The Winter Olympics 2010 Family Style 

Let the Games begin! That’s a phrase often associated with the start of the Olympics—and you’ll undoubtedly hear it towards the middle of this month. Athletes from more than 80 countries will gather in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games from February 12th through the 28th. If your family can get wrapped up in national pride, the drama of competition, and the admirable dedication and skill of young athletes, these two weeks are for you.

Whether or not you enjoy playing sports is besides the point. The Olympics are really about gusto and glory, when countries put politics aside to focus on the personalities and passions of individuals. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, bobsledding, and much more, are thrilling events that can speak volumes to children about dreams—and what it takes to make them real. To find up-to-the-minute highlights, schedules, and information, and for a countdown to the Games, visit the official website of the Olympics, vancouver2010.com. For information about the athletes, the opening ceremonies, televised events, and video highlights on NBC, visit nbcolympics.com.

Mascots
The Vancouver Games’ trio of mascots is a fuzzy team: Miga is a sea bear, Quatchi is a young Sasquatch, and Sumi is a chimera (an animal spirit). These mascots also have a friend called Mukmuk, who is a marmot from the mountains of Vancouver Island. Read more about these mascots on the vancouver2010.com homepage, under “More 2010 Information.” You’ll also find games, downloads, activities, and more.

Flags
Flags play a large role in the Olympics, helping to identify the countries the athletes represent. Remind your children that each country participating in the Olympics carries a flag into the opening ceremonies, and that the flags are displayed often during the Games. Show them pictures of flags from other countries at flags.net. Give your children art materials so they can make paper flags of different countries, including an American flag, a Canadian flag, and perhaps a flag that depicts your heritage.

Don’t forget, too, that the Olympics has its own flag, which is a white background with five connected rings in red, green, black, yellow, and blue. These five multicolored Olympic rings stand for the five continents that are home to the athletes.

Home-grown Olympics
Search magazines for pictures of outdoor activities and winter sports. With pictures in hand, talk about the sports with your children. Or watch the Olympics together on television and discuss some of these questions as you follow the live action. If you know them, explain the rules of each game.

• What is happening in each picture?
• Why does it look like fun? Why does it look challenging?
• What equipment do the athletes use?
• Is this mostly a sport of strength, endurance, speed, or strategy?

If your children are excited and inspired by the feats of athleticism they see on TV, you may want to invite some of their friends over to stage your own Olympic games at home. Make some gold, silver, and bronze medals out of ribbons and craft foam or cardboard, and award them after you play the games. Be sure some of the categories are “most enthusiastic,” “most improved,” or “best form” so even kids who aren’t athletic can be winners.

Here are some good games to play during your homegrown Olympics. They are reprinted with permission from a book written for children, Winter Day Play, by Nancy F. Castaldo (Chicago Review Press, 2001). Some are snow games, but use your imagination and adapt them to play indoors if there is no snow.

Track and Snow, for 2 or more
Running and jumping hurdles is a fun Olympic sport to watch in the summer. Here’s a great way to enjoy it in winter:

1. Ask a grown-up to shovel a path of snow across a lawn or grassy area, leaving three snow piles along the path, each about two feet or so high.
2. See if you can jump over the snow pile. If it is too low, add a little more snow. If it is a bit too high, take off some.
3. Plan some races over the snow pile hurdles with your friends. See who can jump the farthest, quickest, and finish the races first.

Olympic Snowball, for 4 or more
Kids in Greece know this game as Olympic ball and play it in warm weather. Here is a winter version of this game from the home of the Olympics.

1. Players divide into two teams. Each team forms two lines facing each other.
2. Each team takes a snowball and begins to throw the snowball back and forth between the two lines of the same team.
3. If one team drops its snowball, then the other team is awarded 5 points. The first team to reach 50 points wins.

Marshmallow Sculpture Contest, for 1 or more
The great thing about marshmallow sculptures is that after you’re finished making them, you can eat them. You can’t do that with a snow sculpture!

1. Think of your marshmallows as snowballs. What type of sculpture would you like to create? You may choose a snowman, and igloo, an animal, or something else.
2. Gather the marshmallows (large and small) you’ll need for your sculpture. Using your fingers, apply the royal icing (below) instead of glue to connect your marshmallows. (Use toothpicks if necessary.)
3. Set up a contest with your friends. Award prizes for the biggest, the funniest, and the most creative marshmallow sculpture. Can you think of other awards to give out?

Royal icing: 3 egg whites, 1/8 tsp. cream of tartar, 8 oz. confectioners’ sugar. Whip together the egg whites and cream of tartar until there are soft peaks. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar while stirring.

Tania K. Cowling is a former teacher, author, and mother.

Farn Dupre is the editor of New Jersey Family.

February 2010