10 Great Winter Activities To Spend Quality Time With Your Family | Physical activities slideshows | Well Being center

Sledding

Some people call it “sledding”, others call it “tobogganing:, either way, we call it “having fun!” Sledding is a fun activity to do during the winter. For centuries now, people living in snowy regions of the world have been practicing sledding, and have even modified the technique and the tools for the best! But to go back in history, this game comes from an actual cultural practice. In fact, the Inuu and Cree populations in Northern Canada, just like the people in Ancient Egypt; were using (and still do) sleds as a mean of transportation. The term technically refers to sliding down a snowy hill with a sled (which is a flexible flyer with metal runners). Children - in particlar - would enjoying doing this activity.

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Photo courtesy of Zechariah Judy by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/9918311@N02/3189755112/
www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/5-best-winter-sports-to-try
http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/winter-sports/65713.html

Skiing

Skiing is probably one of the most common winter activities out there. Children love skiing so much that some of them actually look forward to Christmas and winter time just for a chance to do some skiing! However, although children of age 2 to 3 can start skiing, it is usually better to wait until age 5, when they are less afraid of falling (compared to ages 2 and 3) and are a little more in control of their balance and equilibrium. In addition, skiing lessons could be a great activity to help your children develop balance. Skiing down a hill is truly fun, but children must always have an adult with them.

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Snowboarding

Another fun game to try with your family this winter is snowboarding. Although it is more common with teens and tweens, anyone can jump in for your private “who-is-the-best-snow-boarder” contest! This is a great sport to develop fitness, equilibrium and balance. However, special effort and carefulness should be applied to avoid falls and accidents. It is recommended to always use a helmet before starting. Additionally, depending on how experienced your child is, it is advisable to ensure that he/she does not attempt any dangerous movements and tricks. Other safety gear prior to snowboarding include knee pads and hip pads. And lastly, do not forget to dress up warmly for the occasion!

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Ice Skating

Ice skating is another fun activity that you could try for this winter. It is very tricky at first and may require several practices, but once you get a hold of it, nothing will be able to stop you. Kids can partake in this too, but it is recommended to introduce them to this activity around age 5. Generally, in their beginning stages children wear figure skates as starters. Like other related activities, ensure that your child wears a helmet for protection, and double check to make sure that they are appropriately dressed up. More experienced kids take it further with activities such as ice dancing.

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Snowman Building

Whether you are a small kid or a big kid, building a snowman would always be the right activity for you. Even for adults, sharing that moment with their kids (or younger siblings) allows them not only to bond, but also to nurture their creativity. Making the body is quite simple, and just requires more time than anything else. However, after having completed that step, kids can freely use their imagination to come up with ideas for the nose ( a carrot?) the eyes (two big apples?) the lips (cherries? Strawberries or grapes?). They could even give some clothes to their snowman to make him more alive! For some families, building a snowman during Christmas time has become a tradition.

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Ice Fishing

Who said you couldn’t fish during winter? Try again! Ice fishing is a fun activity for those who love fishing! Because it requires a great deal of patience, this activity is recommended with older children (as younger folk might easily get bored). Before starting, there are specific safety measures you should take: ensure that the ice is thick enough (at least 4 inches thick), and that temperatures have been consistently low (even below freezing temperature) for a couple of days prior to your ice fishing day. Make sure that the kids are wearing the appropriate gear. If you are too tired to go ice fishing with them, ensure that they are accompanied by an adult.

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Snowshoeing

One of the most amazing things about winter is the fact that there is an activity to satisfy everyone. Whatever it is that you like to do during summer (or other seasons) can be easily reproduced during winter, even if it is in a different way! For instance, for families that are keen of hiking, showshoeing would be the perfect winter activity! And there is specific requirement or expertise needed here: once you can walk, you can definitely showshoe. Children as young as 2 years of age can participate. And it is fun for the kids to walk in their boots, pretending they are big foot. Depending on the snow conditions and the nature of the trail you intnd to follow, you might need some snow poles to ensure balance

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Ice Hockey

Next to ice skating is ice hockey. This is actually a sport, practiced by many. As a simple winter activity, ice hockey can help you get fit and stay that way, and why not, help you burn the excess fat you so gladly consumed in the holiday ham and turkey! Ice hockey exercises your muscles of the lower body (maintaining your balance) and upper body (with the use of the hockey stick). People with known medical problems (like heart disease and hypertension) should wear a heart monitor to ensure that they are not being overworked, as their heart rate can easily go up to 190 beats per minute. And lastly, ensure that you are properly hydrated throughout the game. In other words, do not wait until the end of the game to get some water. Also, do not hydrate yourself with alcohol, as it would do just the opposite of the effect you are trying to achieve.

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Snowball Fight

Simple and fun, snowballs fights are the way to go to end a beautiful snowy excursion at the park during the winter. Parents, don’t stay away thinking you are too old for this, snowball fights are for any age! In addition, by joining in you can help strengthen your younger kids, you can act as the referee, and you can even monitor them discreetly to ensure that the fight remains friendly and pleasant. Remember, it is an activity to bind people, not to dissipate them. To ensure that your snowballs are heavy enough (or not too light to the point where they cannot be rolled into snowballs), you could lie on the snow for a few minutes to make it warmer, and then proceed to rolling your snowballs.

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Making Snow Angels

This activity couldn’t be more appropriate for Christmas time: angels, snow, kids, Christmas, what else would you ask for? Make your child’s dream come true. However, ensure that they are wearing the appropriate gear. Because making snow angels will require your little ones to be in direct contact with the snow (since they will lie on it), it is extremely important to ensure that their coats are perfectly closed and are fluffy and thick enough to keep them safe. Now to get back to our fun activity, you can make it much more fun for them by letting them decorate their angels: use food coloring for the eyes, mouth, etc. You could even bring along old clothes to dress them up!