Top ideas for fun outdoors in winter

It might be a bit chilly out there but wrap up warm and head outside for some outdoor winter fun.

This is a magical activity, perfect for chilly or snowy days.

Make some giant coloured ice marbles to roll around in the garden.

They are such fun to make and look so pretty too.

Watch our video to find out how to make your ice marbles

We don't need to tell you how much fun sledging it is. If we get snow then wrap everyone up warm and head for the hills.You can also have snow man fights, make snow angels and build snow igloos.Warm everyone up with a yummy hot chocolate afterwards.

Want to know the best place to sledge? Ask on your local Netmums chat board - and buy a sledge sooner rather than later!

It might be cold outside but wrap everyone up well and head for your local park. Children will have great fun rushing about playing and as it is less busy in winter there won't be queues for the swings and slides.

Take flasks of hot chocolate and a scrummy snack to keep everyone fueled as you play.

Find local playparks here

It might sound mad but the beach is a really lovely place to visit in winter time. As long as you wrap up warm it can be a lovely place to stroll. Keep everyone moving with some games - take a ball to kick or draw tracks in the sand for the children to follow. Or draw lines to mark out races and challenge the family to run, hop, skip, stride and tiptoe to the finish line!

Plan a winter picnic. It is lovely to eat outside instead of always being cooped up inside and can be a real adventure.

Wrap up warm (and maybe take hand warmers too), pack some warm drinks and warm soup, pick warming food such as cooked sausages wrapped in foil or even baked potatoes.

Plan your picnic round a nice walk or a play in the park or snow to make it a real day out.

Make the most of early evenings by organising a game of torch tag. One player is 'IT' and has a torch. They have to guard a flag (or blanket/coat on the ground) and stop the other player from capturing it. The rest of the players spread out and creep as quietly as they can towards the flag. If they get caught by the torch shining on them then they are either out or have to go back to where they started. Loads of fun! Find great local parks and woodlands

It's the one thing children want to do first when it snows.

Perhaps be inventive and make a snow woman, upside down snowman or snow animal instead?.

You probably think of bubbles as a summer activity but it can be such fun on chilly winter days too.

Hand out bubbles to each child and have fun blowing them. If it is really chilly some may freeze.

They land on icy and cold parts of the garden and can be magical to watch.

There are so many lovely winter fairs nowadays that you are bound to be able to find one near you. Wrap up warm and have a day out browsing the stalls, enjoying the rides (some have outdoor ice rinks) and warming up with the hot drinks and food from the stalls.

Find local winter and Christmas fairs here

A really fun activity for some snowy fun.

Fill spray bottles with a mixture of water and a few drops of food colouring and then head outside to paint the snow with pretty patterns.

Thanks to Simple Fun For Kids for providing the image - you can read all about her snow painting adventures here

More winter fun:

Have a crafty afternoon making decorations for Christmas

Find some lovely ideas for winter play indoors for those times when it is just too cold to head out