Looking for a fun way to get the kids outside on a snowy winter day? Try snow painting! This simple outdoor activity lets children turn a blanket of fresh snow into a colourful work of art using just a few household supplies.
It’s inexpensive, easy to set up and a great way to encourage creative winter play.
What You’ll Need
- Spray bottles or squeeze bottles
- Water
- A few drops of food colouring
- Fresh snow
- Warm winter clothing and waterproof mittens
How to Paint Snow
- Prepare your colours. Fill each spray bottle with water and add a few drops of food colouring. Shake gently to mix.
- Head outside. Find a patch of clean, fresh snow in your yard or another suitable play area.
- Start painting! Let kids spray or squeeze their colours onto the snow to create pictures, patterns and colourful designs.
- Experiment with colours. Try overlapping different colours to see what happens when they mix.
For younger children, squeeze bottles may be easier to manage than spray bottles.
Fun Snow Painting Ideas
Need a little inspiration? Try these creative challenges:
- Make a snow rainbow: Paint colourful stripes across a snowy patch.
- Decorate a snowman: Add colourful buttons, a scarf or other fun details.
- Create snow art: Draw hearts, stars, flowers or giant letters.
- Try colour mixing: Experiment with combining primary colours to create new shades.
- Paint a snow sculpture: Build a snow castle or animal, then decorate it with colour.
A Few Helpful Tips
Food colouring can stain clothing, so dress kids in older winter gear and use small amounts of colouring.
Choose an area away from sidewalks, waterways and places where pets or wildlife may eat the coloured snow. Remind children that painted snow isn’t for eating.
When you’re finished, take a photo of your colourful creations before the next snowfall covers them up!
More Winter Fun for Families
Snow painting is a wonderful way to add a little creativity to an ordinary winter afternoon. And the best part? Every new snowfall gives you a fresh canvas!
Looking for more hands-on winter fun? Explore our Cool Winter Science Experiments for Kids for more fun activities and discoveries to try together.
