SNOW DAY ACTivities

​Winter is here! Whether you’re spending time outside in the snowy weather or staying cozy indoors, here are some fun-filled winter themed skill building activities to enjoy with your kiddos. I am sure we will have plenty of snow this Winter season.
 
Since snow has arrived in Washington, why not take advantage and get outdoors for some great sensory motor experiences and play in the snow.
Your senses will thank you!
 
Make snow angels 
This works on proprioceptive, body awareness and motor planning. It also supports integration of the spinal galant and asymmetrical tonic neck reflex.
 
Go sledding 
This a great overall sensory motor activity to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input, as well as muscle strengthening, and motor planning.
 
Letter Writing
Practice writing letters in the snow with a gloved finger or large stick. Try stomping out letters in the snow with your feet for some extra input. If your child tends to press too hard when he/she writes, try writing letters on paper on top of the snow. The challenge is to press lightly and don’t let the paper sink in the snow.  
 

Make a snowman 
This is a great activity for some serious heavy work through pushing and pulling rolled up snow. Work on dressing skills by adding a hat, scarf and mittens.
 
Snow Targets 
Practice those visual motor skills with this activity. Use food coloring mixed with water to spray the snow with colored water and aim snowballs at the targets.
 
Snow Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of a few items that you could possibly find outdoors where you are i.e. leaf, small stick and rock. The children have to dig in the snow to find the items. Do not hide them yourself. Just let the kids explore the snow.
 
I Spy Snow Jar
I Spy games are great for addressing visual perceptual figure ground skills. Figure ground is the ability to perceive the foreground from the background in a visual array. To strengthen these skills, create a home-made Eye Spy Jar. You can use white confetti, white rice, or faux snow as the main “ingredient”. Perhaps use small objects with a winter theme for the child to spy.
 
Create Snow Slime
A great activity to work on executive function skills and tactile sensitivity.
Follow the link here to find the ingredients and instructions.
 
https://epicfunforkids.com/super-strong-snow-slime-recipe/
 
Snow Ball Race
Use cotton balls and straws and set up a target (maybe draw an igloo). Take turns blowing through your straw to move your “snowball” to into the target. This activity is great for turn taking, oral motor skills, following directions, and visual motor skills.

Talia Gonzalez OTR/L