It’s January and we’re officially in the dead of winter here in Connecticut. These days can be verryyy long especially with two active little ones at home so we do everything we can to keep them kids entertained and moving. Over the years we have found that the more time we can spend outdoors, the better! Being outside in the fresh air is SO good for them and it’s where they can really run around and get their energy out, play, and discover. We’re not really big fans of the indoor play yard/bounce house places because they are literally covered in germs so why not brave the cold dressed in your warmest gear and have some REAL FUN!!?
For our warm weather gear this year we went to Backcountry! This winter we got Brian the warmest coat from Patagonia and Grace, too! And of course I had to get Grace the matching Sorel boots to mine! Annnnd our whole family wears the carhartt hats!
My Patagonia Down With It Parka is my warmest coat this winter. I love wearing this on our outdoor walks and adventures, going to hockey practice, even when we take the kids skiing. I also invested in the Sorel Tofino II boots this winter which keep my feet super warm!
Backcountry has a collection of the best brands and styles for all four seasons. My kids LOVE being outside, even in the winter, so having the right outerwear is essential. Shopping on Backcountry.com helped me stock up on everything I needed for the entire family. They even have 24/7 customer support (via chat, e-mail, and phone) that are former Olympians, athletes and guides who have tons of expertise to help you find the best products for what you are looking to do.
We all sat down one night and came up with a list of our top 5 things to do during the winter months.
Here are 5 Ideas on what to do with your kids outside in the dead of winter
- Go on a Hike! This is one of our favorites because there are so many trails around us and the kids LOVE it. We walk along the trail all bundled up in our favorite Patagonia gear and point things out like animal tracks, leaves and sticks, walk along little bridges, greet other hikers, etc… It’s a great way to get outdoors and explore.
- Have a Scavenger Hunt! This one is super easy because you can do it in your own backyard! Bundle everyone up and send them outside to find 10 unique things. It can be things super easy like a stick, a leaf of a certain variety that you know you have in your yard (show them an example), a round rock, an acorn, etc… It helps to make a list that they can check off and a basket for all their found treasures!
- Go Skiing! Skiing can be as easy as a day trip to a local small mountain. Actually, the smaller the better for the young ones because you can always keep you eyes on them. Lessons are great, but learning from mom and dad can be just as fun.
- Go Ice-Skating! We all got ice skates for Christmas and we have lots of skating rinks around us. Most of them have open skate times where you can go in and skate with your family for a couple of hours. Brian is in hockey so he’s getting the hang of it pretty quickly, and Grace is … well… learning and working on her patience.
- Go Tubing! We have found that riding on an inflatable snow tube is SUPER fun!! The tube glides a little faster in the snow and it spins so the kids can’t get enough. We have a tiny hill in our front yard that they’ll ride down for hours, and usually Brian ends up dragging them around in the back yard.
I am so happy to be partnering with @backcountry to keep encouraging you to get outside this winter! Right now, they are generously offering my readers 15% off your first purchase at Backcountry.com with code “Lizjoy15”! So gear up and get outside!
Thank you Backcountry for sponsoring today’s post!
As always, all thoughts & opinions are my own.