It may feel difficult to get outside in the fresh air during the winter. But it’s so important for many reasons, not to mention our mental health and wellbeing! To help get the kids outside in winter, try some of these outdoor winter crafts. Also perfect to help with the 1000 hours outside challenge.
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Ice Sculptures
Making ice sculptures doesn’t have to be as hard as it sounds! There are loads of ideas out there (Hello Pinterest!), but start simple. Try filling balloons with water and food colouring, leaving outside on evenings when the temperature goes into freezing. The next morning peel the balloon off to reveal the coloured orb, decorate the garden with the colourful spheres.
Another great way to make an ice sculpture is to go out on a walk and collect lots of interesting natural items. Such as berries, leaves, pine needles and cones. Place them in a dish outside with water to freeze overnight. However it could be fun to use a Bundt cake dish or even little doughnut moulds to make a wreath shape to hang. Or perhaps add some string to the water so you can hang it up once frozen?
Andy Goldsworthy Inspired Sculptures
If you haven’t heard of Andy Goldsworthy I suggest you google his artwork. He’s a landscape artist that makes artwork out of natural items in the area. A lot of his artwork is ephemeral, meaning that very few people actually see the art in real life. Instead he takes photos of his work.
After looking at some of his artwork challenge the kids to make their own ephemeral art. We’ve tried making artwork using different coloured leaves in mandala patterns and trying spirals of snow and ice in the snow.
Clay Green Men
Green men can be made at any time of year, we’ve made them throughout the year. Both children seem to really enjoy making their own faces and sourcing different items for the green mans features.
Use environmentally friendly air dry clay, roll into a ball and then firmly squash and press onto the tree trunk. Flatten it out to make a roundish shape. We’ve found it best to squash the edges and flatten them against the trunk to keep it in place. Then decorate to create a face!
Come back throughout the year to watch the face change. They may fall off or they may turn into a haggard looking old face!
Twig decorations
Take some string with you to the woods and start tying twigs together to make sculptures! Perfect to help kids learn to tie knots or wrap twigs with string! You can go for simple designs such as stars or picture frames. Or try something more complicated such as a person made from pliable twigs?
Imagination is the limit for this! Once you’ve made your designs either take home to hang up or decorate an area of the woodlands so others can see your creations. Just remember to check back in a few weeks to remove any strings so they aren’t left littering the environment.
Snow Painting – Winter Crafts
Find some squirty bottles or use pipettes with a mix of food colouring and water to paint the snow. The snow takes the colour well and if you direct it with the bottles or pipettes you can easily draw in the snow.
This is great fun for kids of all ages! Just perhaps don’t use yellow food colouring!
Nature Raft
This is such an easy craft to do with natural items. You don’t need to bring anything with you at all! Our two have loved making little rafts out of twigs and leaves for years. The best way to make rafts is to weave grass or long leaves in and out of several twigs and tie it off (carefully!). Then add a mast by squeezing it between the row of tied together twigs and a leaf sail.
Once you’ve worked out the best way to create a nature raft it will become much easier! Float them down the stream and have races together!
Bird Feeders
Bird feeders are perfect for winter when the birds need a little helping hand to keep bellies full. Bird feeders can be as simple or extravagant as you would like. We’ve used lard mixed with seed in the past, which are pushed into cookie cutters (don’t forget string) and left to dry. Once they are hardened they turn into great little shaped fat balls.
Upcycling plastic bottles is another easy option. In the photo above we made holes in plastic bottle to poke a wooden spoon through. Then making a slightly bigger hole above the spoon part for the seeds to fall onto.
Bug Hotel
Everyone has seen bug hotels nowadays, but they are so easy and effective for nature. You simply need to combine various materials together that are suitable for different species of insects and other bugs.
Bricks with holes in are fantastic to use, small piles of twigs and logs or different sizes are excellent for beetles, centipedes and spiders. Holes drilled into logs for solitary bees, dead leaves and straw for ladybirds and beetles. Use stones and tiles to make larger holes for frogs and toads.
Don’t forget to add a name plate for your hotel too!
Nature Brushes – Winter Crafts
Take some string, paper and paint to the woods! Use the string to add leaves and soft twigs to sticks. You can tie the pieces onto the sticks with string and make your own brushes.
Then let the kids get to work on their painted creations! Use environmentally friendly paint if you are painting in the woods.
Clay Impressions
We love using air dry clay outdoors! Making air dry clay impressions are easy for anyone. Create little round balls of clay and squash flat. Then make a hole in the top for hanging. Using anything you find outdoors create impressions in the clay by squashing the item into it. Beaches aren’t just for summer, so why not take the clay to the beach on a winters day too?
Try Some Other Craft Ideas!
Pin 10 Outdoor Winter Crafts
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