Connect kids with winter on a five-senses walk

It can feel challenging to get outside in the winter. The cold, snow, and shorter days make it seem oh-so-appealing to stay cozy inside. But the best way to get through winter is by trying to enjoy it! Make an effort to get outside regularly as a family for play time, whether that’s building a snowman, playing tag (freeze tag is a fitting winter option), or going on a walk together.

Walking presents great opportunities to help connect our kids with the world around them. With a few ideas (see these below!), you can encourage your child to notice the forest, the neighbourhood, or the park around you as you walk. Slowing down and being more observant of our surroundings is a great way to practice mindfulness!

A five-senses walk: How to do it

On the next walk you take as a family, have your child choose one of the five senses. Throughout your stroll, ask them questions about how they’re using that sense. Here’s how to do a five-senses walk.

1. Hearing

What do we hear on our walk? Is it loud or soft? Can you mimic the sound? These can be natural sounds (like birds chirping or squirrels rustling) as well as manmade ones (such as people talking or traffic noises).

2. Touch

Can you touch something tall, round, or yellow? Is it rough or smooth? Is it warm or cold? What’s the temperature today? Is the wind blowing? Can you feel it on your skin?

3. Sight

Play the game I Spy or ask wondering questions like: How can you see if the wind is blowing? Can you see any wildlife around us?

4. Taste

What do you think _______ tastes like? (You can sub in any items you see around you, like pine cones, creek water, tree boughs, berries. We recommend doing this strictly as an imaginative exercise, rather than actually nibbling on things that could be harmful!) Does the air have a taste?

5. Smell

What do you smell around us? Does this patch of forest have a smell? What about this stretch of sidewalk?

Some tips

You can liven up your walk by challenging your kids to run to find items. This can be a way to make the game of I Spy a little more active.

It’s always best to leave no trace when you’re out in nature, so encourage your kids to look at and touch what’s around them, but to leave whatever they find where they found it. Depending on the age of your child, it’s a neat opportunity to teach them about leave no trace principles and why they’re important!

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Dec. 28, 2012.