Who Said Snow Days Are Boring Days?
Who Said Snow Days are Boring Days? Snow days have paralyzed the city of Boston and the region, have caused delays in almost every mode of public transportation, and have left many parents indoors with their children; with very limited options. IBA knows only too well the challenges this can pose, but it is also a great opportunity to spend quality time with your children and enjoy. Here is a list of activities to make the most of these wintry days.
- Arts and Crafts: The best thing about crafts is that they are a low-cost way to keep children engaged and occupied for several hours. Let your creativity flow and assign them with themed tasks, like making the living room into a winter wonderland with paper-cut snowflakes. Follow this simple step by step guide on how to make the perfect six pointed paper snowflake. Glitter and glue are also your friends, encourage your kids to let their uniqueness show by making their snowflakes personal and original.
- Educational Movie Series: Just because they can’t go to school doesn’t mean your children shouldn’t learn that day. Make a list of movies according to your preferred theme, (i.e.: princesses, wizards, strong female leads, dinosaurs, etc.) that you know they’ll enjoy. Then have a conversation about what lessons were learned, what the movie could have done better, how they feel about the events, what moral decisions would they have made in place of the main characters, how does the movie reflect their life, what do they admire about the characters, what personality traits do they deem negative/positive, did they learn a new word and what is its meaning... The list is endless! Have fun with it and see what they have to say.
- Dance Party: Being indoors can cause a lot of pent up energy. Release it all by blasting some music in your living room and dancing it out.
- Build a Fort: Transform your house into a camping site. Making “forts” out of blankets, pillows, and cushions is a right of passage of the best quality. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself having just as much fun as your children as you construct makeshift tents to safeguard the family and all their stuffed animals, of course, from the snow.
- Cooking Lessons: Hold a mini home economics class in your kitchen by asking your kids to help you make a delicious and healthy winter treat. Make a healthy version of apple crisp with them as your sub-chefs. All you need is granola, cinnamon, apples, and some maple syrup for a healthy low calorie treat your kids will love. Bake your pre-sliced fruit in the oven at 375 degrees, when they’re finished add a pinch of cinnamon, a little of syrup, and sprinkle it with granola. Hot chocolate is a nice and seasonal compliment when it’s finally time to eat their hard-earned treat.
- Gingerbread House: If you’re not that much into cooking, no need to panic. There are ready-made gingerbread house kits in the $10.00 to $20.00 price range that you can buy in advance. They fall more under the arts and crafts category, as they have to be assembled and decorated; but they are also edible. They are sold in stores, or can be bought online. If you’d like to make your own gingerbread house, here are some handy instructions that outline the process step by step, from cutting the pattern pieces that will build your house, to making the royal icing that holds everything together.
- Outdoor Activities: Even though public transportation might be delayed or closed altogether, you don’t need to go far for a little fun in the snow. Venture outside your house with warm snow gear and build a snowman, make snow angels, have a snowball fight, and go sledding if there is a hill near you.