A good dumping of snow is a cause for celebration for kids (not so much for parents). Before your kids head outside for some snow fun, it is worth reminding them of some basic safety rules when it comes to playing in the white stuff. Here are some great tips from Child Safety Link, the child and youth injury prevention program, located at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax: 1. If children want to build snow structures in the yard, they should not make roofs or form a tunnel that could collapse on them and possibly suffocate them. Encourage them to have fun by being creative—to make a house with walls (instead of a ceiling) and fill it with “snow furniture." 2. Active supervision is important when young children are playing outside in the snow. School-aged children older than 8 should play outside with a friend who could call for help if a situation arose. 3. Children should never play in or on snow banks that border roads, as snow plow operators and other drivers may not know there are children on/in them. 4. Children should keep well away from snowblowers (both the machine itself and the snow plume that is ejected from it), as well as snow plows. 5. Remind children to be extra cautious if they are crossing the road. Snow-covered roads can be slippery and they can fall in front of an oncoming vehicle. Drivers may also have a problem seeing kids through snow or frost-covered windows. And it is worth repeating—remind them never to put their mouth to any metal object outside. Lips and tongues can freeze to the metal and cause an injury. Photo courtesy FlickrCC/lupinoduck