You can’t always predict if your kids are going to have a snow day, but if you live in Colorado, you can bet that they’re going to call a snow day at some point.
Don’t be caught unprepared! These sanity-saving tips will help you prepare ahead of time for a snow day with the kids so it doesn’t throw your day into chaos.
Have a Plan to Keep Things Cozy
Snow days are cold days. That’s especially true when they come with an arctic blast of air. You can prepare ahead of time by making sure your home is cozy and warm, no matter what the weather throws your way.
Start by scheduling regular maintenance on your furnace and schedule a furnace repair in Centennial, CO at the first sign of trouble. That way you and the kids aren’t bundled up inside waiting for a busy technician to come and help.
Then, think about how you can make a snow day a little more cozy. You might pull the heated blankets out for a movie. Blanket forts are fun too. Not only are they always a hit with kids, they also help hold the heat in, which can make things more comfortable on a cold winter day.
Know How You’re Going to Tackle Work
Snow days are a lot of fun for the kids, but they can be a nightmare for parents who have to figure out how to work while the kids are home. Don’t leave planning your snow day childcare to the last minute. Have a plan in place so you know exactly what to do as soon as school gets cancelled.
A few ideas include:
- Switch off with a spouse, where you take off one day and they take the next
- Network with the neighbors and create a child-care club to trade off who watches the kids
- Talk with your boss about working from home the days school is cancelled
- Have a sitter on-call who can watch the kids, even if it’s just for a few hours
Buy Some New Snow Toys
Having a snow day is the perfect excuse to get outside and play! At the beginning of the season, the snow itself is likely to keep the kids busy. But the novelty of the snow wears off and the kids are ready to come inside after just a few minutes outdoors. Make playtime more fun with new snow toys.
Sleds are a staple snow toy, but there are other cool snow toys you should hide in the garage until the next snow day, like:
- Snow molds
- Snow painting kit
- Kids snow shoes
- Snowman kit
- Pullable winter wagon
Other toys are fun to try in the snow too. A lot of sand toys work just as well in the snow.
You can also bring a little bit of snow inside. Kids love playing in sensory bins filled with snow, especially when you use other things too, like water beads and action figures.
Create an Alone Time Bucket for Inside
Snow days are a great time to be together, but eventually, you’re going to need some time alone. Whether it’s to recharge after a hectic activity-filled morning or you’ve got to knuckle down and get at least a little bit of work done, it’s helpful to have a bucket filled with independent play activities.
The trick is to create a bucket or bin filled with items the kids haven’t seen before. You might add some brand new tubs of playdough, a new puzzle, or new art supplies. When they’re new, the kids are more likely to spend more time playing independently.
Plan Ahead for Screen Time
Screen time doesn’t have to be the scary beast some make it out to be. It can be a great way to entertain the kids while you work or get some chores done, especially on a snow day, so plan it into your day.
Figure out what time of the day you could use the most quiet. That’s when you should let the kids have some screen time.
Plan ahead and download some educational apps, if you’re worried about feeling guilty, so at least they’re learning something new. They get the screen time they want and you get the quiet time you crave.
Don’t let a snow day catch you unawares! A little bit of planning can go a long way towards having a snow day that comes with less stress and more fun for everyone!
