Avoiding a Snow Day Scramble

When school is cancelled because of inclement weather, most parents breath a sigh of despair as visions of their planned day dissolve like melted snow on the doormat. But with a little bit of forethought, snow days don’t have to spell disaster for parents, especially those who might need to work from home.

1. Have a schedule. In the morning (or the night before, depending on when you know about the closing), jot down a loose itinerary for the day. Include things you have to get done but also insert some time for the kids. For example, if you know you have a 10 a.m. conference call, tell the kids you’ll be unavailable then, but that you can help them build a snowman after lunch. Help your kids plan their day too, including any homework assignments they might need to accomplish. After the structure of school, it can be soothing to have an agenda for the day.

2. Get together a “snow day emergency” bag of tricks. For unexpected days at home, it’s always a good idea to have on hand some new things for the kids to do, such as coloring or sticker books, puzzles, games and books. When the day is over, put these items back into the bag or bin in order to have them ready for the next day off.

3. Make a list of Things to Do When You’re Bored. When thrown off their usual schedule, some kids don’t know what to do with themselves. Having a list of indoor ideas that are a bit out of the ordinary can jumpstart their imaginations. Your list could include

• Build a fort out of blankets and chairs
• Go on a scavenger hunt around the house (a list could include hairpins, bandages, cotton balls, shoe laces, tea bags and a spool of thread)
• Have a tea party with dolls or stuffed animals
• Interact with your pet
• Organize your dolls or action figures
• Play construction site with your trucks
• Bake or cook something
• Reorganize your books into a library
• Write and perform a one-act play
• Plan your family’s summer vacation
• Memorize and recite a favorite poem
• Learn new magic tricks.

4. Separate the kids for quiet time. Whatever the age, a day of togetherness can wear on all siblings. Plan ahead by having an hour or two in the mid-afternoon for some separation. You could split them up by age, gender or personality, or send them to individual spaces around the house for some quiet reading or listening time. Some time apart for the children can help keep the house on an even keel.

5. Limit the electronics. Screen time of any sort can wind up, rather than calm down, a child. Letting the kids watch TV, stream movies or play video games for hours on end will do little to keep the harmony of the house. Set a limit but give them some choice. For example, on snow days, we let our children watch one movie, but we let them pick the flick and the time they want to watch it.

6. Remember your own childhood excitement about snow days. Sometimes, we forget how wonderful an unexpected snow day can be to a child. Recapture some of that magic by playing for a bit in the snow with your kids, making hot chocolate for them for afterwards, or spending time by the window looking at the snow fall. Watching their shiny, smiling faces enjoy the white tableau can bring back your own childhood memories of snowball fights, sledding and snowmen. Share some of those with your children and don’t forget to make new memories with them.

By following some of these tips, the next time it snows, you won’t be thrown for a loop. Instead, you’ll be able to greet the unexpected day home with calm confidence.