8 Snow Day Activities That The Whole Family Will Enjoy

My husband claims it’s a mild winter, but I’m always cold. (Well, except for this past weekend when it was 65 degrees out in New York!) Still, we both agree that we are probably due for a few more snow days this season.

In our neighborhood outside of New York City, any hint of snow or freezing rain causes a school cancellation or long delay. And even though parents complain because they can't get to work, kids never seemed to mind having the day off. They might have the right attitude!

Last snow day, I wasn’t too prepared, and we might have spent most the day eating Froot Loops and watching TV. Next time, when winter weather hits, I’d like to have a better plan. After a little research, here are some new ideas I'll put to the test:

Group Text the Class

Add all the moms and nannies from your child's class into a group text and invite everyone over — well, as many kids as might fit comfortably in your home. As long as the conditions aren't too bad out there or you live close by, your classmates might want to come over! There's nothing like a fun, overly crowded play date at home. Just make sure everyone puts away the toys before they leave, or else you might not like this option too much.

Cook and Bake

Try making some pizza from scratch together for breakfast. Aside from it being more nutritious than some cereals, it's fun to make. Here is a good recipe. If pizza isn't your thing, bake cupcakes, carrot cake, pancakes — basically anything with the word "cake" in it should do.

Related: This Stovetop Pizza Oven Is A Pizza Lover's Dream

Board Games by the Fire

Sitting with your kid and playing board games can be fun, especially by a nice, warm fireplace. If you don't have a fireplace, like myself, the YouTube fireplace video on your TV can work, too! OK, maybe not as well, but we're all about compromise today. Our favorite board games are CandyLand, Zingo Bingo and Busytown Board Game. Oh, and we also break out Hungry Hippo, old-school style.

Snow Ice Cream

Grab some snow on your way home and make ice cream with it. There are a few different recipes to try, but one includes condensed milk and vanilla. Then have a snow day ice cream party. Your party might involve some pop tunes and balloons, too — just saying.

Animal Yoga

One way to get your energy out and stay calm is by doing some animal yoga together. We have an animal yoga book that we look through and then we practice the poses. Sometimes, we will set up our mat and then watch a YouTube video together like this one. Either way, my favorite part is always the dead man's pose, because it gets us relaxing. However, my 4-year-old doesn't lie still for long.

Living Room Camping

Get out all of the sheets and blankets you can find and start draping them over the chairs. There's something about getting under a "tent" that will thrill your child, especially on a snow day. Pretend you're camping and can hear and see shadows of animals. Don't forget your flashlight, so you can read books in your tent — and bring in some snacks, too.

Related: The Toys, Games And Fort-Building Essentials Every Kid Needs

Podcast Story Time, For All

And if you need an entertainment and child break, click onto some podcasts that both you and your little one will enjoy, in separate rooms. Some of my favorite podcasts for kids are Stories Podcast, Be Calm on Ahway Island; and for parents, we love This American Life and On Being. Take an hour (or two) and enjoy some quiet listening time.

Don't Panic

Whatever you do, don't worry. In some crazy way, snow days are meant to get you bonding and connecting with your family — even if can't do your job and have cabin fever. Enjoy these unexpected winter breaks, because some snow days at home are inevitable, even if we recently spent a few days practically wearing shorts.

Related: Weather Any Winter Storm With The Help Of This Snow Brush

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