Too cold to stay out for long? Well, if you don’t want to take the kids out into the snow, bring it inside to them! All you need is a container to haul it in, and you’re set for hours of cheap entertainment
By Ann-Marie Burton
It looks pretty out there right now—sun shining and glistening white snow, but it's actually darn freezing! Really freezing! Yes, I think my kids should get a bit of fresh air, but I don't want to head out there myself let along freeze their toes off!
So, last week I got a little resourceful. Homebound both by the cold temperatures and also the flu bug that was running through our family, we were all on edge. Based on everyone's moods at 8:30 a.m., I knew we were in for a long day. So I put on my creative hat—and did what no one expected!
I brought the snow INSIDE!
Yep, and the kids loooooved it. It wasn't packing snow outside, but once it hit our warm kitchen the snow turned to great packing snow. My daughter loved making snow "cakes" and "icing" them for fun. My one-year-old son had fun with the chilly sensory activity. They played for almost an hour—with many refills for melting snow—and made me a convert. We will be doing this again!
To do this at home, you need:
– SNOW (it will turn to packing snow as soon as you bring it indoors)
– Tray: baking tray with edges, something to keep the melting water in
– toys, spoons, bowls anything to help the experience of building & creating
Check out the looks on these baby faces as momstown Brampton introduces them to the white stuff!
And for no-melt "faux snow," try momstown Milton's genius craft with shaving foam and cornstarch. Share your photos of an indoor snow party with us at our facebook page.
Momstown originally published this piece in December, 2011.