How to Build a Snow Igloo With Your Kid

Since this was the first time in a LONG time that I had a job that did not find it essential to be in during disasters my family decided to have fun in the snow.

The easiest way to do that and still secretly teach WT some skills was to build a snow igloo.

It did not take much to build besides a shovel, a 5 gallon bucket, and a lot of snow.  Basically all we did was shovel snow into a bucket and lightly tamp it down just like making a sandcastle.

We then upended the bucket and let the snow block slide out.

We just used the blocks to form a toddle appropriate circle and then made a new row placing the new blocks in the center of 2 bottom blocks – just like doing any masonry work.

The trick was to slightly bow inward as we worked so that the blocks formed a roof.  It was not that doing that was hard, but WT wanted to kick at his fort because when the block broke he had ready made snowballs.

We used forms for the doors and windows and placed snow around the forms – removing them when the igloo was finished.

In trouble areas I packed in loose snow and rubber it with my hand to smooth it and slightly melt it so ice held the blocks together.

All in all we had a lot of fun and I think the boy learned something cool.