The kids are off from school and you can't drive into work - it's a snow day for all! But don't spend it lounging on the couch. A snowy day means you can take advantage of a whole new host of opportunities - from fun activities to being productive. In fact, a snow day can sometimes be a blessing in disguise.
So what are you waiting for? Try one of these activities the next time inclement weather keeps you home. Create snow artSure you can build a snowman and make snow angels, but why not do something you've never done before? This activity is especially kid friendly. Try this: Fill empty spray bottles with food coloring and water, allowing the kids to use snow as their canvas. "Adding color to the snow is so much fun and really allows them the chance to be creative and do something different than the typical outdoor, snowy activities," says Deanna Garretson, a blogger at www.domestic-chicky.com. They'll have so much fun doing it, and you'll love being able to keep the messes outside.
Put your chef's hat onWhat is it about baking or cooking on a wintry day? If it's too cold for your taste outside and you'd rather stay in and do something cozy, peruse a cookbook or search online for a tasty recipe (one, of course, that you have all the ingredients for in the house to avoid a trek through the snow). "Oreo snowballs are the perfect treat to make with stir-crazy snowbound kiddos because there is no baking involved," says Carrie Higgins, a blogger at www.makinglemonadeblog.com. "They're also great for partnering with hot chocolate after a morning spent sledding." No matter what you make, whether it's cookies or brownies or even a pot of homemade soup, the warm, fresh aromas will fill the house, keeping smiles on everyone's faces. Play catch upIt may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but a day off is still a day off, and if you typically don't have the time to clean the garage, wash the floors, and do a load of laundry, you may want to take advantage of the time off. This is also a good time to teach the kids, if you haven't already, about the importance of helping out around the house. "When kids do chores, they're learning responsibility. They're learning that life requires work," says James Sears, MD, co-author of "Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every Dad Should Know." Other productive things you can do are make all those phone calls you keep putting off, write those thank-you cards from your kid's birthday you've been meaning to finish, do some meal prep, etc. Get your game onWhile kids these days would rather play on an iPad or iPhone, a snow day is a great time to break out the old-school board games. The kids will love the chance to spend quality time with their parents, and have some good old-fashioned fun while they're at it. Classics like Monopoly, Life, and Risk will take up a good chunk of your day, so make sure you have snacks handy during the game. Take it up a notch and build a fort with blankets and pillows to play the games in. No board games handy? Having story time by the fireplace (or in the fort!) can also be a fun activity. RedecorateSet the kids on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a movie, and get to work on changing up your living room curtains or rearranging your dining room place settings. You could even take this time off to Feng Shui your home, which involves specific placement and positioning of objects in your home to determine a sense of how the energy in your environment affects you. You might be surprised at how productive performing a few simple swaps in your home can make you feel.
