How to Build the BEST Snowman!

HELLO WINTER LOVERS!!!! Do you want to build a snowman?  

Hyperlink to a classic sing-a-long! 

You’re never too old to build a perfect snowman. Let’s go over the steps to perfect your snowy friend. 

1. Scout out your snow. You should find clean, easy to pack snow. 

2. Create a large, medium, and small ball. The ratio should be 3:2:1 for the perfect size. 

3. Carefully stack the balls, largest on bottom, smallest on top. 

4. Take extra snow and smooth the base, middle, and head together to enforce your snowman’s structural integrity. 

5. Gather his features and accessories. Buttons for eyes? Carrot for a nose? A scarf? Twigs for arms with knitted gloves? You can really create whatever you’d like! 

6. Pair him with a mini snowman, so he doesn’t get lonely. 

Where did the tradition of building a snowman come from? It first originated in 7th century northern China. Apparently, the followers of Buddha were given a blessing to build the man out of snow. Next, one of the most notable images of a snowman was created centuries later in the Netherlands. 

Men and a child create a Dutch queen Wilhemina and princess Juliana as snow people in the Netherlands (1913). Retrieved from Obscura Atlas. 

Building a snowman is a great activity for kids to get outside during the winter time. It allows them to familiarize themselves with the outdoors and be creative as they craft their friends to their likings. Keep in mind that for children under 3 years old, buttons and smaller objects for his features are a choking hazard. We also suggest choosing a day where it is safe to be outside. Frostbite can occur just below 31°F. When the temperature is 0°F or below, it takes around 30 minutes for exposed skin to get frostbite. At 15°F below zero, even with small gusts of wind, frostbite is possible within 15 minutes. Have fun and be safe!

~ Nina Petrosino, Snow Scholars Writer