Winter may be our longest season, but humans are not meant to hibernate. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, only 13% of children ages 6 to 12 participate in outdoor winter recreation. In addition, parents of children 8 to 12 years old report that their children spend three times as many hours with computers and televisions each week as they do playing outside. These numbers steadily increase with the onset of winter, our most sedentary season. This knowledge, paired with outside being the safest place to be in the pandemic, means it is more important than ever to make a conscious effort to be active outdoors.

Recall your own winter experiences as a child. You more than likely spent hours outside playing in the snow, not wanting to go in to warm up or eat your next meal. Feed that nostalgia with your own children. It is also likely you did not have the top-notch winter gear at your disposal that we have now. There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. With the appropriate clothing and a can-do attitude, winter can be fun and full of exploration for the whole family.

Maine is well known for its rich winter heritage, which is a huge benefit to those interested in trying a new winter sport. Our state boasts over 50 winter outdoor recreation centers that offer downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, tubing, ice skating, fat tire biking and more. You can also check out your local community calendars for winter festivals, guided hikes and winter vacation camps.

If you are snowed in or just want to stay close to home, make your own sledding hill in the backyard, build a snowman with natural items or paint a snow mural with spray bottles, water and food coloring. It is fun to take a hike near your home and break out the binoculars. Look for animal tracks, measure the snowfall, build snow forts or create a winter treasure hunt. There is a wealth of information online to help you take advantage of free and low-cost opportunities for your children to play and learn outside in the winter.