How to Build a Snowman

Do You Know How to Build a Snowman?

February 13, 2023

Winter is a great time for fun activities for kids, like building a snowman, a nature scavenger hunt, or a snow maze!

How to build a snowman

Building a snowman is one of the most classic and fun winter activities for kids and adults! With the right technique, your epic snowman will be the envy of the block.

Wait until the snow is right

The snow needs to be wet but not slushy. Powdery snow will fall apart, and you need a decent amount to build a snowman.

Make 3 giant snowballs

Start with a small snowball and roll it on the ground until it grows to snowman proportions. Push it in different directions to keep it round and pack it down into a tight ball. Take off any uneven areas or bumps. Once it starts getting big, roll it toward its destination because it will be too heavy to pick up. This will be the bottom of your snowman.

Make another smaller snowball for the middle of the snowman and a third, even smaller snowball for the head. Make sure the head is large enough to accommodate accessories to make a face.

Build your snowman

Make a round indent in the top of the largest snowball so the smaller one can rest on top of it and place the middle snowball there. Make an indent in that one and add the head.

If you are building a giant snowman and the middle snowball is too heavy to lift, you and your kids can roll it onto a tarp and lift it together. Or you can roll it up a ramp, such as plywood supported by bricks.

Bring your snowman to life

Make holes where you would like your snowman's facial features to go to make them stay put. A carrot is a classic nose and you can use dark stones for eyes and a smile. Large, metal washers painted black and secured with bolts will also work. Give your snowman crooked branches for arms and imagine that the bend is an elbow. Once the main components of your snowman are in place, look for imperfections and add snow or do some sculpting.

Accessorize

Give your snowman buttons, gloves, a vest, a scarf, a hat, a shovel, or other fun accessories you feel like adding. You can even make a top hat out of a flowerpot or things in your recycling bin! Add a brim to a large container such as a margarine tub and paint the whole thing black. Drill holes in the bottom of the hat and secure it to your snowman with sticks or other spike-like objects.

Other fun winter activities for kids

Already made a snow man or did not get wet, sticky snow? Try one of these other fun winter activities for kids.

Tobogganing

Pretty much everyone loves this classic winter activity! If you do not have a crazy carpet or toboggan, tape a garbage bag to the underside of a large piece of carboard.

Skating

Find an outdoor or indoor rink in your community and get the whole family out for some exercise. Skating is fun and memorable, despite (or because of) a potential lack of talent on the ice.

Nature scavenger hunt

Take the kids to a local park for a scavenger hunt. Make a list of things you might find in nature, like animal tracks, pinecones, wildlife, or frozen puddles, and have your kids check them off as they find them. This a great activity for encouraging kids to observe and appreciate nature.