Winter Olympics Fun: Let the Games Begin!

Fun Family Games: For Preschool and Grade-School Kids

• If you have snow outside, have a snowball-throwing contest. See who can throw the farthest and who can be most accurate.
• No snow? Don't fret! Make homemade snowballs out of white socks filled with rice. Sew the ends or knot securely. Have a snowball toss competition inside or out.
• Hide a winter glove or mitten in the room somewhere and see who can find it first. Give the group clues by telling them whether they are "hot" (near the glove) or "cold" (far from the glove).
• If you have slippery hardwood or tiled floors, pretend to ice skate in your stocking feet.
• Place small packing peanuts on spoons and try to carry these mini "snowballs" across the room without dropping them.
• Head outdoors for some homemade sledding. Flatten a large cardboard box. Make holes in two corners on one end. Holes should be at least three inches from the edge. Thread a rope through the holes making a handle for the sled. Take children for rides as you pull the sled. No need to worry if you don't have snow—this box will slide on sand or even smooth grass.
• Search magazines for pictures of outdoor activities such as sledding, tobogganing, skating, skiing, and any other winter sports you can find. With pictures in hand, discuss these questions with the children and then watch the Olympics on television together:
  1. What is happening in each picture?
  2. What clothing is worn for each activity? What equipment is used?
  3. How many people participate in each activity?
  4. What part of the body is most important in performing each activity?

Sing this fun Olympic song together (to the tune of "The Oscar Mayer Theme Song"):

Oh, I wish that I could be in the Olympics, I wish that I could skate and have some fun. For if I could skate in the Olympics, I'd win the gold and become number one!

Substitute the bold word for other types of Olympic activities: ski, sled, curl, luge, play hockey, and so on.