Oh the weather outside is frightful…but your kids still want to play outside! Big kids can usually figure out something to do, but younger ones often still need some ideas. Since winter is coming, here are 6 fun outdoor games for little kids that you can play that will keep their bodies and brains moving and active all winter long! So let’s bundle up and get ready to play!
Winter Treasure Hunt
Take a winter walk and see what treasure you can find! Is it animal footprints? Icicles? Red berries? What stands out when the world is covered in white?
Decorate The House
Just like the adults do, let your kids decorate their playhouse for the holidays! Head to the dollar store and pick up some inexpensive garland, stars, and stockings and use packing tape to keep it stuck up. Your kids will love choosing where to hang what, and you’ll love how it keeps them busy and how simple it is to clean up too.
The Little Tikes Cape Cottage is perfect for this, with it’s double windows and low roof, it’s so easy to decorate for the holidays! This cozy cottage makes a great gift for the holidays, since it will encourage years of imaginative play. It works great on your patio or on the grass and is perfect for little girls and boys. We love all of the real house details it has too, from the mailbox, to house number and real opening doors and windows.
Pin the Nose on the Snowman
If you have snow on the ground, take turns making building a snowman into a game! Use a blindfold and a carrot and try to stick the nose where it needs to go!
Hot Cocoa Stand
Hot cocoa for sale! Take turns who gets to be the hot cocoa sales person in the house, and who gets to order! Place your hot cocoa in an easy to pour thermos (and keep it luke warm) so your child can pour you some when it’s their turn! Will you have one marshmallow or two with that?
This game goes great with the Little Tikes Cape Cottage since there is plenty of room inside for a little stool and even a mini table for your hot cocoa seller to be able to pour the drinks for their customers. They can order right from the window!
Footprint tag
Another snow game, this one is played like regular tag, but you can only step in other people’s footprints! Try and tag all of the other people without stepping outside of the footprints or then you are it!
ABC Scavenger Hunt
Reinforce the ABC’s by looking for things outside that start with each letter! Look at plants, animals and things in your neighborhood. If you get stuck on a letter (like z!) then think of sounds these things can make too! If you find small items, you can let your kids collect them to play with later on.
So don’t let the cold weather scare you into staying inside, use some of these ideas to get you started and keep actively playing all year long! We are huge Little Tikes Fans in this house too, and they have oodles of items that can keep your kids busy no matter what the weather.
Just in time for the holidays, I am going to be giving away ONE of these super cute Cape Cottages from Little Tikes! Just enter using the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!
This giveaway will begin today December 10th and end in one week. US and 18+ please.
Best of Luck!
Disclosure: Thank you Little Tikes for sponsoring todays discussion! Little Tikes will be shipping directly to the winner.
My three little ones would absolutely love this! They have been begging for a club house for a while now 🙂
Adorable! She’s getting so big. I hope I win this one! 🙂
My little guy would absolutely love this! He’s starting to get into the make-believe playing age and this would be so fun to have in our backyard for him!
I love the idea of decorating it!!!! I would love to do that if we win!
My kids would love playing in this!!
Gia and Nicholas would LOVE this little cottage!
Oh my little ones would love this! Great tips for outdoor play btw – we have been struggling with the youngest still wanting to play in the water table, and ending up with freezing cold fingers 🙂
i love the idea of decorating the playhouse! i like to think of myself as pretty creative, but i never thought of that. even if we don’t get a playhouse, i’m thinking i could do that to the fort part of DD’s swingset.
My kids would love it!!!
I would love to win this for my boy! He would especially love the mailbox part – he always has to get the mail with me & would love to get his own!
I would love to win for my grandchildren.
i would give this to one of the kids i watch. they can make it into a big american girls house
My 2 youngest kids would love this. Wow thanks for the chance to win. Happy Holidays.