Depending on where you live, you may still get another snow day or two this year. Rather than enduring your child’s zombie-like, fixed stare at the television screen for an entire day, why not use the time as an investment in your relationship? In other words, make some memories.
Here are ten ideas to inspire you.
Make Snow Ice Cream
We got an unusually deep snow here in Texas a couple of years ago, so I introduced my kids to snow ice cream. It is a magical treat because it is so simple to make. Just scoop up about five cups of fresh snow, add 3/4 of a cup of heavy cream, 1/3 of a cup of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix well and enjoy.
Read Aloud
No matter how old my kids get, they still like to sit down and listen to a read aloud. A snowy day is a great time to make some hot chocolate and really introduce your child to one of your childhood favorites.
Bring It Inside
Fill a dishpan full of clean snow and then bring it inside. Your child can play with cars in it, use it to make a small snowman, or whatever he wants without getting chilled. It won’t last long but it will be fun while it does.
Bake Cookies
Seriously. This should have been first on the list. Baking cookies with your kids is just fun and what’s not to like about warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies with a cup of hot chocolate?
Make Bird Feeders
Create a quick treat for the birds by mixing peanut butter and birdseed and smearing it on cardboard shapes or pinecones. You can also find a plethora of recipes for more types of bird treats by doing search.
Play Board Games
Remember these? Well an afternoon long game of Monopoly, Life, or Risk is still as entertaining as it was when you were a kid.
Teach Your Child Your Craft
If you knit, crochet, sew, or something else, then a snow day is the perfect opportunity to share your craft with your child.
Animal Tracks
Depending on where you live, you can find a variety of animal tracks to identify – especially true if you are by a creek or a naturally wooded area. Raccoon, squirrel, otter, fox, bobcat, and coyote are just some of the tracks we have found – only here they are usually in the mud!
Play-Dough
Play-Dough is fun, whether it is the homemade kind or the kind from the store. It’s pretty easy to kill an hour with this stuff, some cookie cutters, some shells and other things to use as stamps, and a rolling pin.
Watch a Movie
Yes, you are trying to keep them away from the television, but if everyone sits down and watches a movie, all snuggled together with hot cocoa and popcorn, well that is a totally different thing.
From now on, don’t dread snow days – look at them as an extra chance to make some great memories with your kids.
photo credit: Marye Audet
