There's a lot of fun that comes with the snow.

Sledding, snowmen, snowball fights.. The list goes on.

And playing in the snow is a great way to get kids active.

It's this week's steps to a healthier new york.

The snow has been falling.

And the kids are loving it.

Evidence shows that play... Can be substituted for other physical activity.

"They need to be able to play for a sustained amount of time and that can count as their physical activity for the day and they need about an hour a day," says Mary McFadden of Steps To A Healthier New York.

And that means just about active... Running around, building a snow man... Even sledding down the hill and walking back up.

"Childhood obesity is at epidemic proportions. We've tripled our rates in the last 30 years so we know physical activity and healthy nutrition are the things we need to work on with our children," says McFadden.

And the best way to get your kids active... Is getting outside, putting on the hats and mittens and playing with them.

"Parents are role models for their children if they can get down and play with their kids they're developing a better relationship with then children and they themselves are participating in physical activity," says McFadden.

For more information, log onto www.broomesteps.org.