Friday, November 21, 2014

Top Ten Christmas Gifts for Snowy Winter Fun

Christmas is coming and it's time to share a new Christmas Gift Guide with you once again.  This year, I have decided to focus on gifts that you and your children can enjoy in the snow.  I'm all about getting outside to create snowy winter memories and learning to embrace the long cold season here.

Check out my top ten gift ideas for snowy winter fun, and make sure you go to the bottom to see the giveaways!

Get out in the snow this winter with great Christmas gifts!


1.  Polar Stroller Skis


Get outside this winter with skis for your stroller or Chariot.  Polar Stroller is a new Calgary-based company and is in full winter-fun mode!  Check out their website and read all about them here:  Introducing:  Polar Stroller - Skis for Strollers & Chariots




2.  Strider Ski Attachment 


Most families with toddlers or preschoolers will know about this 12" starter bike designed for kids aged 18 months to 5 years old. If you truly haven't heard of this pre-bike that's ridden without pedals, visit the Strider Bike Canada website to take a look around.

While most children will outgrow their Strider bike well before they turn 5, my son still loves his little balance bike! He has definitely progressed to a regular bike but he still uses his Strider bike in winter because of the ski attachment we got to go with it.

We have used our Strider ski bike on toboggan hills, in the backcountry, on groomed x-country ski trails, and on snowshoe trails.  We've even used it on icy city sidewalks.  It's been a lot of fun and we'll be sad when our son is too big to use it anymore.  At 5.5 he barely fits but he's still cruising down hills on it and having a blast.  

Backcountry Skiing on the Strider Ski Bike

3.   Stiga Snow-Kick Scooter with Skis


Stiga Snow-kick
This is one of those toys that I saw on line and immediately knew we HAD to have!    The Stiga Snow-Kick is a scooter with skis!  How cool is that?!  I imagine my son riding it down the trail out of a hut this winter, riding it down a snowy trail from a backcountry lake, or even flying down sledding hills in the city.




 

4.  The Snow Show (original book from Carolyn Fisher)  



Ever wonder how snow is made?  Or try to explain it to your child and realize you actually have no idea?!  Calgary-based Author, Carolyn Fisher, has solved the question for us with a great children's book that's been met with amazing reviews.


"Tune in as Chef Kelvin and the rest of the Snow Show gang
investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation -
all while cooking up the crispiest, lightest, fluffiest batch of snow
ever to fall from the sky!"

For more info or to buy one of Carolyn's books, check out her website or visit your favourite bookseller.



 5.   A New Sled 


If you only buy one Christmas present this year for the kids, you won't go wrong with a new sled.  (providing you have snow to use it on of course.)  Kids LOVE sleds and would happily try a new one (or two) out every year.  

We always get our sleds from Costco but you can find a great selection at most outdoor stores.

Shop Amazon for A new sled! (sleds get cracked, broken, etc. and there are so many cool varieties to buy as a Christmas gift.!)


Last year's new Christmas sled

6.  A Pair of Snowshoes


All Out Kids Gear has a great collection of snowshoes and when you shop from this company you're supporting a local Alberta business and family!

My 11 year old has the MSR Shift Kids Snowshoes and has been using them for several years now.


Snowshoeing is fun and an affordable way to have fun in winter


7.  Sno-Toys and Sno-Art 


There is a whole line of Sno products from paint and crayons to brick makers for building igloos, snow forts and snow castles.  I've been looking at this company's innovative products for a while now and am excited that we'll get to try some of them this winter.  Check this link  to see a variety of sno toys and art products. (Amazon affiliate link.)




8.  Snow Skates for the Sledding Hill


Snow Skates are a lot of fun on the sledding hill and add some variety along with a sled or other toys you might bring. They are very popular as well so it's a great way to impress the friends.

Follow the link above to order one from Amazon.ca (affiliate link.)


9.  A Pair of Skates


My top pick for single blade skates for beginners is the adjustable skates that last a couple of years (or at least through the whole season!) - and you can pick them up at most sport stores.

Also for kids learning to skate, check out the Skateez Youth Skate Training Aids (little wings that strap on to the single blade skates.)

Learning to skate in double blade skates

10.  A Pair of Stonz Baby or Toddler Booties


This one is for that Mom-to-be on your Christmas list, the new mom, or maybe even for yourself if you have a baby or toddler at home who struggles with cold feet in the winter.  Stonz Wear Booties are cute and toasty warm for the winter months.  




19 comments:

  1. Great gift list. My favorite gift as a child was cross country skis-changed my life!

    ReplyDelete
  2. My favorite winter kids book (so far) is Stranger In The Woods, but I'm very excited to read Carolyn Fisher's The Snow Show, hope I win a copy!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am always a fan of new books and would love to try Carolyn Fisher's book. One of many favorite winter themed books in Quiet Bunny Noisy Puppy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My fav xmas gift was a sled and my fav xmas book was the night before Xmas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for more great ideas - we love reading books and to find some that are outdoors themed is great. I've always loved The Polar Express, a must read each Christmas. Also it's not in book form but we also really like the Rocky Mountain Fairy Tales audiobooks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thomas' Snowsuit by Robert Munsch was my fav as a kid. Can't wait to read it to my little munchkin this winter!

    ReplyDelete
  7. My favourite gift was new pair of x-country skis. My favourite winter book was A Christmas Carole. Kelly Small

    ReplyDelete
  8. We're currently loving No Two Snowflakes by Sheree Fitch, and who can resist The Snowy Day by Jack Ezra Keats?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have a lot of love for winter-themed stories, but my favourite is one called "One Mitten" by Kristene O'Connell George. A new one to share would be great!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My favourite Christmas gift as a child was a cd player- it was so new and I could listen to music without winding the tape to find the song I wanted!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great gift list - definitely sending to grandparents!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite Christmas gift as a child was a sled! I remember my Grandpa towing me around the lake. : )

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to win the Strider ski attachment. I hope next year the kiddo will be ready to hop on a strider. And the books looks great! I love supporting local authors, especially those writing winter themed books.

    ReplyDelete
  14. As for the my favourites, I like the book "Say hello to the snowy animals" which we bought in Lake Louise. For my favourite Christmas gift, I was a big Lego fan as a kid so probably my Lego castle :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. My favourite gift was the doll house my dad made for me - we still have it! And my favourite book would probably be The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
    Theresa Constantin

    ReplyDelete
  16. My favorite gift as a child was a pair of skates! go figure, lol. Fun list Tanya, some great ideas here.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My favorite gift was my first pair of skis

    ReplyDelete
  18. We love The Night Before Christmas and The Velveteen Rabbit. : )

    ReplyDelete