The weatherman says that evening that snow is not expected, but nonetheless there is a thick layer of the white stuff all over the yard in the morning. School is called off. Don't fret! There are lots of ways to make the most of a snow day, as long as the family is prepared ahead of time right when the snow season begins.
Supplies to Have On-Hand for a Snow Day
One of the first things a tween will want to do on a snow day is go sledding. Be sure there is a sled, snow tube, and/or toboggan stashed away in the shed ready to go. Along with a sled, have hats, gloves, and snow boots waiting in the closet. Check to see if new snow boot sizes are needed before the snow season begins. A really prepared family will have a large plastic mat ready to receive all the wet clothes that could potentially ruin a carpet or hardwood floor.
In preparation for a snow day, consider having hot cocoa in the house at all times. It is an inexpensive grocery item that has a long shelf life. For even more fun, a tween might enjoy making her own hot cocoa. Baked goodies, such as cookies, brownies, or homemade pizza can be a lot fun to make as well.
A few decks of cards are a great idea to have on-hand on a snow day. Not only can the family play games with them, but building houses out of cards is a popular activity with tweens. See who can build the tallest or longest house. Other popular card games for tweens included Rummy 500, Slapjack, Go Fish, and Solitaire.
Snow Day Crafts
Having craft materials available year-round in a house with a tween usually goes without saying. Paper snowflakes are especially fun to make on a snow day. Consider having cardstock available, along with glitter to make cool, sparkly designs.
A snowglobe is easy to make with the following instructions:
Materials:
- small glass jar with lid (like a baby food jar), cleaned and dried
- small figurine that will fit completely in the jar
- hot glue/gun
- glitter, any color
- a few drops of glycerin
- water
Instructions: Glue the figurine to the bottom of the glass jar. Let set for an hour. Pour in glitter to cover the bottom of the jar. Fill the jar with water to just below the rim and add a few drops of glycerin. Seal the jar by applying hot glue to the lid.
There are plenty of other snow crafts available right here on Suite101.
Snow Cream Recipe
No snow day is complete without making a heaping batch of snow cream, which is likened to ice cream. Start by placing a clean bowl outside to collect snow as it falls. It is also okay to use fresh snow on the top layer, but never use snow that is around cars, dog areas, or other unclean places. Consider collecting a few bowls of snow to keep in the freezer for a later date.
Ingredients for snow cream include vanilla extract, milk, and granulated sugar. Add a little of each ingredient at a time until you get a stiff consistency and the flavor desired. For variety, use different extracts, such as peppermint for a holiday flavor. For best results, mix the ingredients together in a bowl before adding the snow. The snow will melt quickly, so act fast!
There you have it, a day complete with snow activities. A snow day doesn't have to catch a family off guard when preparations are made ahead of time. It can be a fun day that a tween will be talking about with friends when school starts up again.
Denise Oliveri - Denise has been writing for Suite101 for many years, and enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge with readers. Her main occupation at ...
