I love winter vacations -- days playing in the snow and cozy evenings in front of a roaring fire.  Unfortunately, the snow loses its appeal after a few days, and bored, tired kids are not conducive to pleasant family evenings.  Packing or purchasing some inexpensive items keeps the fun in our winter vacations and hopefully yours too!

It is easy to plan the big outdoor things -- ski/ride lessons, snow mobiling, sleigh rides, etc., but what about when it is just time to play outside for a while?  Here are some suggestions for simple snow fun:

  • Pack or buy the snowman essentials:
-Buttons
-Carrots
-Old hat and scarf 
  • Make castles and fun shapes using sand toys and shovels.
  • Mix a few drops of food coloring and water in a squeeze bottle to make snow paint.
  • Use a plastic storage container to create an igloo.
  • Buy an inexpensive sled at a local grocery store and find a hill.
  • Have a snowball fight.
  • Make snow angels.
  • Catch snow on black paper and examine the variety of snowflakes.
  • Create geometric shapes in the snow (walk in a square, circle, triangle, etc.).

Long winter evenings are a challenge to fill -- especially if the kids are tired.  A little planning helps prevent a rocky evening.  

  • Bring a favorite family game or learn a new one.
  • Open a deck of cards and play card games.  
  • Work on puzzles (even toddlers can help sort pieces by color if the pieces aren't too small).
  • Have races on the floor with small cars, planes, trains -- anything with wheels. 
  • Create a bear cave under a table or desk. 
  • Buy a tube of small animals or reptiles and create a habitat for them.
  • Make s'mores.
  • Visit a grocery store and have every member of the family select an ingredient for a hot chocolate bar -- don't forget the whipped cream!
  • Have a family tickle fest.  
  • Make paper airplanes and have a contest for distance or design.
  • New activity books, colors and stickers are a must.
  • Play with balloons.
  • Bundle up and go outside on a clear evening and star gaze.

With four kids, any disruption to the bedtime routine can be disastrous.  Since it takes the kids longer to settle down while on vacation, we start the wind-down process earlier in the evening with a warm bath.  New bath toys and lavender scented bubbles add variety and fun to the bathtime.  We bring along a family classic such as Charlotte's Web or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and read a few chapters before bedtime.  We end the evening by tucking everyone into bed and reading a favorite book from home.  Finally, discuss the plans for the next day at dinnertime, not bedtime!  

Happy Travels!