Snow days are more than just a chance to bundle up and sip hot cocoa—they’re an incredible opportunity to turn winter fun into creative therapy! Whether it’s building snowmen, sledding, or simply exploring the icy outdoors, snow provides unique ways to challenge balance, strength, and coordination—all while having a blast.
The snow can be a great therapy tool — if you don’t mind a little bit of cold! Think about the last time you trudged through newly fallen snow and how the surface and snow gear boosted the requirements to move. Snow can add resistance, balance challenges, and a soft place to fall. For our cold NAPA locations, it’s a whole lot of fun! Here are 10 snow day activities that your kids will love and benefit from:
Turn a sled into a mini workout tool! Place or help your child get onto sled (saucer or inner tube is ideal) on a flat spot in the snow. If needed, place a non-stick cloth (like a cabinet liner) between the sled and the child to avoid slipping. Move the sled side-to-side, forward and backward, and/or in circular fashion. You can vary the speed and abruptness of the “stop” when changing direction. Try in any position based on their goals:
Snowman building steps and what they can help with:
Draw a hopscotch path, a balance beam line, targets to step across or jumping/hopping path with these snow markers. We grab ours from Amazon! The snow creates a natural added challenge with a more unpredictable surface to stand and walk on. Deeper snow creates more resistance for added strengthening, and not to mention the extra weight and bulk of that snow suit and boots!
This can be done in just about any position including supported sitting, standing, or on the run, all of which will challenge a child’s balance, postural reactions and core and upper extremity strength. When throwing a snowball (or any object), the child’s center of gravity will change based on their arm movement. In order to avoid making a person-shaped dent in the snow, the child has to utilize their postural muscles to stay upright in both throwing and avoiding snowballs! (Can be used in combination with #10 to use as a standing support).
There are several adaptive skiing programs near our snowy NAPA clinics:
Denver:
Boston:
Chicago:
Did you know that most skating rinks will let you drive or push a wheelchair on their rinks with an accompanying adult? Check out this picture of Miles cruising along the rink with his family.
And some locations have “helpers” (like this pictured penguin) for those who need just a little help for balance. BONUS: it’s easier to skate while pushing a wheelchair!
Check out this great adaptation from NAPA mom, Melissa, with a Splashy seat bungeed tight onto a sled:
Or an inflatable boat or inner tube can work great in the lying or supported sitting position with or without a partner.
BONUS: Most of them come with a towing rope which is a great workout for the human reindeer, AKA mom or dad.
Walking or strolling along your local Santa Clause Lane, Botanical Gardens or Zoo Lights can be a great way to enjoy the lights of the holiday season with the whole family. Many locations keep their paths paved and snow/ice free so that they can be enjoyed by foot or while being pushed on wheels.
For another option, consider a carrier like the Kinderpack. The child size can hold a child up to 85 lbs. (BONUS: great in the summer for hiking too.)
Find a nice patch of fluffy snow and help your child lie down on their back. Help as needed to move their arms and legs in Snow Angel fashion! Works on bilateral coordination, upper and lower extremity strength with snow as resistance.
This is a personal favorite, bringing me back to my childhood growing up in snowy Idaho. You can even use a bread (loaf) pan as a mold for your snow bricks. If you and your kids’ building skills are nice and steady, you can use it for working on the following:
Liz Farsi is the Physical Therapy Manager at NAPA Center Denver and a seasoned expert in snowy adventures! As a mom of two active boys growing up in Denver, Liz knows how to make the most of snow days. With a lifelong passion for skiing and snowboarding, she even spent a winter as a youth ski instructor. Whether in the clinic or on the mountains, Liz combines her expertise with her enthusiasm for fun and fitness to inspire families every day.
