Okay. My mind is blown. It snowed in Georgia, and I was dying to think about new ideas I had never seen before as the boys played in the snow. So, I grabbed my markers and went outside to test if the markers would color onto the snow. You guess it! They did!!!! Introducing Markers and Snow, an outdoor drawing activity you must try this winter.
Do markers work on snow?
Markers do color on snow! And not just a little. The colors were bright and vibrant, and I created some really cool drawings.
Who has time to search for ideas?
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My first grader needed a carrot for the nose on his snowman. Guess what? We had zero carrots in the fridge. But the good news was he had seen me testing the markers in the snow earlier that day and ran inside for the orange marker. Do you hear me typing loudly as I write this post? I am a bit obsessed with this idea.
Art on different textures
My favorite part about this activity is acknowledging that texture exposure is an important part of process art. Exposing children to different textures engages their senses and sparks new creative pathways in the brain.
As your child draws on the snow, they are rethinking the traditional way of coloring. From our experience, the marker works best when tilted on the side. The brighter the color became as the marker got in more contact with the snow.
This is an excellent activity to try with all of your dried-out markers!
Read More: I enjoyed this article about the importance of textures and how to incorporate them into everyday life.
Supplies
Color with markers in the snow, both inside and out! I added a sensory bin to the list of supplies below if you’d like to use the markers with the snow indoors. See my full list of favorite supplies for kid activities here.
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Markers
This is my favorite collection of markers to use with many of our art activities for kids.
Sensory Bin
This is my favorite sensory bin; we use it for many sensory activities.
Setting up
When you come to Days with Grey, the activities are super simple to set up. But this one? It is where simple meets simple. The steps are almost comical.
- Gather your markers.
- Head outside in the snow.
- Use the markers to color and draw a picture.
I know. Like I said, it’s almost comical, right? You’ve got to try this!
How my child played
I have three boys, ages 7.5, 9.5, and 11. I invited each one of them to explore using markers in the snow.
My youngest used the markers in the snow to make a carrot nose on his snowman.
My middle used the markers to write his name in the snow.
And my oldest used the markers to create a rainbow.
This winter snow activity is one for all ages! I also love that it can be played both indoors and outdoors.
When will you try this? Leave me a comment below, letting me know!
Empower your child with skills to thrive.
24 low-prep activities and relatable conversation starters that equip kids for life.
- Order the easy-to-follow activity cards.
- Build the foundation for social-emotional learning.
- Notice a shift in self-confidence and self-regulation as you and your child implement what you practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
I used Crayola washable markers. A few colors can be tricky to get off, but they will wash away with soap.
This winter activity is fun for ages 2.5 and older. As an adult, I, too, got lost in drawing in the snow.
Free-play in the snow, building snow forts, indoor winter crafts, playing board games, outdoor ice skating, roasting marshmallows, reading winter children’s books, making snow angels, making snowmen outside or indoors for a snowman craft.
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