Chances are the Arctic Blast has brought a little snow in your general direction. If not, then winter is on its way and may bring a few snow days for your kids to enjoy. The only problem with snow days is it sometimes seems very expensive to entertain kids during these days off school. From extra meals to keeping them busy, there’s a long list of things that may have you hesitant about the extra days off. However, with a few simple ideas you can turn a snow day into magic without having to spend any extra money. So, as the snow flurries begin get ready to enjoy some time as a family rather than stressing out over the extra costs that may incur!
1. Snowman Competition
As the snow begins to collect outside you might want to start thinking about the snowman you’ll want to create because a snowman competition is one of the best ways to keep your kids busy while they’re off school! Simply gather up old clothes and other items you’d like to use on your snowman and get busy planning. You can even split up into teams to make the competition even more fun (and fair for the little ones). There’s no limit to the creativity you can explore when you make your snowman so have a lot of fun with it. You can also break away from the mold and create some fun animal designs that will have the kids impressed. Of course, you don’t even have to make it a competition if you don’t want to, but this just adds an extra twist to the seasonal favorite. If you do, then present the winner with a special treat, like extra whipped cream on their hot cocoa!
2. Snow Paintings
If you have some empty sports bottles lying around the house then you’re ready for a good time. Fill the bottles up with water and then add some coolaid mix or food coloring to each one. You may want to add a label for each color too, so no one gets mixed up! Once your mix is ready to go then head outside and let your kids enjoy the blank canvas that is your backyard! Kids will love adding color to the snow and will be entertained for hours. When they’re finished make sure to take a picture of their masterpiece so you can add it to a memory book or scrap book. If the kids get tired of painting then turn the colored water into a game for them. You can easily make a hopscotch for them to jump on, or you can create a tic-tac-toe board for each to play on. This will add even more fun to the snow day.
3. Snowball Fight
When in doubt, a snowball fight is a great way to get the whole family outside to enjoy the snow. There’s a lot of different ways you can go about a snowball fight, so you don’t have to stick to the same game every time you play. You may even have the kids take turns creating fresh snowballs to play with. This will help provide breaks so you won’t have the kids getting bored. If you’re out of ideas to freshen up the game then look online for some ideas. A lot of families have created some incredible rules that make the game twice as fun! If you don’t want to constantly have a snowball fight, or if the kids don’t like it, then bring out a target and have the kids throw snowballs at it. It’s definitely a great way to get out some of their extra energy.
4. Nature Walk
The world looks different when it’s covered in snow, so let the kids take a closer look. Bundle everyone up and go for a nature walk to see just how beautiful everything is. You can even create a scavenger hunt list that will make kids even more excited about their walk. Make sure you take trails you know so you don’t end up in icy areas that may cause someone to fall. Snowy days are also a great time to spot wildlife so you might want to bring some binoculars. Kids will love spotting various animals and birds, so bring along a guide book if you have one! You could even have them photograph what they see or draw it when they come home.
5. Sports
Playing your favorite games can really change things up when you’re in the snow! The snow can act as a cushion for those that fall and may even make it more fun thanks to the slippery ground. You can also get creative with your games too by drawing out your own soccer or football field. Of course, you don’t have to stick to the typical games either. You can also come up with your own or look online at other people’s ideas. With the games going your whole family will stay warmer while having a lot of fun that they’ll be proud to tell their friends about when school starts up. These games will also help the kids get exercise rather than being cooped up in the house until the weather gets better.
6. Tubing
Looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush? Then tubing is just what you need to make your afternoon in the snow amazing. Pull out your pool toys and you’ll be prepared for a day of slipping and sliding near your biggest hills. There’s a lot of great ways to enjoy tubing on a snowy days and luckily none of them require any money. Rather than standing in line at a business try to locate your own hill to slide down as this will keep the fun free. You’ll be best off if you have a friend or family member that has one on their own property. Then, take a toy you already own for a ride. You can also use the tops of trash cans, tires or any other items you find around the house that will make your time tubing a blast. Of course, if you already own a sled then use that! There’s no need to go out and buy items to use though, if there’s absolutely nothing you can use around the house then ask a friend or family member to borrow something. You won’t want to miss out on this activity because of lack of supplies!
7. Snack Time
Although it’s usually comforting to have something warm in your belly during cold weather, snow days can be an exception to the rule. This is especially when the snow is fresh. This is when you’ll be able to make the tastiest snow treats. One of the most common snacks to make during this time is snow-cones. It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients and will make your kids happy. Simply have the kids scoop up some fresh snow and add flavor to it. You can use just about anything you have around the house including fruit juice, coolaid or even pickle juice. Another great snack to make is snow ice cream. This special treat will allow you to create a different recipe for each child and it won’t be as unhealthy as them eating plain ice cream. You can look up a lot of free recipes online!
8. Ice Gems
The first sight of snow could be a great time to get a little craftsy with the kids. One amazing and totally simple craft to check out is the ice gem. The only thing you need for this project is some water balloons (although regular balloons work just as well) and food coloring. Add three to four drops of food coloring to each balloon. The color is totally up to each person, so you can create a rainbow if you want. Slowly fill the balloons up with the coldest possible water and then tie them off like you would a regular balloon. When they’re ready gently take them outside and place them on the ground. It’s best to place them in the yard just in case they leak. You want to also make sure they’re as flat as possible though. Wait at least two days to give the water inside the balloon a chance to freeze and then cut the balloon away from the ice. You’ll have a colorful decoration that can be shown off until the temperature drops!
9. Photoshoot
With the snow coming a little early this year you may want to go ahead and have a mini photo shoot to get the pictures you want for holiday cards. You can easily set up a timer on your camera to get the best shot for the card, or you can have a friend or neighbor capture it for you. You could also grab some images of the kids playing which make perfect ideas for scrapbooking and memory books later on. Everyone will love looking back at the awesome time they had and your relatives will love looking at the pictures too! You should also grab some photos of the beauty of the season. The snow, icicles and serene nature of the outdoors only comes once a year, so don’t miss out!
10. Snow Shoveling Challenge
Nothing will make your team get busy on chores quite like a challenge! Sure, snow shoveling is a pretty boring chore and most people try to get around it as much as possible. However, when you turn it into a game all bets are on! There’s a lot of different ways you can get the game rolling so you may want to try out a few over the winter months. You might want to start out with the whole family shoveling together. Whomever has the largest pile of snow can become the winner. Or, you could separate the area into different sections and allow the person who shoveled the fastest to win. You could also take turns doing it each day and see who has the fastest time. Of course, with this way you’ll have to monitor snow levels to make it fair. You can come up with so many other ways too, but the point is you and the family will get to have some fun while getting the chores finished!
Snow days are a huge part of the memories of kids, so don’t let finances get in the way of having some fun. This year, let the kids enjoy playing and have some fun with them too! With these easy to follow tips your family will have a new love for snow days, which will ensure you’ll have positive memories of the happy days!
