You don’t have to love winter, but you do have to endure it. Hibernation can be a good option, but it can also be a little boring and depressing, even for kids. Lots of people agree that daily outside time is important for both children and adults, improving both mental and physical health. But if you despise the cold and aren’t doing winter sports, it can be difficult to get outside in winter.
Don’t despair! We have lots of ideas on how to help your family #GetOutside more this winter (including a fire walk in the snow) even if you aren’t skiing. I hope this helps!
This post is sponsored by Reima, a Finnish clothing company popular in Switzerland “made for kids on the move.” We have been testing their snow clothes this winter and my kids have never been so warm and dry in the snow. Thanks Reima for helping us have so much fun this winter!
1. Start warm, stay warm
First, give your kids the best chance at being happy outside in the cold by dressing them in warm layers and quality waterproof outerwear, especially shoes. Most kids will be rolling around in the snow, sitting and digging in the snow, getting hit with snowballs that drip down their necks. Their clothes need to withstand all this action.
This winter, we’re loving my boy’s Reima snow clothing, which has endured all sorts of madness on the sledding and ski hills and kept them warm and dry through it all. Jelmoli carries a large selection of Reima clothing. We’ve also see Reima at the Transa Outlet where you can get good discounts. You can see more of the winter clothing we recommend in this post: 10 Must Haves for Kids Ski Clothing
Big kids will want thinner layers to remove because they quickly heat up as they play, but also quickly cool down when it’s all over. Little kids need extra thick warm clothes, because they don’t move around as much and don’t generate as much body heat as older kids.
It’s tempting to skimp a bit on these clothes since kids grow out of their clothes so quickly and won’t use their winter gear for very long. But the right clothes can make a huge difference in their outdoor happiness.
To save some money, shop during the Black Friday sales at the end of November, the after-Christmas sales in early January and the end of season close-outs, which start around March. Also look for “Börse” (aka Exchange) at your local community center, where neighbors will sell secondhand winter clothing and gear. Secondhand shops in Switzerland often carry high quality clothing in good condition, a great place to pick up a winter wardrobe for kids.
2. Follow the sun
Start by only going outside when the sun is shining and build up positive experiences, giving you and your kids the best chance at success. Plus, nice sunny winter days can feel surprisingly warmer than what the thermometer says. On days like this, we often dress much too warmly and in a few minutes, everyone is stripping off layers.
If you haven’t seen the sun in a long time, go to the mountains, even if you aren’t skiing, as we did in the pic above, on a short winter walk when the kids were too little to ski. While the valleys are often socked in with fog, the mountains are filled with sunshine and blue skies, which can really lift your spirits. You can go sledding, play in the snow or simply have a hot chocolate and snack while you soak in the rays.
See also our suggested Winter Walks
To help motivate us to leave our cozy homes, I have a standing rule in winter: Every time the sun comes out, drop everything and go outside. In Zürich winter, the days are short and the skies can be overcast for weeks at time, which dampens everyone’s mood and puts us into hibernation mode. So when the sun peeks through, you can’t waste a minute. No matter what we are doing – piano practice, homework, gaming, chores, I don’t care what – we set it aside and I kick everyone outside for a bit, even if it’s just a short stroll to the neighborhood park. If it helps, think of it as “doctor’s orders.”
3. Have a project
Some kids can easily make their own fun. Others need a little encouragement. If your kids aren’t immediately inspired by snow, try lots of different activities until they find something that peaks their interest. Your kid might not like getting hit by a snowball or building a snowman, but maybe they would enjoy drawing in the snow or knocking snow off tree branches or collecting snow on their sled (see below). Once they find an activity they like, they usually won’t notice the cold. Sometimes it helps to have a project that gives them a sense of progress and accomplishment, like building a snow fort or sledding jump or covering the entire field with a chorus of snow angels or knocking the snow off every fence post down the street.
