Snowy Games for Winter Days

These games require little or no preparation and are great for larger groups of kids - perfect for school snow days!

Winter Wonderball

A wintery, outdoor version of Wonderball - children sit in a circle passing a snowball around while singing the following rhyme: "The wonder ball goes round and round. To pass it quickly, you are bound. If you're the one to hold it last, the game for you has quickly passed. Out goes Y-O-U!" The child holding the snowball at "U" is out of the game. But, if the snowball melts or falls apart in a person's hand, that person is also out. Snowballs are replaced as needed and the game continues until only one person is left.

Mini Winter Carnival

Create a winter carnival right in your own backyard. Establish a series of stations where children compete doing different activities. Here are some ideas:

• Snowman Building. Who can build the biggest/best snowman (or build one the fastest)?
• Snowball Throwing. Who can throw a snowball the farthest?
• Seal Races. Racers lie flat on their stomachs and can only pull themselves forward using their flippers (arms). First one across the finish line wins.
• Snow Snakes Races.
• Targets. Children aim snowballs at tin cans piled in a pyramid and sitting on top of a snow mound. The one who knocks down the most cans in one shot is the winner.
• "Dog" Sled Race. Children work in groups of three of more. One child sits on the sled; the others are the "dogs" and pull the sled. The first team to cross the finish line wins.
• Snowball Rolling. Teams of two or more start with a snowball and roll it towards the finish line. As it gets bigger and bigger, it's harder to roll and control. The first team to cross the finish line wins. If the snowball falls apart, teams must start again from the beginning.

By Rochelle Strauss