Baby, It’s Cold Outside : Snow Sensory Activity

Winter is upon us, with it’s bitterly cold temperatures and dreaded white powder, otherwise known as snow. Well, snow may be dreaded for some us, but for toddlers, the first snow of the season is magical. If you’re a parent, you didn’t need to watch the weather report or even look outside to know it was snowing. You simply had to wait for your tiny human to make a beeline for the door. My newsfeed was blowing up with photos of children playing in the first snow of the season, some well before sunrise. 

There is something truly magical about seeing snow from our children’s perspective.

I love to see the wonder and excitement on her face, as she ventures out into the heaping piles of glistening powder, all while dressed as a giant pink marshmallow. Watching her move about awkwardly in layer upon layer of clothing always makes me think of the little boy from “A Christmas Story,” as his mother dressed him for the winter weather.

While I do enjoy seeing the snow through my daughters eyes, I myself do not enjoy the “Great Outdoors.” Especially when the air makes my face hurt. So, playing in the snow is usually Daddy/daughter time. Since it’s too dark to hop in the snow by the time my husband gets home from work, that typically just leaves the weekends. 

So, I came up with a snow sensory activity: something fun that would curb her appetite for snow angels, while still having the opportunity to play “in” the snow. 


Snow Sensory Activity

Items:

  1. Multiple Tubberware Bowls (All different shapes and sizes)
  2. Snow
  3. Cookie Sheet
  4. Food Coloring
  5. Salt (optional)
  6. Water Color Paint Brush (optional)

indoor snow sensory activity

Prep:

  • Fill tubberware bowls (all different shapes and sizes) with water at least 24 hours before intended use.
  • Place a few drops of food coloring into each tub of water
  • Place tubs in freezer for at least 24 hrs.

I made the mistake of doing the prep work in front of my toddler. She asked me every hour if the “frozen blocks” were ready yet!

Steps:

  1. Place snow on cookie sheet
  2. Run warm water over the tubberware bowls to free the colorful blocks of ice
  3. Place the frozen blocks on a cookie sheet
  4. Begin Sensory Play!

indoor snow sensory activity

Enrichment Play

Sensory activities are great for having conversations with your little ones as they play. These conversations have amazing educational value. These are just some of the questions I asked my daughter as she played frozen blocks.

Sensory Questions:

  1. How do the snow and blocks feel when you touch them? Smooth, rough, bumpy, hot, or cold?
  2. Let’s pour salt (I used regular kitchen salt) on one of the blocks. Does it change the feel of the block? How? What did it feel like before we poured salt on it?

Extension Questions:

  1. What color are the blocks?
  2. How many blocks are red/green/yellow?
  3. Which block is the smallest/largest?
  4. How many blocks are there total?
  5. What shape is each block?

indoor snow sensory activity

The only item I was missing was a watercolor paint brush. This activity is great for using one. As the blocks melt, you can use the melted water to paint a picture on paper. 

Overall, this snow sensory activity was a hit! I liked it because it was creative and educational. My toddler enjoyed it because it filled her love for snow and building blocks! Bringing the snow indoors can be a great way to get your child’s creative juices flowing, while being warm and cozy indoors!
 indoor snow sensory activity

Have SNOW much fun!  


 

Nikki Wildemuth
Nikki is new to the area. She graduated from the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Campus in 2009 with a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education. She married her husband the same year. Nikki loved the creativity of teaching and continues to bring that same creativity as a stay at home mom. During the day you can find her chasing after her precocious toddler. By night she is a Pinterest junkie! She enjoys getting out and spending time with her family!

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