By Merrie Leininger, McClatchy-Tribune
Summer break is one thing there are day camps and baseball games. But when you are hit with a snow day or a string of them it can be very difficult to think of things to do to keep the kids entertained.
Here are nine suggestions to keep everyone from going stir crazy:
Snowflake Art. Get out the paper or coffee filters and don’t forget the glitter or glitter glue and make snowflakes of your own. Make a circle and then fold it into fourths. Cut small shapes from the folds and then reveal what has been created. Hang them in the windows and from the ceiling. Have them write a poem about the snow and put those up with their paper snowflakes. They can get inspiration from “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, “Poetry Speaks to Children (Book and CD)” and from www.poetry4kids.com.
Freeze Dance. Put on some music and let the kids get some energy out by dancing. You take turns playing DJ on the iPod. When the music stops, they have to freeze in place. Anyone who moves while frozen is out. The winner is the last person dancing.
Snow Painting. Fill spray bottles with a few drops of food coloring and water. Bundle up the kids and let them experiment on the fresh canvas.
Go Sledding. If you are caught unawares without a sled, just flatten a cardboard box and cut two holes on the edges to make handles or loop a piece of rope through holes. If everyone is tired of being out in the snow, the kids can take turns pulling each other around on the carpet. If your child is too young for this, have them put a stuffed animal on the sled.
Helping Others. If you have older children, have them help you get donations to make food baskets for families. They can ask neighbors for donations or search online for an organization accepting donations. Or send them with the shovel to neighbors who need help clearing their sidewalks and driveways.
Group Read. Have a couple of books stashed away so there will be something interesting they’ve never read before. Everyone can take turns reading to each other. Some classics (and some new winners) are: “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner; “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer; “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery; “Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth,” by E.L. Konigsburg; “Bud, Not Buddy,” by Christopher Paul Curtis; “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” by Judy Blume; “James and the Giant Peach” by Roald Dahl; “The Graveyard Book,” by Neil Gaiman; and “When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt. Give each child a list of common household items and have them go on an indoor scavenger hunt. Keep it calm by limiting this activity to a couple of rooms and adding a no running rule. Have a small prize available for the winner.
Scrapbooking. Gather all of your old photos or print out some new ones. Add in some paper, stickers and glue, and let the kids go to town. Or create an album specifically about the snow day and by taking pictures of all the activities you have done on your day at home, such as snow painting and sledding. Add in your poems about snow and take pictures of how high the snow is. Have a blank scrapbook and materials ready to go for the next snow day and spend the day putting together the memory book.
Blanket Fort. Use the chairs, table, blankets and pillows to make a hideaway. The kids can read or play in there all day if it is stocked with snacks, crayons, books and toys.