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We are about to enter the second half of December and so far there is still no sign of snowfall in the Willamette Valley. . . well at least not in Marion and Polk counties. I grew up in Alaska where there was a surplus of snow this time of the year (ha! ha!) so to not have snow in December is still an adjustment for me. There is something about watching big snowflakes falling from that sky that solidifies the official arrival of winter. Since the first day of winter is technically December 21st there is still some time to hope that we may see some flurries before too long. Still, if you and your child can’t wait for Jack Frost to put his personal touch on the weather, below are some fun and easy ways to make snow at home!
Baking Soda and White Conditioner
(or colorful, because who says snow can’t be colorful?)
Mix 2 ½ cups of baking soda with ½ conditioner. to make crumbly flakey snow
Baking Soda and Shaving Cream (not shaving gel)
Mix 1 cup of baking soda and slowly add shaving cream until you get the consistency of snow. This recipe actually has neat “cool” touch to it.
Cornstarch and White Lotion
Mix 1 cup of cornstarch with white lotion until you get the consistency you like. This recipe isn’t as “powdery” but it’s perfect for molding into snow balls or making snow people.
Cornstarch and Shaving Cream (not shaving gel)
Mix 1 cup of cornstarch with shaving cream until you get the desired consistency you like. This recipe is not cool to the touch but it does feel silky and powdery.
Baby Oil and Flour
Measure 8 cups of flour and slowly add baby oil while mixing. Very flakey and soft!
Snow Dough
In a pan over medium heat, mix 1 cup of baking soda, ½ cup of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and ½ cup + 1 tablespoon of water. Make sure to stir continuously because it starts out looking soupy but will quickly thicken up. Once mixed, dump the ingredients onto wax paper and break off small chunks to quicken the cooling process. It’s very warm so this is NOT of job for tiny hands.
Snow Clay
Mix 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of corn starch, and 1 ½ cups of water.
Many of these recipes can be modified to add food coloring, glitter, or even extracts (think of how adding a bit of peppermint extract can elicit a scent of mintiness!). Also, adding items like cookie cutters, funnels, jars, scoops, etc. can further support fine motor development as children manipulate the ingredients. Although these snow recipes are far from the actual experience of playing with snow, these activities can still support language development and imagination as children create stories of how it might feel when the snow hopefully begins to dust over the Willamette Valley.
The Parenting Hub would love to hear your family stories about playing in the snow. Please send your stories to: parentinghub@earlylearninghub.org
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