This morning we woke up to phone calls announcing no school and snow pouring down outside. It’s a snow day! Here are 20 ideas to keep the kids (and you) busy all day!
1. Create sensory activities: For younger kids sensory activities are a great way to learn at home. Bring in some snow to play with on a cookie sheet or in a bowl add some objects for the kids to make mini snow scenes.
2. Cleaning helper: If you have cleaning to do share some simple tools with them to have them help out. Vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle is great for wiping down all kinds of surfaces, and safe for little ones. They may also get a kick out of things like polishing silver, dusting baseboards, and hunting for toys under the furniture.
3. Create your own book: Your child doesn’t have to be an artist or know how to write. Have them make some pictures (stick figures are fine) and narrate the story to you for younger kids. Older kids might make comic books or create pictures their younger siblings can decorate.
4. Dance party!: Does your little one love to boogie? Turn on some kid-friendly tunes and get down. Try the Frozen Soundtrack
5. Science experiments: Simple experiments are fun. Make a snow gauge with an empty container and a ruler, measure how long it takes snow or ice to melt, or use a magnifying glass to get up close to snowflakes.
6. Color the snow: Use food coloring and some water in a spray bottle to create snow spray!
7. Make Snow Cream: Did you know you can make ice cream from snow?
Snow Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups clean, freshly fallen snow
Directions
- In a large bowl or gallon sized ziploc bag combine milk, vanilla extract and sugar. Stir or shake until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in snow one cup at a time until the ice cream forms!
- Eat!
8. Movie marathon: It’s a wonderful time to put on holiday movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Elf. Maple syrup for everyone! (even after the holidays this is fun!)
9. Bake: Always a family favorite! Bake cookies, make hot cocoa, or make a big breakfast that you normally can’t enjoy on school days. Jo-Lynne has a great gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe.
10. Game Day: Have board game day or play cards. Let everyone pick their favorite games.
11. Build a fort: This was one of my favorite activities as a kid, and remains one of my favorites with my own kids!
12. Read books out loud: As your kids get older you may not read bedtime stories anymore, so gather around the fire and take turns reading aloud. Christmas books are perfect at this time of year, as are classics like Little House on the Prairie.
13. Build an enormous something: Whether it’s train tracks, Legos, or blocks it’s fun for everyone. Even older kids will get in on the action (though sometimes begrudgingly).
14. Make a DIY pop up book: The level of complexity of your pop up book can match your child’s age. Check out Melissa’s post for a fabulous tutorial to make your own pop up books.
15. Clean you room!: Ok so it’s not fun, but clearing out old toys can help kids find missing parts to favorite toys, toss broken toys, and if they are anything like my kids help them gather supplies for an upcoming yard sale.
16. Declutter: It’s the perfect time to declutter everyone’s rooms and get ready for the holidays, and get in those last minute tax write offs.
17. Create a kid art gallery: It’s easy to setup and a great way to display their masterpieces. You can use poster strips, clothespins and wire, or even frames you may have lying around to make your own art gallery.
18. Sledding: This is always our kids’ favorite thing to do in the snow! We have a downward slope in our backyard and a pretty decent hill on the side of our house to make it fun to head out and sled.
19. Build in the snow: Depending on the snow you can make snow people (the kids usually make a family), or a snow fort!
20. Snow Angels: Another obvious but fun family favorite.
What are your favorite snow day activities?
Kelly
Individual bowl of snow ice cream: Mix 1 c snow and 1 T sugar. Add 1/4 c milk and 1 T vanilla. Stir and go! Instant ice cream!
I’m sure you’ve had a chance to make some by now!
We may get more snow Saturday so you’ll have another chance soon!
This is fabulous!! We played in the snow and played some board games today. SO bummed we didn’t make snow cream. Next time for sure!
LOL!! Just a rough patch. We’ll muddle through 🙂
@ginabad:disqus those are all *optional* activities. 😉 Sorry today was tough-I hope there is school tomorrow or at least that you can take some time off!
I know, right?! It’s actually been kind of lovely! I prefer it to rain at least. 😉
That’s wonderful! We had a crew in our backyard for a bit. So fun to see that!
Agreed! We found time to do all kinds of projects today. 🙂
Great list! You forgot “go to forbidden rooms and wreck things,” “turn off the internet when Mom & Dad are working,” and “lose the vonage phone plug altogether.” 🙂 Oh how I miss school…
Great list…I think we did 1/3 of this this week alone – with 2 great snowy days!
My kids have been outside all day playing with the neighborhood kids; I love that!
We love snow days at our house : ). So many fun things to do.