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Do you find yourself worried about how you’re going to keep your kids entertained when they have snow days at school? Do you want to take a day off to enjoy the whimsy of being a kid with no school? If so, then you need a few snow day ideas to get you going!
Of course, there’s the obvious part of playing in the snow, but that only lasts for a few hours at most. What do you do to keep them entertained the rest of the time?
See below for several ideas of how you can keep children of all ages entertained whenever you’re locked indoors.
In This Post:
1. Coloring Time
Maybe you have a few kids of different ages. Perhaps you have little ones that have a hard time focusing on one thing for too long. If so, then you need to unlock the power of craft time with your kids.
Coloring is one of the best tools in a parent’s toolbox. It’s the ace in the hole for long road trips, family gatherings, snow days, and so much more.
You can print out some baby dinosaur coloring pages online and then have your kids color them each as they please. It’s fun to see where their imagination takes them and what colors they use to color in certain objects.
Present it to them as a show and tell. Everyone sits down at the same counter/table to color in their unique dinosaur page. As you all color, you can show it off to the rest. It can teach your kids how to share the crayon box, how to communicate, and allows them to burn off some mental energy while being cooped up inside the house.
Expand your children’s’ imaginations a bit further by asking them to name their dinosaur, give him/her a backstory, ask where he/she is from, and so on. The answers you get will be worth the ask… trust us!
2. Mario Kart Tournament
If you’ve ever considered purchasing Mario Kart for your family, now would be the time to do so. It’s one of those games that never gets old. You can play it time and time again, it will never be less exciting!
The best part is that it’s perfect for any age. Whether you have high schoolers, middle schoolers, or elementary kids (or all three), each of your children will want to take a turn. In fact, its simplistic controls make it able to be used by kids as young as 4 years old.
If your kids are on the older side, then gather them all in for a Mario Kart Tournament. If they’re really young, then you can just take turns playing the race. At the very least, your little ones will enjoy the bright colors and being able to drive around.
This can buy you several hours of entertainment during those long snow days. Even if you have to work while the kids play, the rounds are super quick, so you’ll be able to sneak in a few races before your boss notices you’re gone!
3. Take Them to the Movies (In Your House)
No, we’re not suggesting that you drive your kids to a movie theater in harsh winter conditions. We’re suggesting that you make it feel as if you are!
There’s nothing more fun than creating your own little at-home movie theater. It can be as simplistic as making popcorn, then sitting on the family sofa together all cuddled up in blankets.
You can also infuse some arts and crafts into this idea. You and your kids can draw some “movie tickets” for the family to use that night. You can allow them to color their own popcorn bags for that night.
If you’re looking to get a few chores done, you can also put out a competition that whoever cleans their room first (and does so correctly) gets to choose the movie that you all watch.
4. Build a Fort
No matter what generation that you’re from, some things stand the test of time. Kids always enjoy building forts using the chairs, blankets, and pillows that they have laying around the house.
Why not take part in it with them? They’ll enjoy creating the fort with you and making sure the fort is just right. Once it’s built, you guys can play “Kings and Queens”, hang out in the fortress, or watch a movie together on a tablet.
Experts say that building forts also allows your kids to get away from the demands of life that they’re constantly going through. It gives them a place to escape. Go on that journey with them during the snow day. You’ll be glad that you did!
5. Make Marshmallow Snowmen
Odds are that hot chocolate is already on the itinerary for you and your kids’ fun snow day that you have planned. But what sweet and delectable treat will you pair with it?
We highly recommend that you make marshmallow snowmen. All you need is lollipop sticks, marshmallows, and food coloring markers to create the snowmen’s face.
Stick three marshmallows on top of each other, then use food coloring markers to make the snowmen smile back at your little ones. They’re fun to create and delicious to eat!
Have a Blast During Your Kids’ Next Snow Day
Now that you have seen several amazing activities to do with your kids during their next snow day, be sure to put them to good use.
Remember, your kids just want to spend time with you. However, if they’re at the age where they need a little space, then don’t try to flood their day with activities. Use your inner parent gauge as your guide.
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on family fun activities, as well as many other topics that you will enjoy.