A CHILD'S FAVORITE THREE WORDS: “It’s a… Snowday!”
 
By Karen O'Neil, BS, CCLS, Quad Mom
Originally printed in January 2004

The scene… it's 4:30am.  You're only awake because one of your children paged you just 
moments ago: "M---O---M---M---Y!"  He lowers his voice one octave, but you still pray 
the others don't wake up.  You muster up enough energy to drag yourself over to your 
bedroom window to see for yourself if the weather forecast was correct.  You reach for 
the shade against your window, but, oh... that's not the shade, that's the 9-feet of snow 
they predicted.  You haven't seen this much snow since the Blizzard of '78.  Ah, but, 
wait… there's only 80 more days 'til Spring!  No matter what the ages of your children, 
you know this means a very busy day ahead of you (as if everyday isn't busy!)  ?

Now, your mind wanders and asks, "HOW am I going to do occupy the children today?"  
Aside from the usual outdoor winter fun, here are some ideas to get through yet another 
New England winter… indoors.

CREATE THEME DAYS:
Focus activities on one particular topic.  Break out beach towels, sunglasses and a beach 
ball for Beach Day.  Make lemonade, bring the picnic basket out from the closet and eat 
ice cream cones.  This ought to remind you of summer days!  Spend a Pajama Day in 
those PJ's you and the children just received from Auntie Mame over the holidays.  If 
you're lucky enough to get a shower that day, you won't even have to think about what to 
put on afterwards.  Grab the sleeping bags, pillows and a book.  Good night and have fun!  
Give your children a choice of a few simple recipes and make one (or all) of them on 
Cooking/Baking Day.  Fruit salad, trail mix, simple cookies and pudding are all basic 
recipes and they'll have a blast eating something they created.  Put your clothes on wrong 
for Backwards/Mixed Up Day.  Eat dinner foods in the morning, breakfast foods at night.  
Read stories from the end to the beginning.  Tell jokes.  Dress in the color of the day on 
Color Day.  Decorate one of your rooms – the den, playroom or children's bedroom - in 
that color.  Eat foods that represent the certain color.  Use art supplies in that color.

PHOTO FUN:
Take the pictures you meant to send for your holiday cards a few weeks ago.  Send them 
as Valentines and, guess what?  You'll be EARLY!  For school-age children, let them 
each have their own disposable camera and click away.  Make a simple scrapbook out of 
these pictures on your next snow day.

BUILD A FORT:
Instead of an igloo, which you could easily build in your backyard right now, build a fort 
indoors.  Gather anything and everything you can think of.  It's amazing what couch 
cushions, blankets, tablecloths and pillows can create!

PLAY GAMES:
Use the morning or afternoon for playing games.  No television, Nintendo, videos or 
anything that uses electricity!  Let everyone choose a game.  Clue, Pictionary, Guesstures 
and card games are excellent choices.  Have fun!

TELL STORIES:
Begin by sharing your own favorite memories of snow days gone by.  Reminisce about 
the day your children were born.  Talk about your favorite things.  Your children will 
probably learn something new about you and you'll have fun.  Then, have everyone else 
join in and share their own stories.  Sit back & relax.  It's your turn to listen.

TREASURE HUNT:
Hide things throughout the house or, for younger children, in one or two rooms.  Give 
clues and a list so they can keep track of items they've found.  Use your imagination.

READ THE PAPER:
Save the Fun Pages from the Sunday Globe.  This will be great fun, as there are many 
topics covered... something for everyone.

SWAP EQUIPMENT WITH FRIENDS:
Exchange toys, games, videos and CDs to change things up a bit.  This way, when you 
have a snow day, some things will be new for your children.  If you're tired of the same 
old things, chances are your children are too.  It's also nice and cheap.  ?

HAVE A FRIEND OVER:
If you know ahead of time and are able to plan, let each of your children invite a friend 
over for half of the day.  During the next snow day, you can cash in and have one or more 
of your children visit a friend.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU:
Take care of yourself after a snow day!  Call an old friend, read by the fire (light a candle 
if you don't have a fireplace!), get in the tub (you know, the rectangle shape under your 
showerhead!) with your favorite bubble bath, write a letter (yes, the old fashioned way), 
enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, or indulge in something you don't normally allow yourself 
to enjoy!

AND, LASTLY:
Remember that March isn't that far away!