WE'RE HERE TO HELP, Mon-Sun. Contact us.
0
Clear
Search for products
  • KEEN
  • WORK
  • KEEN Effect
    • Womens
    • Mens
    • Kids
    • Sale
  • Sign in or Join
  • USA / EN
  • Stores
  • BLOG
    • 1.866.676.KEEN
    • Email Us
    • Live Chat
  • KEEN
  • WORK
  • KEEN Effect
  • Stores
  • BLOG
  • Sign in  or  Join
WE’RE HERE TO HELP, MON-SUN. PHONE, EMAIL, OR CHAT
Search Icon
Clear
  • Womens
  • Mens
  • Kids
  • Sale
Search Icon Search
0
    • Shop by Style
    • Boots
    • Shoes
    • Sandals
    • Casual
    • Shop All
      Collections
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Only at KEEN
    • Sneakers
    • Socks
    • Laces
    • Accessories
      Activities
    • Hiking
    • Winter
    • Water
    • Travel
    Bellows Flex
    Learn More
    Shop Work
    • Shop by Style
    • Collections
    • Activities
    • Bellows Flex Learn More
    • Shop Work
    • Boots
    • Shoes
    • Sandals
    • Casual
    • Shop All
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Only at KEEN
    • Sneakers
    • Socks
    • Laces
    • Accessories
    • Hiking
    • Winter
    • Water
    • Travel
    • Shop by Style
    • Boots
    • Shoes
    • Sandals
    • Casual
    • Shop All
      Collections
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Only at KEEN
    • Targhee
    • Socks
    • Laces
    • Accessories
      Activity
    • Hiking
    • Winter
    • Water
    • Travel
    Bellows Flex
    Learn More
    Shop Work
    • Shop by Style
    • Collections
    • Activity
    • Bellows Flex Learn More
    • Shop Work
    • Boots
    • Shoes
    • Sandals
    • Casual
    • Shop All
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Only at KEEN
    • Targhee
    • Socks
    • Laces
    • Accessories
    • Hiking
    • Winter
    • Water
    • Travel
    • Shop By Style
    • Shoes
    • Boots
    • Sandals
    • Shop All
      Collections
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Boys'
    • Girls'
    • Summer Camp Sandals
    • Playground Shoes
    • Snow Boots
      Shop By Age
    • Big Kid
    • Little Kid
    • Toddler
    • Shop All
    Summer Camp Sandals
    Shop Now
    Kids' New Arrivals
    Shop Now
    • Shop By Style
    • Collections
    • Shop By Age
    • Summer Camp Sandals Shop Now
    • Kids' New Arrivals Shop Now
    • Shoes
    • Boots
    • Sandals
    • Shop All
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Boys'
    • Girls'
    • Summer Camp Sandals
    • Playground Shoes
    • Snow Boots
    • Big Kid
    • Little Kid
    • Toddler
    • Shop All
    • Sale
    • Men's Sale
    • Women's Sale
    • Kids' Sale
    Shop Sale
    • Sale
    • Shop Sale
    • Men's Sale
    • Women's Sale
    • Kids' Sale
Jan 27, 2021 // / Guides & Reviews

Backyard Screen Breaks: 5 Winter Activities for Kids


Playing in the snow

From the simple pleasure of walking through freshly fallen snow to the exhilaration of braving a storm, there are lots of reasons for kids to get outside during the winter months. Like young Peter in the classic children’s book, The Snowy Day, there’s plenty to discover and explore when snow changes the landscape.

But enjoying winter doesn’t have to be an all-day affair with a long drive and pulling gear together the night before (although those are fun, too!). It's all right outside the door. And any time spent outside that gives kids a break from the increased screen time that winter brings is time well spent.

Check out these ideas for quick winter screen breaks, no matter the weather.

