Toddler Tourist

—by Hillary Handy

More often than not, I get Disney songs stuck in my brain on repeat. They are so catchy and little earworms that never really go away. One song is “Do you want to build a snowman?” from Frozen. Like, in all seasons. It probably sticks with me because I actually do love to build snow creations. Well, now that winter is almost here, it is time to indeed, build a snowman!

When I first moved up here during the pandemic, locals Hilda and Doug DenBoer made this HUGE Olaf-inspired snow creation for all to see and explore on their home property. It was incredible and I loved that I moved to a place where people love where they live and make time for fun. They really took the assignment seriously! 

So, this winter, I challenge you and your family to get outdoors and make that snowman.

Or a fort! We have had so much fun building and creating in the snow as a family. 

This is a great way to encourage outdoor play and engage with nature. You may recall a few years ago, I was doing the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge. Being intentional with getting outdoor time is so important for us all. Having a goal, like making a snow creation, can help you to get outdoors in the first place. Once you’re out there, it feels good to breathe that cold, fresh air and play. 

Some of our best structures have used household objects to guide the process. Recycling bins are fantastic for making snow bricks. Using your outdoor climber and tarping it to make an igloo is super easy and fun to do. And of course, you do not need much to make a snow person. Just high-quality packing snow. One year, my dad and husband were cutting into snowplow piles to make tunnels and holes. That was a wild year for winter weather! As always, make sure you are supervising your little ones as there are dangers with making tunnels, but this activity is the best because of the amount of snow we tend to get in North Simcoe. It’s free and it’s always falling. So might as well make the best of it! 

What will YOU create this winter? Tag us in your photos or send them our way for a chance to be featured in our next issue. We would love to see!