Winter is a season that tugs at our heartstrings and offers a unique charm, whether your surroundings are blanketed in snow or just call for a cozy winter sweater. It's a time for reflection and creating cherished family memories. Picture snuggling up with loved ones, sipping hot cocoa, watching classic holiday movies, or sharing laughter while introducing your kids to the joy of sledding and other snow adventures. Let's explore ways to enjoy your winter wonderland and discover winter fun activities that will bring joy to the whole family.
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Ideas for Kid-Friendly Winter Fun
There’s nothing quite like hearing your children’s laughter echo across the snowy landscape as you slip down the hillside in your bright red sleigh. Kids have a way of making the season feel like a winter paradise if you slow down and enjoy their activities with them. Here are some of our favorite fun family winter activities.
Build Your Own Frosty the Snowman
The tradition of Frosty the Snowman can be fun for all ages. Before you head outside, take a moment to read the story or sing the song with your little ones so they know what to expect. Then collect all the items that you will need such as fun hats, buttons for eyes, a carrot for the nose, a scarf, mittens, and any other items that your kids find entertaining. Customize Frosty the Snowman to fit your family's sense of humor, such as adding sunglasses and an oversized tropical shirt to represent Frosty on vacation!
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Your kids will love learning how to make a snowman with you, even if it isn’t their first time, and it provides a fun opportunity for a family photoshoot with your snowy creation! The whole family can enjoy the photos long after Mr. Frosty has melted.
Build an Epic Snow Fort
The tradition of Frosty the Snowman can be fun for all ages. Before you head outside, take a moment to read the story or sing the song with your little ones so they know what to expect. Then collect all the items that you will need such as fun hats, buttons for eyes, a carrot for the nose, a scarf, mittens, and any other items that your kids find entertaining. Customize Frosty the Snowman to fit your family's sense of humor, such as adding sunglasses and an oversized tropical shirt to represent Frosty on vacation!
Your kids will love learning how to make a snowman with you, even if it isn’t their first time, and it provides a fun opportunity for a family photoshoot with your snowy creation! The whole family can enjoy the photos long after Mr. Frosty has melted.
Safety Tips for Winter:
Remember to use caution when exploring the winter landscape with your little ones. Before you head out on a hiking trip or get ready to head up to the mountains, check the snowfall weather forecast and make sure you are all dressed appropriately in winter clothes. Layer up and keep extra pairs of socks and gloves on hand to keep your kids comfortable. Always use extreme caution when skating on frozen lakes. Even lakes that had thick enough ice to skate on in previous years may not have enough ice to be safe this year. For little skaters, we suggest heading to an ice skating rink near you.
Sledding, Skiing, and Snowboarding
These winter sports are classics for getting kids outside and active in the snow. Start with an activity that you are familiar with, whether that’s sledding down a hill together or cross-country skiing. Make sure you prepare ahead of time with all your snow gear and help your kids understand what will be expected of them when it’s time to hit the slopes.
Ice Skating and Hockey
It can be so much fun to slip into some skates and hit the ice! Smaller children might need help learning how to skate, but they might surprise you with how quickly they pick it up. After a few hours on the ice, you might have to start asking them to slow down and take it easy! It can be challenging to learn how to ice skate, but it is a great lesson in perseverance. Just think how proud they will feel after they finally get the hang of it.
Don’t Forget to Savor the Moment!
Winter can often feel like such a long season, but before you know it the sun will have melted all the snow and spring will be at your doorstep. Cherish the moments that you share during these cold months and have a family photoshoot. There are endless opportunities for beautiful winter photoshoots, but here are our favorite winter family photography ideas:
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Cutting down the Christmas tree
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Drinking hot cocoa by the fire
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Making snow angels together
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Golden hour photography in the snow
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Walking in a snow-covered forest
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Festive Christmas-themed photoshoots (perhaps with Santa Claus)
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Enjoying the winter wonderland holiday lights together
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Wearing matching family photoshoot clothes, such as ugly Christmas sweaters or matching pajamas
Ideas for a Grandparents’ Winter Wonderland
If you are looking for some winter activities for elderly relatives, such as your grandparents or older aunts and uncles, it is important to tailor your activities to their interests and comfort level. Here are some senior-friendly winter activities that are sure to bring a smile to their faces and create memories with grandparents that you will all cherish for years to come.
