Snow Day!

Another snow day and what to do besides play outside?  Luckily I planned ahead for this one and I thought I'd share my ideas with you.

Playing outside-It's been said that this storm is going to produce some heavy and wet snow, if that's true it's time to build a fort, snowman, snow creatures, anything!  Once everyone's refueled with hot cocoa and dry clothes, head back out with spray bottles in hand, full of color (water and food coloring) and let them paint the snow, the fort, whatever.  Turn the front yard into a rainbow!


Back Inside-For us snow days are for baking, puzzles, artwork, play dough and an afternoon movie to have a little quiet time.  Tomorrow we'll be taking a trip to the movies in the convenience of our own home, complete with popcorn and drinks with straws (not an everyday thing for us).  Hand out movie tickets, bowls of popcorn and some drinks and life will be good for an hour or so.  Pull the shades and maybe you'll get 'em to nap after all that fresh air outside!

Get to work on those Valentine's Day cards.  Plenty of creative and easy ideas can be found on line to craft your own.  While you're at it find something to adorn the front door to replace the holiday wreath that might still be up.

Get out the play dough or make your own, here's a no-cook recipe and the kids can help make it:
  
No-Cook Play Dough
     1 cup flour
     1 cup boiling water
     1/2 cup salt
     2 Tbsp. cream of tarter
     1 Tbsp. oil
     Mix together and knead well, add a few drops of food coloring if you wish.  Store in sealed container, it
     will keep well for many uses.

Last weekend I purchased King Arthur Flour's Vermont Cheese Powder  and I think tomorrow's baking project will be making Vermont Cheese Crackers using King Arthur Flour's recipe, http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/vermont-cheese-crackers-recipe.  I also discovered that on the back of the Vermont Cheese Powder package there is a recipe for quick macaroni and cheese (much like Annie's or Kraft), so easy and the kids loved it!

Other ideas to liven up the day-

Go on a picnic, spread out a blanket and eat lunch on the floor.
Roast marshmallows in the fireplace.
Make a fort with the living room furniture.
Make your own library story hour with themed books and an accompanying craft project.
Kids love to play in the water, fill up the bathtub and give them kitchen gadgets, cups, funnels, and interesting things for water play (you can catch up on some reading while you supervise).

That should keep them busy!  Enjoy your day.

Comments

Sarah J said…
You can also add scent to your play dough. A couple of drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil can calm them or wake them up.
Geraldine said…
Some great ideas Shara! Awesome! I will print this as a reminder for all these wonderful activities! Sarah, I love the idea of a scent to the play dough! Will be trying that too!