What To Do With Kids On Snow Days

Snow Fort.  If it is not too brutally cold, you could actually enjoy the snow (like you did when you were a kid).  Snowmen, snowball fights, snow forts……let your kids use their imagination.  Give them tools to build with – kitchen utensils make great snow implements.  If they're a little older, bribe them to shovel your walk, porch and driveway.  They'll sleep good after that.

Make Snow Ice Cream.  Scoop some of the white stuff into bowls.  Mix 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla in a separate bowl, until the sugar dissolves.  Stir in 4 cups of snow and keep stirring until you get the consistency of ice cream.  Add whatever else you'd like – chocolate syrup, sprinkles, you name it. One word of advice though – make sure the snow is white, with no hints of yellow, if you know what I mean.

Computer time.  There are scads of educational websites with games that are so fun your kiddos will not realize that they're learning at the same time. Sneaky trick, I know, but effective. Nick Jr., PBS, ABC Mouse are all good places to start.  Add headphones for a little peace and quiet for you, if you like.

Read a book.  Or several books to your kids.  Have your child read one to you, to show you how much they have learned at school.  Trust me, all kids love to show off their skills. 

Bring the outside, inside. This may take a little doing, and probably won't last long.  Use a baby pool or your bathtub as a snow scheme.  Let your kids make snow castles.  Watch the snowballs though, or you'll have melting snow all over your house. 

Play dress-up.  Get some of your old clothes out.  Let them have at them, and take pictures on your camera or phone for an impromptu photo shoot.  

Treasure hunt.  Hide items all over your house for your kids to locate.  Play “hot and cold” or write clues on slips of paper for your kids to hunt.  The more items you hide, the longer it will distract them so you can get back to your guilty pleasure.

Older kids usually sleep more than they did when they were babies, so they're a no brainer.  Plus, even though they're stuck in the house, they probably don't want to hang out with you anyway.  

Written by: Allyson Johns