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Become a monthly donorPublished on January 13, 2026
In our latest guest author post, Renee Tratch, the mom and voice of Kids in T.O., a decade-old blog about getting kids outside and exploring the city, writes about how her children have taught her to love winter again.
I love when the snow crunches and squeaks. I love hearing little winter boots stomping and shuffling down the street and the swish-swishing of snowpants as kids head out to play. I love the rhythmic swipe and scrape of shovels after a snowfall and the crisp cut of skate blades on freshly flooded ice. The sounds of winter signal a new season of play.
The melody of a Canadian winter, however, didn’t always warm my heart.
Growing up on the prairies, winter meant howling winds and -40C temperatures (without the windchill), the grumpy whir of a car’s motor trying desperately to start and the scratching and grating on frozen windshields. I loathed the first snowfall (often arriving before Halloween) and spent the long winter longing for the thaw (that finally came in April).
I didn’t think that I would ever enjoy winter again—that is, until my kids came along. I learned early on as a parent that whatever the season, getting my kids outside was a magic potion. The combination of fresh air, physical activity and the anticipation of the destination ahead was like hitting a reset button.
As any parent knows, getting outdoors with little ones in tow—especially in winter—is no easy task. In fact, the race out the door feels more like a marathon: coaxing on layers of clothing, looking for mismatched mittens and finally stepping outside only to discover that boots are on the wrong feet.
It never did matter. During the coldest and most blah-days of winter, I could count on big gulps of fresh air and moving our bodies to improve everyone’s mood. Nothing beats the smiles that come from making the season’s first snow angel. As my kids grew from toddlers to teens, it wasn’t ski trips or hockey games that made me fall for winter again. Rather, it was the little activities and off-the-beaten track destinations around the city that got us active and engaged with the great outdoors. Turns out, being outside in winter was what my kids and I needed most.
Sleds are not just for sledding! Teamwork with our friends at a local park.
Getting kids outside and moving is more important than ever. According to ParticipACTION’s 2024 physical activity report card, less than 40% of children and youth (five to 17 years) met the recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
What I love about winter is that you literally have to move to stay warm.
Whether it’s a brisk walk to the park, an afternoon of building a snowman in the front yard or lacing up skates with friends at the local rink, kids love to get outside and play.
Winter provides a special playground and a unique environment for them to develop physical literacy. In no other season can you tread lightly and skid across a frozen puddle (balance), climb and crawl up a hill with a toboggan in tow (coordination), and push, roll and lug big balls of snow to build an epic snow man or snow fort (strength). All these movements not only burn energy and build confidence but help form important connections between the brain and muscles.
Tip for getting kids moving: Too often it’s the parents towing the kids on a toboggan and bringing it back up to the top. An easy way to encourage little ones to be more active, whether on or off the hill, is to use the sled in other ways, like taking turns towing a younger friend or transporting snowballs and snow blocks.
Kids working together to build a snow fort from a Zamboni-made snow pile at a local Toronto rink.
Winter weather—and all the snow, rain, sleet and slush that comes with it—makes most people want to retreat indoors. Getting outside into the broader community is so important for kids to get off screens and help them develop their social skills. Adding new spots to our Kids in T.O. to-do list helped me stay connected to the community and discover new local businesses along the way.
Close to home, raking leaves at the end of fall or shoveling snow at the first blast of winter, was always a family affair and one that extended beyond our front steps. Looking back, one of my favourite winter purchases was a kid-sized snow shovel. Shoveling can be fun, especially if it means building snowbanks and snowhills that turn into snow mountains and snow caves. It also served as a tool to encourage them to look beyond their own walkway and think of others on the street who may need their sidewalk cleared.
Outdoor shared spaces, like sidewalks, parkettes, school and playgrounds, are vibrant places to connect to your community and take part in endless hours of unstructured and cooperative play. Winter has some of the best play material to let imagination run wild. Sticks become forts, snowbanks become castles.
Tip for finding a new place to play: No backyard? Not much snow? We discovered some of the best snow for community fort-building next to our local outdoor rink. We could always count on the Zamboni to provide the snow pile and kids of all ages from across the neighbourhood to fuel imaginations.
One of our favourite winter day trips: a nature walk at Crawford Lake Conversation Area.
Exploring nature doesn’t stop during the winter months. In fact, it’s the season that has given my kids and me a new appreciation for the natural world.
Going on a nature walk—a simple wander around a local park, schoolyard or hiking trail—has always been a go-to family activity. Living in Toronto, I’m surprised at how easy it has been to escape into nature right in the city. Some of our favourite public spaces and activities have been exploring the ravines near Evergreen Brick Works, snowshoeing around the McMichael Art Gallery north of the city, and wandering through trails in Tommy Thompson Park along Lake Ontario.
While we often went off on our own, our most memorable adventures were nature walks led by educators and experts. In researching for Kids in T.O., I’ve discovered so much free accessible programming offered by local non-profits and city-run organizations. Their passion for and knowledge of the natural world has opened our eyes to the fascinating living things that lie dormant and hidden during the winter months.
Until I had kids, I never had an answer for, nor thought of even asking questions like: What birds do you hear in winter? What animals’ footprints do you see in the snow? Can you tell if they were bouncing or galloping by their tracks? Who knew I would be equally excited as my kids to discover abandoned nests and scat along the trail.
Tip for connecting to nature: No tour guide? No problem. Mini scavenger hunts have been a trusty tool in my parent toolkit. Kids love being little detectives! There are tons of great options online like this one that gets kids moving and a winter-themed activity that engages all the senses.
Looking for birds and nests on a nature walk along Lake Ontario.
Now as my kids become teens in T.O., I miss the days of putting on snowpants and joining them on their journeys. Together we’ve kept active, connected to our community and deepened our appreciation of nature. They taught me not to escape but embrace winter. At the end of the day and season, I hope that I’ve helped create healthy active habits that will lead to a lifetime love of winter.
Learn more
Need ideas to get kids outdoor and active this year? Our Outdoor Classroom resources gives lets you access a wealth of learning materials and activity guides for all season. In the Greater Toronto Area? There’s always something on at Evergreen Brick Works, like free public skating, playing in the Children’s Garden, nature tours, movie nights and more!
