It’s almost winter, and I’ve got an incredible (and easy!) preschool snowman STEM activity for indoor play. We call this, Build a Snowman Home, and it will have your child thinking about the size, structure, and design using Legos.
Related: Do you enjoy snowmen as much as I do? Check out our top 10 snowman craft ideas for kids.
No snow? Do this instead.
Sure, building a snowman outside is fun. But let’s face it. We aren’t very likely to have snow here. (sigh) This easy snowman idea invites us to pretend we live in a snowy part of the world.
But building a home for a snowman is pretty rad. (actually so is painting a snowman and designing a snowman)
Add a quick and easy marshmallow snowman and invite your preschooler off to make him some snowy shelter! It’s nothing but wintery magic – even when you don’t have the snow part.
Related: Winter activities for kids are nothing but fun. As the days feel long, you must check out this list!
Activities on Demand
Want great ideas without the ads? Download these 20 hands-on learning games for kids.
Prompt thinking for more independent play
When it comes to the best toys for kids, we want open-ended toys and prompt ideas.
Primarily, we are using toys to inspire creativity and extend thinking outside the box.
We do this a lot with Breakfast Invitations. For this, we set up a simple invitation to play. This begins the morning with the intention of creativity and play.
Easy preschool activities such as this snowman home are just like the others listed here:
Indoor winter activities can be fun and keep everything afloat as we patiently wait for things to heat up and spend more time outside. Because how much hot chocolate is too much? – asking for a friend.
Related: Did you know that small hand movement like this help with pencil grip?
How to make a snowman without snow
The answer is simple. Grab your favorite bag of marshmallows.
To assemble the marshmallow snowman, you will need:
- Black licorice for the hat
- Dried mango for the nose
- Large marshmallows
- Small chocolate chips
This edible snowman made a fantastic post invitation treat that was talked about for days!
PRO TIP: I placed him in front of the white Legos before inviting my preschoolers to play.
Related: Stuck inside? These 50 activities for kids are the best.
How to make this preschool snowman STEM activity
It’s simple! You need ONE supply to make this winter activity come alive.
STEP ONE: Dig deep into your LEGO drawer and grabbed a handful of white ones.
No white LEGOS? You can also make this a colorful house.
Related: Looking for a way to organize the Legos? Check out our Lego storage suggestions.
STEP TWO: Invite your preschooler to engage in the snowman’s story.
You may say, “Can you help this snowman? He needs a home!” (this is where the STEM comes in)
I invited my preschooler to join in and get started.
I oversaw my four-year-old craft the perfect (to him) home. He spent time on details like where the snowman can enter his home and how he can stay cold inside.
STEP THREE: Eat the snowman!
When he finished, he was able to eat the snowman as a fun treat. This indoor activity sparked joy in learning through play!
PRO TIP: Don’t tell your preschooler the eating part until they complete the STEM build. Too soon may lead to a very short engagement with anticipation!
More winter activities for kids:
- Easy Winter Mitten Art Activity – Have scraps of tissue paper? Here is a simple art idea for cold days in.
- Watercolor Winter Hats – This is our favorite set of watercolors to decorate a paper snowman.
- Winter Sticker Maze – This classic will strengthen small hands and improve pencil grip. Top five Days with Grey activity.
FAQ
You know your child best. If your child wants to snack as they build, you can also use a snowman figure that you have around the house.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Winter STEM activities are important because they allow a child to problem-solve and think critically. Since we spend a lot of time indoors in the winter, this stimulation helps keep the brain extending on prior knowledge.
Use Duplos (larger Legos) if your child is too young for Legos. Duplos are a great construction toy that also builds hand strength. You can find them on our list of best toys for kids.
