Children in ski school playing in the snow with instructor among snow-covered trees in sunshine

Stöten Magazine

Outdoor play for young children

As every parent knows, children can be bursting with energy. It doesn't matter if they've already spent hours on the slopes - they still want to keep playing. So in this article, we thought we'd share five tips for fun outdoor games for young children. Perfect for when kids need to let off steam and burn off some energy!

5 entertaining kids games - for hours of play

Two children in ski suits run on a groomed piste with pink helmets and unicorn details under a clear blue sky

In order for children not to lose patience, it is important that the games are both simple and fun. Especially if you're on holiday in the mountains and have limited access to equipment that might otherwise be available at home. Below we share five entertaining games that guarantee hours of play.

Tip #1: Animal play

This fun and simple game is based on several participants. The children who are going to participate sit in a circle, one of them sits in the centre of the circle and closes their eyes. The person in the centre says the name of an animal species and then one of the people in the circle has to imitate the sound of that animal. The person in the centre should then try to figure out who is making the animal sound. This game can also be developed in other ways. For example, the person sitting in the centre should not say the name of an animal. Instead, someone sitting in the ring should mimic an animal and the person sitting in the centre should guess which animal it is.

Tip #2: Cat and rat

A classic game, this one also involves several participants. The children stand in a circle and hold hands. Two are then chosen to be the cat and the rat. The one who becomes the latter stays inside the ring while the cat stands outside. The cat then tries to get into the ring to catch the rat. To help, the rat has its mates in the ring who prevent the cat from entering. Once the cat gets in, they can release the rat and try to trap the cat in the ring. Once the rat is caught, it's someone else's turn to be the cat or the rat.

It doesn't matter if the kids have already spent hours on the slopes - they still want to keep playing!

Tip #3: Sink the ship

This fun game can be played both indoors and outdoors. It is based on at least two participants standing some distance apart. Each participant is given a ”pirate ship”, which can be a shoebox or a bowl. Then everyone is given some kind of ball (e.g. ping-pong balls) to throw into each other's pirate ship so that it ”sinks”.

Children in sleds behind snowmobiles, pink helmets and winter clothes in a sunny mountain landscape

Decide in advance how many balls you need to put in the ship for it to be considered sunk. If you're doing this outdoors in winter, you can let your creativity flow and build your own pirate ships using snow. And instead of ping pong balls, you can also use snowballs. Only your imagination sets the limits!

Tip #4: Find the reflectors

In this game, children get to feel like real agents on a mission - to find the reflectors. Start by hiding a number of reflectors outdoors and then let the children look for them using a torch. Whoever finds the most reflectors wins. Of course, you can also skip the torch.

Let your creativity flow - the only limit is your imagination!

Tip #5: What are you feeling?

This fun game can also be played both indoors and outdoors, and with a variety of objects. It involves children taking turns to feel a number of objects. However, they cannot see what it is, but must rely entirely on their sense of touch. For example, pull the hat down over their eyes. If the game is played outdoors, you can find things like stones, cones, branches or similar.

Here are 5 fun games that are guaranteed to keep the kids happy and entertained during your stay with us at Stöten in Sälen. Also, don't miss out on our Junior Weeks - the weeks when it's free to be a kid! Find out more and book here today! See you in Stöten!

In order to keep the children's patience, it is important that the games are both simple and fun

Person wearing red ski jacket and helmet standing in snow-covered forest, skiers in the background

Dog team pulls sled through snow-covered forest in winter sun

Activities in Sälen

In Stöten there is a wide range of activities for the whole family - both on and off the slopes! In addition to Sälen's best skiing, Stöten has all this and more;

Keep an eye out this spring calendar to make sure you don't miss out on all the fun happening in Stöten!

Vargy the mascot in a red waistcoat and ski goggles stands among snow-covered fir trees and waves happily

Wolf Club - the kids' own club

Every week, Vargy organises lots of fun activities for all Stöten children aged 3 to 8. Click on the link to find out more about each activity and how to sign up;