Scenic Drives to See the Christmas Lights
Pack into the family car and drive through the neighborhoods near you to see the beautiful light displays, snowy landscapes, and festive fun. This is a great activity to do with grandparents because they can stay nice and warm and there’s no risk of slipping while looking at the lights. As a bonus, you will be able to share in conversation or listen to popular Christmas tunes together as you enjoy the scenic drive.
Winter Indoor Activities for Grandparents
Just because you are stuck inside on a cold winter day doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! Try making some classic holiday recipes like baking delicious cookies together, cooking a traditional meal with your grandparents to walk you through each step, or making gingerbread houses. Take time to decorate the home for the holidays together. It is a true gift to spend time with your grandparents doing any of these activities; just make sure you stick around to clean up when you are all done. They will appreciate the effort you put in to make a winter day inside even a little bit magical.
Bird and Squirrel Watching
Do your Grandparents love sitting and watching the variety of birds and other critters that live in your area? Perhaps they like to document each species that they find or simply take photos of them to view later. Go with them on their next bird-watching expedition and make sure to take photos of the wildlife and group photos of you all together with your binoculars! This is one of our favorite, calm outdoor winter activities because it is accessible to everyone.
Romantic Winter Activities
Winter is truly the season of romance. Whether you are hoping to surprise your significant other with a romantic Valentine’s Day gift or you simply want to create a magical date out in the snow, winter is the perfect season to spend together. Here are some of our favorite romantic winter activities for couples.
Cozy Cabin Getaway
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily lives and plan a romantic getaway weekend in a cozy cabin where you can enjoy mountain landscapes and curl up by the fireplace. Bring your favorite snacks, comfortable sweaters, and your camera to capture gorgeous photos in winter landscapes.
Winter Hiking in the Snow
One tip to stay warm in cold weather is to get moving! Set out on a frosty winter hike with your loved one and enjoy the beautiful winter snow landscape together.
Candlelit Dinners
Whether you want to stay in and cook a meal together or head to a fancy restaurant, plan for a candlelit dinner with a view of the snowfall out the window. This romantic evening activity is a wonderful way to stay warm and enjoy the magic of winter together.
Riding in a Horse-Drawn Carriage
Taking a horse-drawn carriage ride in the winter is something everyone must do at least once. Whether you take a ride through a busy city or in the gorgeous snowy countryside, you can bundle up together and enjoy the sights in a completely new way.
Dog-Friendly Walks in the Snow
Many dogs love to run and play in the snow. If your dog is among them, take a quick trek around the neighborhood together and let them experience their winter paradise in a fun and safe way. Walking is one of the best winter dog activities because you can tailor your trail to your dog’s needs. Remember not to walk too far if the temperatures are very low or if your pup has a low tolerance for the cold. You could invest in winter clothes for dogs for smaller pups that need some added insulation to have fun in the snow.
Enjoying Dog Parks in the Snow
If your dog would rather roll in the snow than curl up in front of the fireplace, bring them to a winter park that has a section for dogs to run around and play. Follow all the typical rules about cleaning up after your dog, even in the snow, and enjoy watching them run circles around you in the powdery snow. Don’t forget to bring some water and a bowl from home, since the usual dog watering holes may be closed due to freezing temperatures.
Dog-Friendly Walks in the Snow
It doesn’t get cuter than pet photography with snow in the background. Dress your pet up in Christmas-themed costumes and winter accessories or simply add them to your family photoshoot. Pets are great for photo shoots because they bring natural smiles to everyone’s faces and can help your kids feel less nervous about the event. Whether you plan to take posed photographs for your annual holiday card or candid photos to include in your annual family yearbook, adding your pet to the photos is a great choice.
Dog-Friendly Winter Activities
Quick Tips for Winter Photography
Tips for Your Winter Photoshoot:
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Experiment with wide-angle lenses and a long lens for winter sports photography.
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Practice golden hour photography for the perfect winter lighting.
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Adjust your exposure to fix photos that are too dark or too bright.
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Change your camera settings, such as slow shutter speeds for winter landscape photography, or higher speeds for the best camera action shots.
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Dress in colors that easily contrast against the white snow to help your camera focus.
Preserving Winter Memories with SimplePrints
At SimplePrints, we know how much it means to you to create all these wonderful winter wonderland memories with your loved ones. That’s why we want to help you cherish those moments for years to come. Whether you want to create a Layflat Photo Book of your romantic winter engagement or a laid-back Softcover Photo Album of your best ugly Christmas sweaters through the years, SimplePrints has a customizable option just for you.
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It’s easy to get started creating a custom photo book or personalized photo calendar in the SimplePrints app! Download the free app to get started today.