5 fun ideas to keep children entertained on winter walks

A great way to get them enjoying their time in the great outdoors is through some easy, simple to do activities.

We’ve put together some fun ideas to keep children entertained on your winter walks. If you’re at one of your local Hampshire country parks, you can always incentivise them with a nice hot drink in one of our warm cafés!

1. Spot some wildlife

Does your little one love animals? Why not spot some local wildlife on your winter walk and tick off a list as you go?Winter is a great time to look for animal prints in the mud and snow – why not follow the tracks to see if you can spot the animal behind them? You may see a squirrel scurrying up a tree or a rabbit dive into the undergrowth. Carefully lift logs to discover the insects beneath but don’t forget to place these back afterwards to keep their homes intact. Listen out for the different sounds around you. The twittwooing tawny owl is noisiest in December around dawn and dusk, or you might be able to hear the cheeping woodlarks and robins.

2. Create a texture walk

Discover new sensations and turn your wander into a texture walk, making your adventures more tactile and exciting. Texture walks are great to help children build sensory awareness as it encourages them to use their senses to connect with the natural world. Take some paper and crayons with you to create rubbings of different natural textures you can find along your way. Look out for the bark on different trees, large rocks and different ground surfaces, and different objects you may find, such as pinecones and acorns. If you’re careful you can also take rubbings of leaves, which are great to use for craft activities at home. Or why not describe the textures you can feel – is the tree bark rough or smooth, is the pinecone sharp or bumpy?

3. Go geocaching

Geocaching is a perfect way to engage older children in an outdoor treasure hunt. Geocaching involves using a GPS-enabled device to navigate a specific set of GPS coordinates to find the ‘geocache’ (treasure) hidden at that location. You can find out more on geocaching.com or download a free geocaching app on your phone. There are hundreds to find in Hampshire, including Royal Victoria Country Park, River Hamble Country Park, Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Titchfield Haven. Discover new places and swap your treasure for an item that someone else will find on their journey.

4. Plan a rainbow hunt

Create your own rainbow out of different colours you can find in nature. There are many colours to spot outdoors, from red and orange autumn leaves to green grasses and the yellow centre of a flower. This is a great way to learn about the colours of the rainbow and explore all the colours you can find during the winter months. Colour in as you go or come prepared with a list of colours. You could even collect these items to stick them into a rainbow shape at home. Try and pick leaves and plants that have already fallen to the ground and beware of insects that might have found a new home.

5. Join in an activity trail

Find an activity trail in a country park near you. Activity trails are readily prepared with lots of fun activities for little ones to enjoy while exploring a country park. Just head to the visitor centre to pick up a pack. A Winter Wander with The Snowman™ and The Snowdog is open at Lepe Country Park, Royal Victoria Country Park and Queen Elizabeth Country Park from Saturday 26 November. The trail follows the heart-warming story of The Snowman™ and The Snowdog. Trail packs cost £7 and include a 12-page activity guide and crayon, a voucher for a winter-warming babyccino and a special The Snowman™ and The Snowdog gift. Plus, all trail customers are invited to catch a screening of the film either before or after completing the trail!

What are your favourite activities to do on winter walks? Let us know! Share any photos from your countryside walks with us on social media @hampshirecountryside.