Top 6 Snow Days Activities

The snow is falling outside while the level of excitement inside is rising by the minute. There is curriculum work to be done – there’s no escaping it in the end – but the pull of the white stuff has the kid in all of us chomping at the bit. So what’s the final verdict? School-Marm or Cool-Mom?

Schoolmarm

Ok, forget it, I’m not even writing a single pro for this one –come on, it’s snowing!!! Every single one of us has retained glorious memories (except perhaps for those of us in warmer climes) of snow forts, battles, sledding, wrecking, frigid balls of ice melting down the back of your neck, red noses and ahhh … how splendidly good hot cocoa and snacks taste afterward.

As with traditional schools, time off from snow days will eventually need to be made up – the work doesn’t go anywhere after all. But perhaps after a few hours of hard play time outside, your homeschooler will actually be good and ready to settle down for some reading or other course material. You may be able to sneak a couple quality hours of schoolwork in and still let them romp and play like active, healthy kids should.

In addition, shoveling snow is a great duty to pass on to kids – and they usually don’t even mind that much! It’s a great physical activity and a good solid chore that many age groups can handle; but don’t forget to parole them once the work is done!

Cool Mom (or Dad!)

For those parents (moms and dads alike) who are just as excited as the kids to see the blanket of white outside the doorstep, there are a multitude of activities you can coordinate during your snow day. And who knows … you may even manage to sneak in a little learning as well!

Here are a few awesome snow day activities for you to consider:

1. Animal Sculptures. Have your child pick an animal of choice (for instance, a multi-segmented caterpillar) then help them sculpt it in the snow. You can even use spray bottles of water tinted with food coloring to add splashes of color. Embellish your creation with articles of nature – twigs, pine cones, berries – or even items from the kitchen. Foster their creative side!
2. Hop-Scotch and Tick-Tack-SNOW. Put a wintery spin on some of these traditional games by drawing game boards into the snow. Snowsuits and piles of white stuff will up the difficulty level quite a bit and make for some funny scenarios!
3. Holiday Trees. The natural way! String together garlands of cranberries, popcorn, and cereal on fishing line, and arrange them on various pine trees or bushes in your yard for the birds to partake of in the cold weather. A fun project that benefits nature while festively decorating your yard.
4. Jewel Hunt. Freeze colored water into cubes then hide them outside in the snow. Hold a treasure hunt – with different colors being worth more than others. If you want to get creative, make up some clues for the hunters. And make sure you put tracks everywhere – not just leading to the hidden objects!
5. Snow Ball Toss. A simple game of who can throw the farthest can be made a bit more interesting when physics and creative thinking are applied. What household objects can help you launch a snowball farther than normal and why? For the older kids, let them research online and formulate some interesting plans!
6. Obstacle Course. Simple obstacles can be so much more difficult – and hilarious – in full snow gear while up to your knees in white stuff. Try to focus on the benefits of teamwork and group strategizing if you have more than one child. The ability to formulate team solutions is invaluable!

No matter what your decision is on the schoolwork, I am willing to bet there is fun to be had on a homeschooling snow day. One of the greatest things about homeschooling your children is the freedom it affords you to just take a break when it is needed. This can be when YOU need it, or when the KIDS need it. Just make sure to enjoy and make the most of the experience!