TinyStepper
Parent and child walking hand-in-hand, child pointing at a bird in a tree

Snowball Target Toss

Make snowballs and throw them at a target like a tree, bucket, or fence.

Activity details

2y–4y10 minshighoutdoorNo prepBucket

Instructions

Get ready
  • Find snow deep enough to scoop (even a thin layer works)
  • Show how to scoop and pack a snowball: 'Press it together!'
  1. Find snow deep enough to scoop (even a thin layer works)
  2. Show how to scoop and pack a snowball: 'Press it together!'
  3. Set a target: a tree trunk, a bucket, or a mark on a fence
  4. Stand at a manageable distance and throw together
  5. Celebrate hits: 'You got the tree! Amazing throw!'
  6. Move closer or further to adjust difficulty
  7. Count hits: 'That's three! Can you get five?'
  8. If no snow: use scrunched-up newspaper balls indoors at a laundry basket

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

Toddler on a garden step examining a large leaf beside a basket of collected nature treasures

What success looks like

Curiosity in action — pointing, collecting, asking ‘what’s that?’ A child engaged with nature is learning without knowing it.

When it snows, make snowballs together and throw them at a target — a tree trunk, a bucket, a fence post. This channels the throwing urge (which is very strong in toddlers and often manifests as throwing toys indoors) into a constructive, seasonal activity. The cold air, the crunchy snow, and the satisfying thwack of a snowball hitting its target makes this utterly joyful and physically engaging.

Why it helps

NHS Best Start in Life recommends practising throwing, catching and kicking a ball as simple activities that teach coordination, balance and agility. Throwing at a target develops hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and gross motor control in the shoulder and arm. For toddlers who throw things when frustrated, providing a sanctioned throwing outlet teaches them that throwing is a skill to use in the right context, not a behaviour to eliminate. The cold sensory experience also builds resilience and the understanding that outdoor play happens in all seasons.

Variations

  • Build a snowman and use it as the target.
  • Draw targets with food colouring in spray bottles on the snow.
  • Try different throwing styles: overarm, underarm, rolling along the ground.

Safety tips

  • Throw at objects, not at people or animals.
  • Dress warmly with waterproof gloves, hat, layers, and grippy waterproof boots — and supervise closely on icy ground.
  • Check snow for hidden debris (stones, ice chunks) before scooping.

Want to try another?

Autumn Leaf Stomp and Sort

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