Feed the Birds

Winter is the ideal time to reach out to our feathered friends. The cold months offer an easy opportunity to discover and observe your local bird population. Natural seed sources are low during the winter months and birds need extra energy to stay healthy through temperature extremes. Bird feeding can be as simple as scattering seed on the snow surface, or you can turn it into a project to build a dedicated feeder (here are some tips from our friends at Trackers Earth). Either way, choose a location kids can view from a window and refresh the seed on a regular basis, so the birds become regular visitors. Start a bird list to track the varieties that come to visit your feeding station. Once the birds start visiting regularly, you might even be able to feed them right from your hand!

20-Minute Challenge

The winter months offer an opportunity to see more and go places that you can’t in the summer. Trees and bushes lose their leaves to reveal hidden areas and natural treasures. Take the opportunity to send kids on a quest to explore or collect. Create a timed scavenger hunt challenge that takes advantage of what nature sheds and what winter reveals—cones, leaves, animal tracks, and nests. Or a challenge to create snow angels, stomp out the alphabet in the snow, or make a maze. Set kids loose with a specific list of must-finds or must-dos and a limited amount of time to do it. Ready. Set. Go!

Make a Rain/Snow Study Plot

If you get regular snowfall (or rain, like we do here in Portland), set up a weather study plot. The plot can be as simple as a stick in the ground with a graduated scale to measure rain, snowfall, and snow melt. Head outside to take daily measurements and track storm totals. Add a thermometer to your study kit and track the temperature as the season progresses. Try looking at the snow, sleet, or hail under a magnifier and see if you can spot crystals!

All-Natural Art Projects

Some of the best art supplies can be found under neighborhood trees. Hunting for acorns, pine cones, leaves, and pine boughs is part of the fun, and you can even collect different colors and sizes, and organize them in reusable containers. Make a nature mosaic, or break out the paint, glue, and twine to see what creations you can come up with! Maybe a heart-shaped wreath for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or to spread some love to your postal carrier?

Build a Fort

Whether winter brings snow or rain to your neighborhood, it’s a good time to build a fort or a make-believe world with what Mother Nature offers. With snow, kids can use an empty five-gallon bucket (or any size bucket) to form snow blocks that stack to make walls and chairs. If there’s no snow, branches, sticks, and storm-shed boughs make great building materials. Try collecting materials and leaning them against a tree or bush to create a hidden space. If space or materials are limited, have kids think small and create a make-believe world with pine cones as creatures and moss as beds. Winter offers several months to build and expand upon whatever fort or world kids create. Every storm brings more building materials!

Kids don’t really need a reason to go outside and play in the winter, and less can be more. Good old-fashioned running, sliding, sledding, icicle breaking, snowflake catching, or puddle stomping can be all it takes for hours of fun! Just remember that warm kids are happy kids, so layer up, and top it all off with weather-resistant gear from head to toe. Whether you’re talking 20 minutes or 2 hours, warm socks and waterproof boots go a looong way to keeping kids cozy, dry, and engaged outside.

Making a snow angel

Tags: Outside Kids Guides & Reviews

Easy on and out the door

  • sale
    Big Kids' Hikeport II Strap Waterproof Boot
    • $80.00 $49.99
    • 1 color
  • Toddlers' Kootenay III Boot
    • $39.99 - $70.00
    • 4 colors
  • sale
    Little Kids' Kelsa Waterproof Boot
    • $80.00 $49.99
    • 4 colors
Keep up with KEEN
THANKS!

You're on the list. Keep an eye out for news@keenfootwear.com to ensure you don't miss a thing!

  • 1.866.676.KEEN
  • Email Us
  • Live chat
Follow KEEN
    Help Center
  • Contact Us
  • Warranty
  • FAQs
  • Product Reviews
    Track Orders
  • My Account
  • Shipping
  • Returns
    Inside KEEN
  • KEEN Blog
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • KEEN Effect
    Pro Program
  • Student Program
  • Affiliate Program
  • Privacy & Terms  | 
  • Accessibility  | 
  • Site Map
© KEEN, Inc.

Thanks

Thank you for signing up! Click here to check out our collection.