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Posts Tagged ‘winter activities’

by Tawra Kellam

We went sledding this weekend and dad and the kids really had a great time! We used some sleds that we bought last year, but there was a time in the past when the snow caught us off guard and we didn’t have anything to use as a sled.

Here are some ideas for alternatives to sleds that we have used or have seen used in case you find yourself caught without one. Some of them work better when the slopes have a smoother, slightly icy surface.

* Baby pool – We actually saw a family using an old baby pool. The one they were using would not slide well since the snow was soft, but they turned it inside out (turning the smooth side out) and it worked great. Their entire family went down together in it and they had great fun. (Of course, if you have to turn it inside out, it probably won’t hold water anymore so make sure it’s a worn out baby pool!

* Lids to large plastic storage containers

* Laundry basket (BJ’s favorite for a couple of years!)

* Vinyl outdoor cushions – We saw some people using them. They worked well and the foam inside made the bumps a little less severe for the kids.

* Cardboard – larger pieces work best. If the snow is soft, bend the front up a little so it doesn’t get stuck.

* An old tarp – These work best with smooth, almost icy surfaces. They will get bogged down in soft snow and will shred quickly if the ice has become sharp edged.

* An old winter coat with plastic coating (I wouldn’t do this with your best coat!) – My husband said that he and his friends (when they were kids) occasionally slid down on old coats with the shiny, water resistant coating.

* Smooth hubcaps – (Don’t try it with wire wheels!)

* Innertubes – Inflated innertubes work great for sledding! If you have an old innertube that has been punctured, you can cut it open and let the kids sit inside it. Even without air, the rubber still slides well.

* Office chair mat (without the pokey things) – Some mats for office chairs are smooth on one side and don’t have the gripping spikes on the back. If you have one laying around, they make great sleds in a pinch.

Tawra Kellam is the editor of http://www.LivingOnADime.com. Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

by Rachel Paxton

This week my boys got to make two different cute snowman crafts. One is made with marshmallows, and one is made with cotton balls. These crafts are great for preschool-aged children.

For the first craft, you will need:

• Construction paper
• Large marshmallows
• Small marshmallows
• Scissors
• Marker

Let your child help cut the marshmallows in half. You will need three large marshmallow halves to make the snowman, and 10 or so small marsmallow halves for snowflakes.

The fun part about this activity is that the marshmallows actually stick to the page! After the marshmallows are cut in half, use the large marshmallow halves to create the snowman on a piece of construction paper. Just place the cut side down on the page and press down. Next have your child place the small marshmallow halves randomly all over the page for snowflakes. Have your child use the marker to draw a face, buttons, and arms on the snowman. This activity is really fun, and fast too, if you need a quick project.

For the next project you will need:

• Paper plate
• Cotton balls
• Orange, black, blue construction paper
• Scissors
• Elmer’s glue

You will be using the paper plate to make the face of a snowman. Pour some Elmer’s glue on another paper plate. Let your child dip cotton balls in the glue and place the cotton balls all over the paper plate.

Use the construction paper to make eyes, a carrot nose, and a hat for the snowman. Glue them in place. This is also a fun, easy project. Just takes a little while for the glue to dry.

Books to read about snowmen: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll, and Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner.