There's Something About Ice!
Submitted by Sunni Belle, General Manager, Recreation Excellence- Lethbridge
As Winter approaches and seasons begin to change a new play adventure begins! There is nothing like sunny day in the winter, going for a walk and hearing the snow crunching under your feet, a frozen lake or pond to ice skate on, maybe a tobogganing hill or exploring in nature! When that snow hits the ground, the adventures are plenty but there is just something about ice! ICE is an adventure all on its own and can provide many benefits for development such as:
Sensory Exploration, Fine Motor Skills, Cognitive Development, Language and Vocabulary Development, Creativity and Imagination, Emotional Regulation, Social Interaction and Scientific Concepts! There’s just something about ice!
Before you begin your ice, adventure be sure to plan ahead, especially when activities include frozen lakes or ponds. Here are some safety tips:
Dress for the weather
Use Designated Ice Surfaces
Measure Ice thickness in several locations
Never go onto ice alone
Stay off river ice.
Always actively supervise children playing on or near ice
For more safety tips about ice visit:
https://www.lifesaving.org/public-education/water-smart-tips2/ice-safety-tips
There are many ways to play with ice that are simple and fun:
Inside Activities:
Ice Excavation: Freeze small toys or objects in a large block of ice. Provide kids with tools such as plastic spoons, spray bottles filled with warm water, and small hammers (under adult supervision) to excavate the toys from the ice. They can chip away at the ice, melt it with water, and discover hidden treasures.
Quick Ice Play Activity Tip: Empty the ice cube tray into a bin and add kitchen supplies and bowls of colored water super-fast setup for long-lasting fun, no planning needed.
For more fun ice activities click here: Ice Play Activities All Year Long! - Little Bins for Little Hands
Outside or at the Ice Arena Activities:
Frozen Surfaces can be a lot of fun! Have you ever thought about ice skating? Skating is a great way to spend time as a family and is very beneficial when nurturing development skills like balance, problem solving, exploration the list goes on! If this is something, you would like to try be sure to check out your local ice arena for public skating times. If you enjoy outdoor skating many community parks have designated areas for just that purpose, remember to follow the safety tips before heading out onto any frozen lake or pond.
Here are some activities to try while on the ice!
Red Light, Green Light - This simple playground game is perfect for practicing skating stops.
Have all the skaters line up and then the coach says, “green light,” all of the skaters’ race down the rink.
When they hear” Red Light” they must stop as quickly as they can. The first skater to the end of the rink wins!
Follow The Leader - Another really fun ice-skating game that kids love playing is Follow the leader.
One person is the leader, and everyone lines up behind them.
Whatever the leader does, everyone else must follow. This can be silly hand movements to more advanced skating moves depending on the level of the skaters in the group.
For more exciting games click here: 12 Ice Skating Games That Are Tons Of Fun (iceskatingguru.com)
If you are not an ice skater and would like to enjoy some other fun outdoor activities, follow the link below:
Outdoor Winter Activities: 25 Fun and Creative Cold Weather Ideas! (thehomeschoolresourceroom.com)
Enjoy all of your adventures this season be safe and have fun!
Sources and References:
Lifesaving Society – Alberta
https://www.lifesaving.org/public-education/water-smart-tips2/ice-safety-tips
Ice Play Activities All Year Long! - Little Bins for Little Hands
12 Ice Skating Games That Are Tons Of Fun (iceskatingguru.com)
Outdoor Winter Activities: 25 Fun and Creative Cold Weather Ideas! (thehomeschoolresourceroom.com)