A blizzard of white flakes has been falling through the night, and the school phone chain has begun. As expected, children will have a day off from school, leaving parents scrambling for ways to keep children occupied and supervised.
Snow days may be coveted by kids (and teachers), but they may not be as beloved by parents who are unaccustomed to having kids home during the week.
But just because snow days are unexpected, that does not mean parents can’t plan for them.
Snow day plan
Parents who cannot take days off from work will need a contingency plan for snow days. Organize a snow day club, wherein school parents rotate taking children for the day. Working parents can reciprocate by taking the school kids on a weekend and letting the other parents have a “date night.”
Entertainment
Rather than having kids spend the day watching television or playing on their tablets, parents can establish a snow day entertainment bin to encourage their kids to make the most of the day off. The bin can include board games, books, building block sets, paints, and other crafts.
Get cooking
A snowy day is a great time to prepare meals for the rest of the week, as well as tinker with hearty, belly-filling recipes. Older children can help with cutting vegetables and meats, while younger kids can add seasonings to pots and mix ingredients. Involve the kids in choosing which meals to cook.
Create snow art —
Fill squeeze or squirt bottles with some water and food coloring. Allow kids to go out in the yard and create some pictures with the snow as their canvas.
Cleaning catch up
Cleaning may not be the most exciting snow day activity, but it might be the most productive. Children can spend time sorting through toys and belongings in their rooms.
Nature walk
Grab those boots and insulated pants and head outdoors. A walk in the brisk, cold air can boost spirits and introduce kids to the beauty of winter. Take the camera and encourage kids to take pictures of their favorites.