4. Try new accessories
If they get bored, try some new equipment, which could be as simple as a stick. We love the multi-use shovel sleds which make it so much easier for kids dig & carry snow and pat it down in various shapes. We always take a few along because when they meet friends at the sledding hill, everyone wants to use one too. A few years ago, we got the kids snowball makers (shown below) and now they are the envy of all their friends during a snowball fight. This winter, a friend brought along this old-skool snowboard/sled and suddenly everyone was determined to figure it out, no matter how many times they fell on their faces.
5. Build traditions – Fire Walk
Plan a few special experiences that you only do when it snows. After the latest snow in Zürich, we went to a local park after dark with fire torches. At first, the kids weren’t sure it would be fun but after a couple minutes, their imagination took over and it was the best night ever. There is a special light and quietness in a dark snowy landscape that you just have to experience to understand. We had the most fun taking slow-shutter pics of the kids writing with fire. You can buy these “Handfackel” torches at a big Migros or Coop in their grill sections, near other garden torches and firewood. For smaller children that can’t manage fire, bring flashlights.
6. Keep winter activities short
Being outside is supposed to be fun, not an endurance test. So when training kids to enjoy winter, start with short activities with an exit plan. When kids complain about being cold, first try some distractions. But if they are really complaining, I suggest going inside or going home, even if you were only outside a few minutes, even if it took you an hour+ to get them ready. If you stay outside when the kids are miserable, they will associate being outside in winter with being unhappy and no one listening to them. We want our kids to enjoy their time outside in winter. So at least at the beginning, I think it’s more helpful to try lots of short activities, rather than one long outdoor day a couple times a month.
7. Film the winter fun
My kids love seeing videos of their sledding crashes and snowball fights and pretty much anything else they do. Sometimes they are motivated to stay out longer just to see what other crazy stuff they can capture on video. Perhaps yours are the same. They try crazy stuff, run over to see themselves on my phone, then run back to do something even crazier. Some kids might enjoy filming you doing something silly in the phone. It’s all about distraction.
8. Bring hot drinks
Just like a lollipop can save a hike, a thermos of hot apple punch or hot chocolate can save a winter play day. Not only does it warm your tummy, but also your hands as you hold the warm cup. If you make this part of your routine, your kids will look forward to it as part your winter outing. If your children have a hard time socializing, this is a great way to attract friends at the park.
I prefer hot apple cider to hot chocolate because it’s easier to clean up. I simply heat up a big bottle of Süssmost (apple juice) then pour it into insulated containers with spiced tea packets. I bring reusable plastic cups, extra in case friends show up. It also works to have individual insulated travel mugs, so you don’t have to fuss with the cups. But sometimes the drinks are too hot to sip directly from the mug.
9. Take the inside outside
Not every outdoor winter activity is freezing cold. Over the years, we’ve done a few sleigh rides, all bundled up under fluffy blankets but still enjoying the snowy Swiss alps. We particularly liked the one in Davoes that took us to a mountain hut for a cosy lunch, then brought us back to town. See more Sleigh Rides.
If you are the only non-skier in your group, lots of resorts have sun beds with blankets so you can simply enjoy the sun and read a book while the rest of the family skis.
10. Après-Snow
Lastly, no matter what outdoor winter activity you do, there should be an indoor reward afterwards (or during!) so you and the kids learn to associate the two together. If you go sledding, go near a cafe where you can have hot cocoa afterwards. If you do a winter walk, make your destination a restaurant where you can eat inside. If you go skiing, take a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break in a hut. Even if you are just going back to your car, have cosy blankets, special treats, and warm dry clothes to change into, so you don’t have to sit in your cold, wet snow pants all the way home. Eventually your kids will come to associate these comforts with a fun day in the snow.
That’s all I can think of for now. Please leave a comment if you have other ideas on how to endure winter with your kids.
Need more ideas? See all our Winter Activities for Families.
Note: This post is sponsored by Reima but all opinions stated here are our own.
