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Winter Games for Kids

Sheetal Mandora
Keep kids active even if it's cold outside. Read on to find outdoor, as well as indoor, games to play, and keep the cold at bay.
When it's too cold to play outside, kids need something to keep them occupied. Playing same old games indoors and outdoors can make them irritated.
Coming up with new winter games can be a challenge for parents and teachers at school if kids have already played the games you've suggested. To overcome this dilemma, check out these fun games for kids which will make them jump up in their seats with joy.

Outdoor Games

Clear the Obstacles

Make 10 snowballs of about two ft and 5 ft tall away from each other. Divide everyone into two groups and choose a leader in each group.
Each team jumps over the obstacles while following their leader. The other team checks if no one is cheating and counts how many players finished jumping over all the 10 obstacles. The team with the highest score wins.

Write Names in the Snow

Take your kids outside once you've got your gloves, hats, coats, scarves, and boots ready. Stand in the snow and drag your feet across the snow. Write your name in the snow as you are dragging your feet in it.
Once you're done, go to your room and check out your name in the snow. This exciting game is a great way to stay warm even when there's snow outside, as there's lot of physical activity involved in it.

Colored Snow

Take two spray and two squeeze bottles, and fill it up with 4 different colored water. Take the bottles out in the snow. Try to make various shapes and figures out of snow. You can also make a big circle in the snow and set it as a target. Stand 5-10 ft away from the target and try to spray inside the target. Take turns and see who can make the target first.

Rollerblade

If it's too cold outside, take your kids to the nearest park or a beach to spend the day, rollerblading.
Rollerblades help to keep kids physically active while you can get a good workout as well. Challenge your kids to go faster than you and have some fun in the winter sun. But before you go ahead with this activity, ensure to have all the safety gears on.

Indoor Games

Ghost in the Dark

This game is played in a group of 4―5 kids. One of the players will be the ghost while the others are victims. Find a base where the ghost will stand, and count, "1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, ...12 o'clock." As the ghost counts, the victims try to find a place to hide.
Once the ghost has counted till 12, he/she shouts 'midnight', which means that the ghost will now find "the victims to kill". Meanwhile, the victims try to run to the base before the ghost gets a chance to catch them. If the ghost catches someone, the ghost wins the game, and the person caught will be the next ghost.

Green Light/Red Light

For this game, one person plays a 'stop light' and the other players stand about 20 ft. away from the light. The game begins with the stop light saying green light, to which all the kids move towards him/her slowly.
A few seconds later, the stop light yells red light, and the players have to stay still in their places. Anyone caught walking will be out of the game. The game continues till the last player remains.

Scavenger Hunt

Treasure hunt games are never out boring as they are one of the best games. Prepare a series of clues where one clue leads to another. These clues can be hidden in the kitchen cabinets, cushion covers, or anywhere inside bathrooms.
Make picture clues or maps for the kids to make the scavenger hunt more interesting. If they get stuck and can't figure out the next clue, you can mention 'getting warmer' or 'getting colder' hints. Decide what prizes you want to keep for the one who solves the mystery first.

Guess Who

To play this game, you'll need magazines, a box, 3 x 5 index cards, and glue. Find pictures of animals, cereal boxes, cartoon characters and movies. Cut the pictures and glue them on different 3 x 5 cards.
Take the box and mix all the index cards in it. Pick one card at a time and try to describe the picture without saying it aloud. Let's see how long your friends take to guess what that picture is. Take turns while playing the game.
Children never get tired of playing new and innovative games. You need to decide if you want to stay outside in the snow and occupy yourself with your kids, or get comfortable inside the house and play the games. Whatever you decide, play these games and develop your child's intellect. So get cozy with your kids this winter and have fun!