Family Activities for Winter (cont.)
11. Snowflake Express
Age Level: 5 to adult
Activity Time: 10 minutes or longer
Materials:
- white felt squares
- scissors
- glitter
- sequins
- glue
Kids can make these keepsake snowflakes with just a few materials. Provide white felt squares, scissors, glitter, sequins, and glue. Have kids cut a snowflake out of the felt by first folding it in half, then in half again along the fold. Fold the felt once more into a triangular shape at the point where both previous folds meet.
Have kids design their snowflakes by cutting shapes into the folded felt. Then they can decorate their snowflakes with glitter and sequins.
12. Frosting the Snowman
Age Level: 3 to adult
Activity Time: 10 minutes
Materials:
- 4 rolls of toilet paper
- orange and black felt
- safety scissors
- tape
- a variety of hats, scarves, brooms, purses, and other dress-up items
- a way to play the song “Frosty the Snowman”
Kids love to build this snowman—regardless of the availability of the white stuff!
Have each team choose one adult and one child to be the snowmen. Give each quadrant one roll of toilet paper, and place the rest of the items in the center of the room.
Say: Your team gets to work together to build a snow-person and snow-child using the items in the box and the toilet paper I’ve given you. You have 10 minutes to create your wonderful snowpeople. You must be finished in the time I give you, and you have to give your snowpeople names so you can introduce them to us all. Good luck!
Play “Frosty the Snowman” as teams work. Once time is up, have each team introduce its snowpeople to everyone.
13. Family ’Fitti
Age Level: toddler to adult
Activity Time: 10 minutes or longer
Materials:
- 2 large sheets of butcher paper
- masking tape
- tempera paint
- sponges
- water
- paintbrushes
Prior to the event, tape one sheet of butcher paper to a wall where families, including little ones, can reach. Tape the other sheet of butcher paper to the floor to protect the floor from paint drippings.
Throughout the evening, encourage families to leave their marks on the butcher paper. Whether they simply write their names or draw pictures of the events or each other, this large sheet of family graffiti can be a reminder of the fun at the midwinter picnic.
14. Red Ants
Age Level: 5 to adult
Activity Time: 10 minutes or longer
Materials:
- large marshmallows
- stick pretzels
- chocolate chips
- tube frosting
- paper plates
- red cake-decorating spray
End with a special treat. What’s a picnic without those pesky red ants?
For each ant, you’ll need three large marshmallows, eight stick pretzels, and two chocolate chips. Have kids connect two of the marshmallows with a pretzel to create the ant’s body. Use another pretzel to connect the ant’s body to its head. Connect six pretzel “legs” to the body. Attach two stick pretzels to the head pointing up for antennae.
Kids can spray their ants using the red cake-decorating spray. Have kids attach eyes with a dot of tube frosting on the back of each chocolate chip. Apply the eyes below the antennae.
This article by Sue Acton was originally published on ChildrensMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, a division of David C Cook.
