The Best Screen Time Replacement for Winter
In the summer, my kids spend countless hours outside. The options are endless—riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline, riding scooters, and playing ball. Keeping screen time to a minimum is a relatively easy task that time of year.
Winter, not so much.
Here in Minnesota, the cold can keep us holed up for months. A fresh snowfall might inspire kids to suit up and head outside, but we only get a few truly great snow days each winter. Most days are just cold and gray. Kids end up spending more time curled up in front of screens while parents search for something—anything—to get them off their devices.
The solution: a backyard ice rink.
Our family spends countless hours on our rink every winter. Getting the kids to go skating takes almost no effort. If the ice is good, they’re out there. Sometimes it’s a quick skate before dinner. Other times it turns into a full evening of hockey, laughter, and neighborhood kids showing up with their sticks and skates.
That’s the magic of a backyard ice rink. It gives kids a reason to go outside, even when it’s cold.
Why a Backyard Ice Rink Works So Well
A rink changes the whole feel of winter. Instead of looking out at a frozen backyard, you have something that pulls everyone outside.
Kids skate.
Parents shovel and flood the ice.
Neighbors stop by.
Some nights the lights stay on long after dark while another game of shinny breaks out.
Many families choose to add rink lighting so the backyard can stay active even after the sun goes down. You can learn more about backyard rink lighting options and how they can turn your yard into a neighborhood skating spot.
An Easy Way to Get Kids Outside in Winter
For families in Minnesota and other cold climates, a backyard ice rink might be the best winter activity there is. It keeps kids moving, creates real outdoor play, and turns long winter evenings into something memorable.
If you’ve ever thought about building one yourself, you know it can take a lot of work. Leveling the yard, installing boards, laying a liner, flooding the rink, and maintaining the ice.
That’s why many families choose backyard rink rentals, which take care of the setup so families can simply enjoy the ice.
You can also learn more about how our backyard rink installation works if you’re curious about what it takes to turn a yard into a rink.
The Memories That Come With Backyard Hockey
Years from now, kids won’t remember the shows they watched on their tablets.
But they will remember:
skating under the lights
neighborhood hockey games
shoveling the rink after a snowfall
late winter nights spent outside
Those are the moments that make winter special.
At Polar Bear Rinks, our goal is simple: help families enjoy winter the way it was meant to be enjoyed—outside, on the ice.
If you're thinking about adding a rink to your yard this winter, you can [learn more about our backyard rink rentals] and see how easy it can be to bring skating to your backyard.