It is every parent's dilemma and every child's dream – the "snow day." For parents, it may mean finding spur-of-the-moment child care, or taking a personal day off from work. For children, it means no school, no homework, just endless hours of free time, which can quickly lead to boredom. Here then, are 10 great activities to keep the fun high, and caregiver sane.
Snowmen
This basic activity doesn't even need adding to the list, as most children will come up with it on their own. However, not all snow is good for making snowmen. It's more a matter of temperature. Very cold snows are ice crystals with the consistency of sand. They don't pack together. And just like water makes sand stick for great sand castles, adding water to icy snow will make a great sculpting medium.
Just remember, a little bit goes a long way. Too much water and your snow will turn to slush. A light spray from a garden hose will do. If the traditional method of rolling snowballs and stacking them doesn't work with your snow, then use a shovel to pile a mound of snow, pack it hard, and sculpt out a snow sculpture using a shovel, garden trowel, hoe, metal spatula or whatever tools you have available.
Snow Sculpture
If your child has grown beyond the basic snowman, it may be time to challenge him to the next level with a major sculpting project. This is especially great if you can get the neighborhood involved. Chose your subject, which is only limited by your imagination. I have seen life-size snow sculptures of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, complete with food on the plates and a broom in her hand. Online, you can find pictures of snow dragons and dinosaurs, churches and palaces, and much, much more.
Pile up as much snow as you can gather, pack it solid, and remove snow to create your sculpture. When finished, you may use a light spray of water from the garden hose to freeze it solid. You can add food coloring or tempra paint to give it color. I have even seen people use a household iron to get just the right smoothness to their snow sculpture! Just keep an eye on the sculpture as it melts, so that a large piece won't endanger someone's life if it falls.
Snowforts
Learn how to do this safely! If the roof caves in, a child can suffocate. The trick is to get the walls thick enough to support the roof. To do this, find a supply of thin branches, and break them off to 1 foot lengths. Build your snow mound, and stick the 1-foot branches all through the sides and top at about 6 inch intervals, pushing the stick all the way into the snow. Now, when you and your child hollow out the fort, you only remove snow until you find the end of a stick. That way, you should have fort walls that are one-foot thick all the way around.
When finished, add a light spray of water to freeze it solid. Check the fort for safety throughout the winter. As the temperatures rise and fall, the walls may thin. When the sticks are exposed, knock the fort down and begin again.
Snowball Fights
Only do this activity if you have soft, slushy snow. Icy snowballs hurt and can injure an eye. Draw lines in the snow, or build snow fort walls to hide behind. Build a small mound of snowballs, and then, launch them at the "enemy." Keep the activity short, and bring everyone inside to shake hands and warm up with cocoa and marshmallows.
Sledding
Many communities have a special spot or hill where children like to congregate with their sleds in the winter, and plastic sleds can be had for under ten dollars. In the absence of a sled, if your hill is smooth enough, you may be able to slide down on just your snow pants, but you will get cold faster. If you don't have a hill nearby, try piling up snow to make a hill in your back yard. If you don't get tons of snow, you can begin your hill with a large box or drum, and pile snow around that.
Ice Skate
You'll need to have skates on hand, but if you get winter where you live, you should have a pair of skates for everyone in your family. Check garage sales and second hand shops in the early spring to stock up on skates for the next season. Some cities have skate exchanges, or second-hand sporting goods stores. The same goes for cross-country skis, downhill skis, snowsuits, ski suits and all other outdoor winter gear. After you've got as much as you can from second-hand sources, then you can buy just what you need next fall when the new items arrive in the stores.
Winter doesn't need to break the budget. If you don't have a community skating rink nearby, you can make one in your backyard – provided you can find a somewhat level spot. Simply spray the area with a garden hose lightly four or five nights in a row, letting it freeze in between. You can build up a small mound of snow around the edge when you've finished.
Outdoor Campfire
Check the burning codes in your neighborhood first! But if you can have a backyard fire, then building one in the winter is loads of fun and can add hours to your outdoor enjoyment. Build a small bonfire, fill tin pots with hot cocoa, and invite friends over to ice skate. You can mound "chairs" from snow, or set out your summer lawn chairs. Even logs set on end can make a temporary chair. If you use snow-chairs, you will want to spread an old quilt over the top. Sitting on snow will melt it a little, and once your winter clothes get wet, you will soon get chilled. Keep dry, and you'll enjoy the outdoors longer.
Remember, fire is dangerous. Supervise children judiciously around a campfire! Often outdoor gear is made of synthetic fabrics, which are not flame retardant. Wool blankets are best to smother a fire. Teach your children the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" safety rule for if their clothing should catch on fire.
Winter Picnic
The playground is still a great place to visit in the winter, yet they are often ghost towns until the snow melts. Slides are even more slippery when the child is dressed in a snowsuit. Use the car windshield scrapper to brush the snow off, and let your little ones climb, swing and slide. They can burn off their energy, and perhaps take a nice, long nap when you return home. Just keep an eye on them, as they may not notice when their fingers and toes begin to turn cold. Take them home before they are miserable, and they will want to return another day.
Pack a picnic lunch, but instead of the peanut butter and jelly summer fare, you might try thermoses of soup or cocoa. You can dump charcoal briquettes in an outdoor grill and make hamburgers, or toasted cheese sandwiches. Think hot, and it should be a hit. However, many parks and playgrounds close their restroom facilities between Labor Day and Memorial Day, so scout around for the nearest gas station or convenience store before you have an emergency on hand.
Shovel Snow
You might encourage your child to volunteer to shovel the sidewalk for an aging neighbor. Life isn't all about parties, having fun, or making money. Develop a heart of service in your youngster. Through volunteering, your child can gain work experience, develop new friendships, grow in confidence, get some exercise, and much, much more.
Paint Snow
Take your child outside with a box of water colors, or larger bottles of tempra paint and some brushes. Show him how to pack snow into a smooth, fairly flat surface, and let him paint. It is a different experience from painting on paper, as the snow lends texture to the project. Mistakes are easily "erased" – just pile fresh snow on top. This is more enjoyable with larger brushes than the tiny ones that come with the watercolors. Some people have mixed up food coloring and water for painting, but the colors are less vivid.
Last of all, don't forget your camera! Take lots of pictures of the snow day's activities. Load them onto your computer right away, and after a warm bath or dinner, encourage each child to write about his day. You may ask him questions that require thought, not just a simple "yes" or "no," if he needs help getting started. Ask questions like: What did you enjoy most? Why? How did that feel? What would you like to do again?
Make writing a regular part of your child's life. It will help him in school, but also help him learn to express himself, and discover who he is. Finally, he can enjoy the day all over again as he records the fun for posterity.
Lorelei Sieja - "Coming Home, Staying Home", The Teaching Home magazine "On Death and Dishes","Buzzard Morning", Our Family Magazine "The MacGyver ...
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