When it comes to living life to the fullest (on a budget, of course) that means we don’t often have time for sick days or snow days. Of course, combining the two can be a double whammy, and unfortunately it happens more than I’d like in the winter. Between constantly juggling work, managing the kids schedules, helping with homework, the constant cleaning, making meals, and of course trying to carve out time for your loved ones (and maybe a little time for yourself) there is no time to be sick with a fever or a cough! I wouldn’t change that for anything-I do love everything I do. Work can be fulfilling, the kids are some of our favorite people, and all the other stuff brings us joy (mostly-sorry, cleaning toilets will never bring joy). But, I would much rather find a way to survive those snow days, so I’ll share my ‘Working Parent’s Guide to Snow Days,’ to help you as well.
Working Parent’s Guide to Snow Days
Snow Day Fun: Snow days often bring groans from parents, screams of excitement from kids. While it’s not fun to have a sudden day with your schedule changed you can make the most of it with our ideas for snow day fun.
- Do you want to build a snowman? Build a snowman with the kiddies. Help them with the main parts (mostly putting the snowballs on top of each other) and let them decorate it as they wish. It can keep them entertained for hours…okay, maybe minutes.
- Sled away. So, yes sledding isn’t tops on your to do list, but it counts as exercise for you, will make you feel like a kid again, and will wear out the little ones.
- Snowball fight! Tell the kids you’ll join them for an epic snowball battle with one catch…they have to make all the snowballs!
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Pack lunches. Just like you usually do pack everyone’s lunch and you guys can have a ‘brown bag lunch’ together at the dining room table or on the floor in the family or play room. Let the kids know it’s ‘break time’ for you from work and their ‘lunch break’ from snow play.
Quiet time. Whether you’re in need of a nap because you’re sick or trying to get emails answered, enforcing ‘quiet time’ even for older kids is helpful. Little ones can stick to regular naptimes. The rules? No screens (for them), books are encouraged, and quiet playtime in their room is a must. Some kids do better with music playing to keep them entertained, so put on music in their rooms.
Depend on screen time. Yes, screens get a wrap for being bad for your kids, but used in moderation (and to help you get necessary tasks done) can be a handy tool and a welcome break for them. Pop some popcorn and throw on a family favorite movie or set them up on Minecraft for 2 hours of crafting fun.
Go easy on yourself. Skip the tough stuff or the things that need your total focus-that’s just not going to happen with kids underfoot at home. Focus on getting done anything you must do, and learn more about how to survive a sick day when you have to work.
While it’s not always easy to juggle sick days, snow days, kids, and work with a little help and our handy Working Parent’s Guide To Snow Days we hope you’ll find it easier.
Kelly
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Vicks.
