{"id":6848,"date":"2019-11-07T18:40:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T18:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/?p=6848"},"modified":"2025-01-13T20:38:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T20:38:23","slug":"cold-weather-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/en\/cold-weather-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold Weather Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter is nearly here, which means no matter where you live in Canada, the temperatures are going to drop. Granted, winter temperatures in Canada can range anywhere from 5\u00b0C to -35\u00b0C. Regardless of where you are, some or all of these activities can help keep your young friends engaged and eager to be outside.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Building Snow Animals<\/h3>\n
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Snow Rabbits @ Sarah Coulber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Invite your young friends to think of all the wildlife living near you. Which animals would make good snow buddies for their snowmen (and snowwomen, boys and girls, of course)? If you try to build the deer, I can personally attest that the lying down version is much easier than the standing up one! Get ideas for snow animals here<\/a>. And please share your photos below \u2014 we\u2019d love to see them!<\/p>\n

Animal Tracks<\/h3>\n

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If you have snow \u2013 or even damp ground \u2013 you can see which animal tracks have been left by recent visitors. Naturalist Chad Clifford<\/a> shares plenty of invaluable tips<\/a> on understanding patterns, making a tracking kit, journaling about your discoveries and more. Our CWF tracking guide<\/a> features information on specific animal tracks.<\/p>\n

Discovering What\u2019s Different<\/h3>\n

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Once winter has set in, encourage your kids to use their senses to note changes in their playground, backyard or along their favourite nature trail. Perhaps some trees have lost their leaves or certain animals can no longer be seen or heard. Go exploring to discover which animals might be sleeping through the cold, curled up in piles of leaves or tucked under bark (although be sure to disturb them as little as possible). Listen to hear if any birds are calling, drumming or pecking. Is it quieter because of sleeping or absent animals, or noisier because leaves were helping to block some of the noise from a busy road? Is it brighter, perhaps because you live in a spot with lots of deciduous trees, and more light is reaching the floor? Now that deciduous trees have lost their leaves, what can you observe about tree shapes? See what you can notice about where the trees are widest and how their branches grow. Sharpen your observation skills even further by sketching what you see \u2013 if it\u2019s not too cold, of course!<\/p>\n

Crafting Ice Ornaments<\/h3>\n

\"ice<\/p>\n

If you have a stretch of below freezing weather this winter, making ice ornaments is a fun way to adorn trees. You can also string the ornaments along a fence.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n