Bundle up and take a walk through the snow to your nearest Hoosier park or forest reserve. Invite your child to pick a tree they like and examine it. You can prompt quality thinking by asking questions such as:

• How is your tree similar to the one next to it? How is it different?
• How is your tree helping the Earth?
• Is your tree alive? How can you tell?

Encourage your child to write their observations down in a notebook. Throughout the winter you can continue to visit your tree and add to the journal.

Whether it is summer or winter, you can still blow bubbles! Grab a soapy solution and brace for the cold weather. Have your child blow bubbles and watch as they crystalize right in front of you.

Try to get the bubbles to land on a sidewalk or driveway, you'll see them roll around on the snow instead of popping. The solution will eventually freeze over entirely. At this point, invite your child to touch the bubble and ask them how it feels. This is an easy way to incorporate early learning by talking about the science of liquids freezing!

Please note, this activity only works when temperatures are below freezing. You'll also be more successful if the bubble solution is cold before going outside.

Grab some construction paper and scissors for a quick craft before beginning this educational activity. Using your scissors and paper, cut mitten-shaped pieces that are slightly larger than your hand. 

Once the mittens have been made, collect a lot of cotton balls and bring them near the paper pieces. Pick a number and ask your child to place that many snowballs on each mitten. This activity is a great way to practice counting skills and addition or subtraction!

This educational activity for kids is a craft and a fun way to practice literacy at the same time! Gather pieces of white, blue, black and brown construction paper along with glue, washable markers and googly eyes. Work together with your child to assemble their snowman so it resembles something similar to the picture above. Remember to be creative and have fun with this!

Once their Hoosier snowman has been made, explain to your child that each circle will contain one letter of their name. This is a helpful phonic tool that also helps remind them that individual letters make up words.

With colder weather quickly approaching, it's important to keep your school age children healthy. There are several different actions you can take to mitigate the spread of the flu and COVID-19. 

• Get vaccinated
  • Flu
  • COVID-19 
• Prevent spreading germs
  • Wash hands regularly
  • Quarantine if symptomatic
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched areas

For more tips on how to stay healthy this winter season, check out this Brighter Futures Indiana article.