Winter Picnics with Kids: Safety Tips

Winter is a particularly exciting time of year to be a kid. Once the snow has fallen and their world has turned into a white winter wonderland, they're going to be eager to get out there and make snowmen, have snowball fights, ice skate and go sledding. Winter picnics are a great way to keep kids fueled, hydrated and warm while they're enjoying outdoor activities - but it's important to keep a few safety tips in mind.

Staying Warm

The rule of thumb for dressing older babies and young children is to dress them as warm as you dress yourself to feel comfortable, plus one extra layer. They should be wearing several thin layers including thermal underwear, snowsuits or coats, warm socks and boots.

Watch for signs of hypothermia. They include shivering, lethargy, reduced coordination and slurred speech. If you suspect that a child under your care is hypothermic, call 911 immediately. Get the child to a warm indoor space, remove any wet clothing and wrap him in a blanket.

Keep an eye on the kids' extremities - the ears, nose, and fingers. Signs of frostbite include pale, grey or blistered skin and numbness. If you suspect frostbite, place the suspected frostbitten areas in warm (not hot) water or apply warm washcloths. Don't rub the area; dry the child and cover him in a blanket after a few minutes. Call a doctor if the numbness does not improve after a few minutes.

You may want to bring a warm picnic blanket along with you (or two, depending on how many people are in your group) so that the kids can periodically snuggle up with you when they're feeling chilly.

Safe Winter Fun

When packing hot soups, stews, beverages or other hot food into thermoses, make sure you check the temp before allowing children to begin eating or drinking. Insulated vacuum flasks, mugs and other containers can keep food surprisingly hot for long periods of time, so it could still cause a burn hours later if it was piping hot when you packed it.

If the kids are wearing scarves or hats with dangling strings, remove them before allowing the children to go down slides and other playground equipment to avoid the risk of strangulation. Neck warmers are preferable to scarves for young children, since they don't pose this risk. When buying winter clothes for kids, look for zippers or velcro fasteners rather than drawstrings and ties.

Have the kids hold your hands (or the hands of other adults or older children present) when walking across potentially slick icy surfaces.

Consider having the kids wear helmets if they'll be ice skating or sledding. They should always sled feet-first, sitting up using a steerable sled - not an inner tube or improvised sled. Choose the area they'll be sledding on wisely- make sure there are no trees, motor vehicles or pedestrians on or at the base of the incline. The incline shouldn't be too steep - about 30 degrees is good.

Never allow children to ice skate or walk on frozen bodies of water that haven't been officially approved for ice skating. You can check with your local police department if you aren't sure.

Don't allow kids to play in or on snow banks, make tunnels in the snow or build snow forts. The snow could easily collapse on top of them, and drivers of snow plows and other vehicles may not be able to see them.

Don't forget the sunscreen! Sunburns are possible in cold weather, too - and all that snow and ice reflects the sun even more than in winter.

Want more info on winter picnics for kids? Check out our previous posts about winter activities and cold weather recipes.