Michigan winters can be brutal.
Out of the four seasons, it is definitely my least favorite. But, if you were to ask my kids, they would tell you that I LOVE it. I’ve always loved the holidays and all of the craziness and stress they bring. As far as I am concerned, it would be wonderful if after the first of the year the weather flipped a switch and turned to spring. However, after having kids, I’ve learned to embrace the winter and all of the unique opportunities it brings. If you are looking for ideas on how to make this season the best ever and make your kids so thankful that they live in the mitten state, here you go.
These are the activities we anxiously anticipate all year:
Making Show Cream
Once the leaves have fallen, we eagerly wait for the first snow. As soon as the flakes start flying: game on. The muddy, brown fall landscape transforms almost overnight into a glistening winter wonderland with soooo many new activities. With the first significant snowfall, my kids know it is time to make snow cream. If you have never made ice cream from fresh snow, you are missing out! The great thing about this activity is it takes zero prep and you are sure to have the ingredients on hand. Send each kid out with a bowl and measuring cup.
They need to scoop 3-4 cups of fluffy CLEAN snow into their bowl. Then you add 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 cup of milk, and a ½ cup of sugar. Stir it up and run outside to add a couple more cups of snow and voila! The kids have made a delicious treat.
Play in the Snow as a Family
The snow cream is followed by my children pleading “Can we go outside?” And the answer is always YES! Bundling them up in all of their gear is admittedly a pain. I remember the first time I tried to put a snow glove on my toddler and it wasn’t pretty. There was a lot of wrestling, sweating, and mumbled choice words. This new landscape offers so many new experiences for kids to learn. Of course, the snow has to be just right to build a snowman. It can’t be too fluffy and needs to be “packy.” Bundle up and go outside with them. Teach them how to roll the perfect snowman base. Help them lift the middle section so they can make the biggest snowman in town. They will be beaming with pride. This activity always leads to a snowball fight at our house. We have strict snowball fight rules. No face shots and no ice balls. Snowball fights end with hot cocoa. No exceptions.
Sledding + Ice Skating
The ultimate winter activity for kids has to be sledding. Sledding takes the most effort. It is a workout to carry sleds and kids to the top of the hill, but the squeals and laughter during the ride down are so worth it. This activity is best with lots of friends. Another challenging activity {if your kids are old enough and coordinated}is ice skating. Grab a pair of skates and head to a nearby lake or pond.
Take a Walk
If you don’t have the energy to bundle up and play, I would suggest finding a spot in nature to take a walk. The crunching of the snow under your boots is very satisfying. Outside sounds very different in the winter. We love to take a hike at ForMar Nature Preserve. I would recommend going on a walk first thing in the morning or at dusk for the best chance to spot the creatures that are out. My daughter is so intrigued by all of the different tracks she is able to spot easily in the fresh snow.
I hope that this gives you some inspiration to get out there and experience winter this year with your kids. Not everyone gets to experience the magic of this season, so take advantage of the state you live in! How do you make the most of winter?
