Crafts & Fun

Snow Kids
Adult-sized snowmen can be overwhelming for young kids, so bring the fun down to their level with mini-men! They’re easy to reach and don’t take as long to build as the bigger ones. Root through your kids’ outgrown winter gear for jackets, mitts, hats and scarves. Other adornments to try: large buttons for eyes and mouths; mop heads or yarn for hair; soothers and rattles.

The Perfect Snowball
For the perfect snowball, you have to start with perfect snow: fresh, slightly wet white stuff binds together well. Temperatures around 0ÞC are the best: too warm and the snow is too slushy; too cold and there isn’t enough moisture in the snow for it to hold together. Scoop the snow in both your hands and gently but firmly pack it into a ball, rolling it around in your hands so that it is evenly shaped. And then it’s ready to lob (at your snowman only, of course!).

Spray Art
Fill a spray bottle with water and several drops of food colouring (until the water is nicely tinted) and let little Picassos go at the snow. Some ideas: Play tic-tac-toe, paint your snow angels and snowmen, make a target for snowball throwing, colour snow-covered trees. Tip: Make sure kids aim away from each other, as food dye stains.

For the Birds
While many feathered friends head south for the winter, you can still catch a glimpse of birds, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, finches and cardinals in many areas of Canada. Invite them into your yard with this cold-weather treat.

1. Cut a 4 cm (1½ in.) x 1 cm (½ in.) piece of cardboard.

2. Fold a 38 cm (15 in.) length of string around the middle of the cardboard and tie it very tightly. Tie the ends of the string together to make a loop; this is your hanger.

3. Form a snowball around the cardboard square, being careful to leave a good portion of the hanger exposed.

4. Roll the snowball in birdseed — if it’s not sticking well, spritz a little water on the ball and immediately roll the ball in the seed again.

5. Hang your snowball bird feeder on a tree — preferably outside a window so you can view the feast.

Alternative: Cover a pine cone in peanut butter and birdseed, and hang it from a tree with a piece of string or ribbon.

Originally published in Today's Parent, January 2006