Snow Day Activities & Stories for Kids
As a kid, there aren’t many things that are more exciting than a snow day. As parents, we have a bit of a love-hate relationship with them. They tend to be accompanied by an abundance of energy and excitement, so having a few planned activities in your back pocket can feel like a lifesaver. Here are a couple of ideas to help you enjoy your snowy day at home:
Get cooking.
There are many benefits to letting kids get involved in the kitchen. Among other things, cooking and baking can introduce them to scientific concepts, improve their math skills, and allow them to feel more self-sufficient. Hopefully, their help will help you feel productive, too! One of our favorite snow day activities in the kitchen is making Jack Wax. It’s quick, easy, and it gives kids an opportunity to get outside and get some snow. If you’re not familiar with it, Jack Wax is basically warm maple syrup mixed with fresh snow. Together, they form a delicious, taffy-like treat. You can find a version of the super-simple recipe here. Mix it up and enjoy!
Turn one room into a winter wonderland.
Grab some scissors, some paper, and make paper snowflakes or these snowflake garlands. Hang them up in one room of the house. Then, make a fort using pillows and blankets (the bigger the better). If you’re feeling especially inspired, you could even throw caution to the wind and allow an “upside down dinner,” a dessert followed by dinner, under the table or in your fort.
Paint some snow.
On a snowy day, nothing beats building a snowman or grabbing a sled and heading outside. But if you’re looking for something a bit more artistic, fill a couple of spray bottles up with water and a few drops of food coloring, and paint some snow. If the snow is still falling and it’s blustery outside, you can even do this inside. Just spread some newspaper on your counter, fill a plastic container or two with snow, and let the kids make a design on a smaller space.
Make your own Mythbuster.
There’s a rumor that no two snowflakes are alike. But is that fact or fiction? You may not be able to prove or disprove the theory, but looking at individual snowflakes up close can be fascinating. You may want to plan ahead a bit and put a piece of colored paper in the freezer for a few hours. Then, go outside to collect some snowflakes. Catching the snowflakes on the cold paper will allow them to melt more slowly, and you and your kids will have more time to see their patterns, and see if you can spot some duplicates.
Read some stories.
Kids need down time, too. So, don’t underestimate the benefits of sitting and reading aloud with them. To fit in with the snowy day theme, keep some wintry books on hand. Here are four books we love for winter:
- Winter is Here — [9780062747181]
- Making a Friend — [9780062278937]
- All Right Already! A Snow Story [9780062370990]
- A Perfect Day [9780062015808]
Be willing to read them again. And again. And again. And if you have a reader on your hands, take turns!
Do you have any favorite snowy day activities or books? Tell us below!
