to educate the kids on the various winter animals and birds. You can prepare flashcards with the pictures of various winter animals and birds like polar bear, arctic fox, reindeer, harbor seal, pacific walrus, snowy owl, red squirrel, winter wren, hermit thrush, woodpecker and fox sparrow, which you will easily find on the Internet. Start the activity with showing these pictures to the kids and tell them the names of the birds and animals. Once they are able to identify these, plan a quiz with the same flashcards to test how much they are able to retain. To make it fun, give one candy for each right answer!
These are some fun winter activities for kids. These activities, games and crafts are sure to make the winters an interesting and memorable time for the kids!
How to Make an Igloo Model
As kids, you too must have learned how to build an igloo out of cardboard, as that is one of the easiest school activities given to us in school. But have you wondered how to make an igloo out of sugar cubes and icing, which makes it look more original? Well, you can definitely use some kids’ art activities to make an igloo in your own way, but if you need help, we are here for you! For this purpose, there are a few materials you will need and steps to be followed to build this mini igloo. Take a look and explore your creativity to the fullest!
Materials Required
Cardboard sheet
Sugar cubes
3 cups Confectioners’ Sugar
2 egg whites
Directions
Building an igloo can be a great option for holiday arts and crafts for children. Therefore, to start with the process of how to make an igloo out of sugar cubes, you first need to make a few preparations.
On the cardboard sheet, draw a circle of 7 inch diameters and make sure you leave some place for the opening of the igloo in one area of the cardboard.
In a mixing bowl, add the egg whites and the sugar, mix it very well so that a thick paste is formed. You can use this as the mortar to build the igloo.
On the already drawn circle, lay the base of the igloo with one layer of sugar cubes, but leave the space where you have to make the entrance.
Now, on this base, apply the white icing, or mortar, to each upper face of the cube and place the other layers subsequently in the form of rows. Make sure you keep reducing the number of cubes as you build the igloo upwards, since you want to make the dome (i.e, decrease the circumference as you build up).
Once the main igloo body is built, start working on the entrance which you will have to build vertically. So, keep about one layer of ice cubes and then build an arch as the entrance.
You can either build the igloo and the arch separately and then glue them together or build them simultaneously. But however you build it, you need to make sure they are symmetrical and uniform.
Let the igloo dry for sometime and when it’s dried, sprinkle some sugar to make it look like snow. In no time, this idea from the winter activities for kids is ready to be displayed.
If you are preparing the igloo as an edible Christmas decoration, you can add candy and chocolates around it, to make it look attractive and delicious.
Wasn’t that easy? Well, since you have learned how to make an igloo out of sugar cubes, I am sure your igloo model is going to be very popular among kids! So, go ahead and enjoy the spirit of Christmas with these fantastic winter craft ideas.
What is Modeling Clay?
Modeling clay refers to a set of associative ductile materials employed to sculpt and build diverse and assorted shapes. Modeling clay is used by children, artisans, sculptors, artists and by all those who find monotony gripping them tight, as you did! This pliable group of materials have an inherent property to be molded in various shapes and sizes that create intriguing effects. Sculpt, blend or deliver texture, modeling clay does it all!
Different Types of Modeling Clay
Oil based Modeling Clay – An oil based modeling clay also referred to as plasticine or plastilina is a feasibly soft clay. The oil based clay is bestowed with an indispensable quality of retaining its soft texture, thereby, not drying or hardening. This type of clay could be used as it is, in its original state when picked from the store or may be blended. Oil based modeling clay does not possess an adhesive property. When you handle oil based clay, your hands don’t feel slippery and slimy.
Pottery Clay – The properties of pottery clay are a precise diametric to oil based clay. Contrary to oil based clay, pottery clay has a sticky feel when handled. This type of clay does not retain its softness for a long time. It becomes hard, making it practically non-feasible to work with. The pottery clay as the name suggests, is used for the purpose of pottery. The firing clay, as it is also known, is air-dried followed by the firing process in the kiln. The potter’s wheel manufactures pots of clay, with pots being ornamented with subtle matte, or marvelously glossy finishes and textures and baked through the process of firing.
Dough Modeling Clay – Dough modeling clay is also regarded as play dough. Play doughs are economically reasonable than other varieties of modeling clay. It is an edible molding also called salt dough that is meant for the purpose of indulging in unadulterated play. The dough could also be prepared at home. The most enlightening characteristic about play dough is that the dough is easily recyclable – you could use and reuse it innumerable times. Make a cowboy hat, a polka-dotted dress, a Halloween mask or a delightful wreathe by reprocessing the clay. However the play dough has a tendency to develop cracks while air drying or during the process of baking.
Polymer Modeling Clay – Polymer modeling clay is obtainable with regards to their different textures and degree of softness that they possess. Polymer clays are accessible in variegated hues and colors. If you have opted for plain, colorless dough, you could color the same according to your preference. A wide array of colors include translucent, metallic and other flashy and dynamic shades.
How to Make Modeling Clay
Here is a modeling clay recipe that will be worth the effort, energy and time. Modeling clay is a great way to get the kids mind occupied instead of them confining their olfactory and visual senses to the idiot cube rather, the flat cube!
Mentioned below are easy instructions that you may follow on how to make play dough.
Equip your kitchen counter with flour, water, salt and food colors.
The next step is to pour a cup of water, add a cup of salt and 2 cups of flour in a container bowl. Blend it thoroughly.
Now introduce a food color of your choice. Keep blending.
Ensure that the mixture is well-mixed and the texture is soft yet firm. To avoid over-drying, place the mixture into an air-tight container. Your modeling clay is ready!
You could use this clay to form shapes of your choice and remember to reuse the clay by transforming the clay into a different shape. Another suggestion worth the mention – kindly keep the dough away from areas that are heavily carpeted and fashionable flooring. Playing with play dough is great fun, but scrubbing and plucking out the residual modeling material from the carpet is no frolic, you ee!
Modeling Clay Ideas
You could make just about anything with modeling clay. When the modeling activity is concerned with kids and children, the scenario takes a somersault. Some easy art and craft ideas for kids with clay modeling are suggested in this section.
Well, for a start, you could teach your kids basic shapes, such as making a cube, a ball, a cone.
Fruit shapes could also be made with clay modeling.
After kids become acquainted with the basic shapes, introduce them to the making of a pyramid or a prism. This technique of clay modeling will aid children in learning the practical way.
The clay could also be molded in the shape of a snake, and the same long structure of the clay mold could be transformed into a circular tube by joining the two ends of the snake shape.
Another shape that could be formulated is that of a snowman. A snowman could be made by rolling two pieces of clay into the shape of a ball. One clay ball should be smaller than the other. Fix the smaller clay ball on the larger one and make its eyes by poking two adjacent holes into its forehead. Make a small cone by rolling a piece of clay and fix the piece on its face. The nose of the snowman is made!
You could also make a caterpillar by making seven to eight little spherical balls and attaching them one after the other. Your caterpillar is ready to crawl!
A piece of art is created, when the child is taught to make a house. Molding the clay into a small cube and a prism respectively, piled on top of the cube makes a house. Having your child indulge in intelligent play that succeeds in stimulating their intellect and amalgamation quotient, helps them to learn well, grasp quickly and retain basic knowledge for a lifetime.
Still stuck on this piece of writing? Well, I suggest you go and lay your hands on the basic ingredients to prepare modeling clay and help your master create a master piece! Your Pablo Picasso is ready to mold on and create designs that could become monolithic someday!