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With winter comes colder temperatures, less sunlight, and the occasional flurry of snow. In this season, it’s natural for parents and children alike to stay warm inside and let the days slide by.

However, there are plenty of cold weather activities that keep children active—whether they venture outside or decide to stay in the house. Winter offers a particularly exciting new world for children with autism to explore, and there are unique lessons and opportunities within it that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Identifying these and putting them into practice can help parents make the most of these first few months of the year, and set healthy patterns that will continue into spring and summer. While being active in the winter might require a few additional clothing layers and safety measures, there’s plenty of engaging fun to be had with some classic wintertime activities.

Go Sledding & Ice Skating

The world doesn’t just feel different in winter but looks like another place entirely. Trees are bare of leaves, some animals are noticeably absent, and even the land itself appears different. When a fresh blanket of snow falls, there’s nothing better for a parent to do than to take their child sledding.

It’s best to start small, ideally with a sled large enough for a parent to accompany their child. Even just pulling the sled along a flat or slightly inclined surface can be a fun, if slightly exhausting, experience for parents and their children to enjoy together. Gliding across an unfamiliar type of surface can be particularly thrilling for children with autism and help them hone their sensory skills as they learn how a surface with less friction feels. Sledding is such a popular, carefree activity that it’s likely other children will be around, making it an opportunity for some light socialization as well.

In a similar manner, ice skating at a rink or solidly frozen pond can be a wonderful way to spend a winter afternoon when conditions permit. Like learning to swim, initially, it can be daunting for children to engage with to begin, and it’s best to take things slow. To begin, it can be helpful to have a chair, an adult’s hand, or other support tools nearby while your child gets their feet under them. When they do, there’s simply nothing like skating and sliding around a frozen sheet of ice, a tactile experience that’s sure to thrill. 

The satisfaction from learning how to successfully sled and skate make for ideal winter memories, along with some important lessons that will last long after the ice melts.

Create Snowmen and Ice Cream

Snow isn’t just for sledding, but can be used by parents as a material for sensory-stimulating projects like creating snowmen and ice cream. It doesn’t take much to assemble a fun snowman, so before the winter weather hits, parents can make sure they have the following on hand:

• An assortment of hats and scarves
• Coal or buttons for eyes and mouth
• A carrot for the nose
• Additional accessories as needed

Children can gather sticks or old clothing from around the house to make the project their own. Once enough snow has fallen, it’s just a matter of rolling three snowballs together large enough to serve as the bottom, middle, and head of the snowman. Parents can help stack the three on top of one and then let their child fill in all the details as they like to create their own character.

This kind of step-by-step approach is an ideal way to practice following directions. Once your child’s construction of their snowman is complete, parents can even ask their child questions about their snowman and make a fun backstory about their new friend. This kind of creative workshopping is a wonderful way to practice articulating imaginative thoughts.

A more tasty option for snow crafts is to make your very own snow ice cream. All parents need to have on hand is milk (condensed or plain), vanilla extract, and any other flavors they know their child enjoys. Simply find a clean patch of snow, scoop the top layer into a bowl, and bring it inside to mix the ingredients.

Whether you decide to make a snowman or ice cream, using snow as a material for projects is a fantastic way to spend winter days with your child.

Build a Blanket and Pillow Fort

Once the sun has set or your child has had their fill of the frigid outdoors, then it’s time to switch gears and return inside the house. Luckily, there’s plenty to do here to keep children active and cozy after a long day of exploration.

Building indoor pillow forts can transform even a familiar space into one that looks and feels like another place. Gather blankets, pillows, and sheets from around the house and let your child’s creativity and architectural skills run wild. Once complete, children can bring their favorite lights, books, and even snacks inside to make it their very own room within a room.

These kinds of temporary structures can be a fantastic way for parents to keep children entertained, and are especially useful when outdoor conditions are too intense for exploration. Within the fort, parents can encourage their children to read, play board games, and even sleep if they feel comfortable. 

Craft Winter Artwork Together

There are plenty of beautiful sights throughout winter that can serve as an inspiration for art. If your child enjoys patterns and tactile experiences, then making snowflakes is a perfect wintertime project. 

All you need is some paper, a ruler, scissors, and a pen to begin. Fold the paper in halves, then thirds, and then draw patterns upon it. Have your child cut along these lines, and when the paper is unfolded, they will have symmetrical snowflakes of their very own creation. 

Repeating this process and then tying a small string to the snowflakes make for a fun and easy winter decoration for a child’s room. This process is also a valuable lesson that illustrates basic math concepts like halves, thirds, and reflections.

Once you’ve had enough fun for one day, there’s no better way to wrap up a winter day than by building and enjoying a fire.

Wind Down with a Classic Fire

Whether you ventured outside or stayed warm indoors, a roaring fireplace can be the perfect way to cap off a winter day. Sitting around the fire has a magical element to it, and it’s easy for conversations to flow while watching the flame crackle and pop. 

Parents can use this cozy time together to ask what winter activities their child liked best and which ones they would like to try again tomorrow. 

Learn more about KGH Autism Services by visiting www.kghautismservices.com/our-services.