Winter toys

When snow finally settles, children want to be out in it within minutes, and the right snow toys keep them playing long after the first snowball fight is over. The classic winter toy is something to slide on: a tough plastic snow slider or a small seat sledge that a child can carry, ride and drag back up the hill without help.

What makes a good winter toy

Toys for snow have a harder life than anything in the toy box. They get dropped on frozen ground, dragged over ice and left out in the cold, so a few qualities matter more than looks:

• Tough, flexible plastic that stays springy in frost instead of cracking on the first bump.
• Low weight, so a child can carry the toy uphill alone and an adult can tuck it under one arm on the walk home.
• Bright colours like red, blue, green or pink that stand out against snow, which helps parents keep an eye on who is where on a busy hill.
• Simple shapes with nothing to break or lose: a slider or sledge has no batteries, no small parts and no assembly.

Playing together at different ages

Snow days rarely bring one child out at a time. Brothers, sisters and friends of different ages end up on the same patch of snow, and a few simple habits keep the peace. Agree on turns before the first run, so everyone knows whose go comes next. Let the youngest pick the first game, and give older children a role, such as starting the races or judging the longest glide. A slider each saves queuing, and different colours end any argument over whose is whose.

Games to play with a slider

A slider is not only for going downhill. On a gentle slope, try a target game: mark a line in the snow at the bottom and see who stops closest to it, or score points for the longest glide. Between runs the same slider becomes a shovel for heaping up a snow fort, or a tray for ferrying a stack of snowballs to the front line.

Staying warm and dry

Dress children in layers with a waterproof outer layer, snow trousers, a hat and proper waterproof gloves; wet woollen gloves turn cold fingers into the end of the outing. Snow finds its way into cuffs and boots after a few runs, so a spare pair of gloves and dry socks in a bag are worth the space. Short breaks indoors with a warm drink help children stay out longer overall, and shivering or quiet, red-cheeked children are a sign it is time to go in.

FAQ

What are the best outdoor toys for snow?

Something to slide on is the favourite for most children. Beyond a slider or sledge, they need little more than warm, dry gloves and their imagination.

What can children do with a sledge on flat snow?

Plenty. They can pull each other along with a short rope tied to the handle, run a relay race to a marker and back, or hitch two sledges together into a train for an adult to tow round the garden.

Are plastic snow toys safe in very cold weather?

Good-quality plastic stays flexible in frost; thin, stiff plastic is the kind that snaps. A toy that has split is best retired, because broken plastic leaves sharp edges.

If sledging is the main event, compare the options among sleds, or browse all winter accessories.