The thrill of the Holidays has worn off. The tree is out of the house and Santa’s next delivery is eleven months away. Sometimes in mid-January, especially for the kids, it can seem like all that’s left is three more months of cold weather. Where one man sees dejection, though, the braver man sees opportunity, and January’s less than ideal climate can be used to your advantage by creating a surprise winter playground in your own backyard. This is the perfect winter activity to get everyone out of the house. Not only will the kids get to take part in the creation of the project, but they’ll also have a blast once it’s complete. And the best part is, it can all be done in one day, so come Sunday you’ll have plenty of time to kick back and enjoy your weekly dose of relaxation.

1. White Post-Christmas: We can’t always say that we’re looking forward to snow. Sure it sets a nice winter mood and it’s great for skiing, but after the glamour of a white Christmas has worn off, the cold, slippery, white stuff covering the driveway and killing the yard often seems like more of an enemy than a friend. Although, for a successful winter playground, snow is essential, so if it is already in your yard this is one time you can consider yourself lucky. If it doesn’t snow where you live, fear not, for a hired snow-machine can provide a morning of artificial Mother Nature to set the scene for a wintery afternoon of fun.
2. Hand Warmers, Belly Pleasers: Sure you have gloves and coats and boots to combat the slushy terrain you plan on inhabiting for the day, but we all know that nothing fends off cold winter weather quite like a well-made winter drink. Cider for the adults. Hot chocolate for the kids. These are the special treats that warm you up from the inside out, and by setting up a small beverage stand out near the action, you can keep your eye on the little ones as they stomp through your snowy backyard.
3. That Wonderland Spirit: Even though the Holidays are over, that doesn’t mean winter decorations have to be tossed aside. In order to turn your regular backyard into a real winter playground, putting out a few decorations to add a bit of magic to the event is essential. Plastic penguins can be a fun artic addition and will give parents an easy option of moving them into the house for an afternoon showing of Happy Feet. And while building a real igloo is likely too tough an idea to take on with the kids, an Inflatable Igloo Snow Fort takes just a few minutes to set up and provides just as much fun.
4. Frosty the Snowman: We’ve all built them. It is a wintertime tradition passed down from father to children and it is the epitome of what it means to be a kid playing in the snow. Therefore, we’re going to go ahead and say that a bit of snow-man building isn’t just recommend, but should be a mandatory part of any true backyard winter playground. Are the snowmen going to have button eyes? Carrot noses? Plan it out in advance so that the kids have everything they need to get to work on their own Frosty masterpieces. If you want to lend some of your own expert craftsmanship to the construction, you just might end up with a snowman that the kids believe will really come to life.

TIP: WD-40_® Multi-Use Product is ideal to prevent snow from sticking to snow shovels and the bottom of snow boots. Spray on before your building adventures for easy clean up afterwards.