Outdoor scavenger hunts let the preschoolers explore nature in their own neighborhoods. Most people organize scavenger hunts in warmer weather, but winter presents new options for the scavenger hunt list. Create the list based on things the kids might find during the winter months. Take a walk around the area ahead of time to get some ideas. Things that work well include a melting icicle, pinecones, an animal track, a frozen puddle, a plant seed pod or a bird. The preschoolers search the area for the items checking each one off the list as they find it.
Take art class outside with snow painting. There are two different ways to do this outdoor art project. Both methods use water tinted with food coloring. This makes the paint safe for outdoor use. Mix the water and food coloring to the desired color. The first method uses spray bottles. The kids spray the colored water onto the snow to make designs. The other option uses paintbrushes. Compact the snow in a large area to create an outdoor snow canvas. The kids dip a paintbrush into the colored water and paint on the snow canvas as they would paper.
Building snowmen is a popular activity during the winter months. Break from tradition by using the snow to build a miniature city. Help the preschoolers smooth out roads around the snow city. Help them create buildings and houses out of snow. A snow fort brick mold or other plastic container works well to get a basic building structure. The kids can use sticks and other objects to make windows, doors and other features. The kids can drive toy cars and trucks along the snow pathways once they create the village.
If you have a large amount of snow on the ground, use it to build an obstacle course. Build the snow up to create obstacles that the kids must navigate. Large, compacted piles work well as a climbing obstacle. You can also build a small snow tunnel for the kids to go through. Make a row of small piles a few feet apart that the kids must weave back and forth through. Let the kids take turns navigating the snow obstacle course.
If building a snowman is part of the outdoor activities, turn it into a preschool game. Choose a top hat or other sturdy hat for the snowman's hat. Make a tossing line in the snow a few feet away from the snowman. Each child takes a turn trying to toss the hat so it lands on the snowman's head. A shorter snowman works best for preschoolers so that they can get the hat high enough to land on the head.