When the weather outside is frightful, being trapped inside all day can be, too. But these parenting pros have mastered the art of snow day survival — for both parents and kids.
1. Put on snow showtime!
"One of my daughter's favorite things to do when she's bored is put on shows for the family," says Sarah Bregel of The Mediocre Mama. She says it's a great excuse to sit on the couch, relax and watch her daughter get creative — everyone wins. "It always starts out as ballet and morphs into a very rare form of modern dance, which has never been seen by the greater public," Bregel jokes. "My toddler son joins in and it's pretty hilarious. There are costumes and scenery changes. You can always change up the music or throw some new props at them, and they just keep going until we can't take it anymore."
2. Build a fort mansion.
It's not easy watching your kids make a mess, but parenting writer Erin Zammett Ruddy says allowing her three children (all under nine years old) to collect materials to build a massive fort is a great way to keep them out of her hair: "I hate seeing my house turned upside down, but I know the destruction entertains them so I've learned to let it go. I look the other way as they drag comforters off beds, bang the dining room chairs into walls and rearrange every bit of my furniture. But I've found that the more fort freedom I give them, the more of a break I can get." And they're not just making a teepee: Building different rooms within the fort (napping room, anyone?) and labeling them with construction paper signs is a way to keep the fun going for hours.
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3. Have a kid-friendly, fancy dinner party.
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Snowstorms are a great time to hunker down — and eat hearty! "A picnic in the living room, by candlelight or in front of the fire, makes any meal seem like an event," says Louise Sloan, blogger at SingleWith.com. "Pull out a tablecloth and the nice china, and serve chocolate milk in a wineglass." If that's not cool enough, Sloan says she make scones with her son and has a "high tea." "We eat the scones and sip decaf Earl Gray while acting out scenes from Downton Abbey — speaking in bad British accents, too."
4. Make snow cream!
"All that fresh snow falling? It's perfect for making snow ice cream with the kids," raves Sarah Caron of Sarah's Cucina Bella, adding there are dozens of recipes online. Good news: You probably already have the basic ingredients in the kitchen. "We make our ice cream with milk, sugar, salt and vanilla extract," Caron says. Then they flavor it with berries, chocolate morsels, or caramel. She says the fun part for the kids is seeing snow transform into a tasty fun dessert.
5. Turn your home into a tropical oasis.
The heater is turned up and the fire is crackling, so why not pretend to be somewhere warm? "I stick little umbrellas in my kids' juice cups. We wear sunglasses, beach hats, and blow bubbles, too," says Eden Strong, who blogs about single parenting with two young children at It Is Not My Shame To Bear. Turn Pandora to a beach-themed station, pop the kids into their bathing suits, and let them go "swimming" in a bubble bath.
6. Prep a survival kit at the start of the season.
To prepare before the storm, head to the dollar store for a cute tub to fill with things your kiddos will love, blogger Lara Neves suggests on Overstuffed Life. "We put in our favorite hot chocolate: Stephens Candy Cane Cocoa. Because, what's a snow day without a good cup (or three) of hot chocolate?" She also adds things like wintry movies, fuzzy socks, and marshmallows for the hot cocoa. It gives kids something to look forward to — and gives mom some ready backup.
7. Create a snow day co-op.
Who doesn't love a snow day? Working parents with no childcare backup, that's who. If snow is in the forecast for the coming days or week, create a contingency plan. This may mean talking to your supervisor (before the storm hits!) about whether you could work from home, Scott Behson from Fathers, Work and Family suggests. And don't be afraid to speak up, because you're likely not the only parent on payroll. But working remotely can still be a challenge with pent-up kids running around. "Have a talk with a neighbor or friend before the winter to discuss how they may be able to help you on a snow day — and volunteer to help them out by taking their kid for the afternoon sometimes to give them a break," Behson writes. "Make sure to build networks for parenthood!"
8. Get the kids moving — as soon as possible.
Get children busy building snowmen, trudging through the power, and throwing snowballs as soon as possible to tucker them out. Then, they're a lot more likely to settle down for craft time or curl up in front of a movie. When the storm is too intense for little ones, Kludgy Mom writer Gigi Ross recommends physical indoor activities, like a pillow mountain. "We take all of the cushions off our couches and create a huge pile in the center of our family room and let the kids jump, bounce, flop and bury themselves," Ross says, adding her kids also love a scavenger hunt. "Make a quick list of items your kids can find around the house, print them up, and let them go searching!"
9. Use your time wisely.
What holiday is up next? "Make your Valentines!" Heather Clarke writes at Queen Bee Coupons. "You've got the time – cut out a bunch of hearts and make your own Valentines."
10. Play in the snow — inside.
Is it below zero out there? Chances are you don't want to go outside and play with the kids just yet. Collect some snow in a baby pool or storage container, make snow castles, says Frugal Upstate blogger, Jenn Fowler. Little snowman are fair game too. You can even pop 'em in the freezer, which is pretty, well, cool.
