Snow Play for a Snow Day
Categories: Fun & Activities
We had two snow days in a row last week, unusual for us in early December. The snowfall so far this year has been heavy, suggesting there will be plenty more opportunities this winter to sleep in, ditch the routine for the day, and play in the snow.
Many parents dread snow days, with good reason. Maybe they'll have to scramble to find alternate childcare on short notice, or maybe they had plans to get some work done and now they have a houseful of excited children eating away at their nerves.
When it comes to snow days, adopting an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude can turn the dreaded snow day into one of family fun. Who knows? Maybe next time it'll be you eagerly watching the morning news, hoping for a day off. Here are 10 ideas for turning your snow day into a play day.
Recent Posts
- G.I. Joe, My Little Pony Invading TV With New Children's Network (2/09/2010)
- Movies May Influence Children's Food Choices, Study Shows (2/09/2010)
- Report Cites 220 Cases of D.C. Teachers Abusing Students (2/09/2010)
- Chicago Candidate Drops Out of Race With Tearful Child On Display (2/09/2010)
- Juicy, But Not Juice (2/09/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LS 12-17-2008 @ 8:58AM
These are some great ideas! I've had a lot of experience with snow-building, I grew up with a dad and two older brothers who passed on their love of all things snow, and we built LOTS of igloos when I was a kid. We even helped my nephew build a "Snow-lennium Falcon" last year.
Bethany is correct when she says to be sure to make those walls solid, as the snow can collapse and hurt, or even kill, children. The best luck we've had is to build an igloo out of bricks of packed snow, and filling in cracks. Taper easily as you go up, making sure to keep the walls strong. A nice trick is to plant a stick in the center of your building space, and attach another stick with a board attached, vertically, sticking out from the center point - sort of an L shape. (man, this is hard to explain here) Basically, what you're doing is creating a fulcrum(?)... a centered guide to build against. You'll keep moving that board around the circle, and gradually upward, packing snow against it, but the tip of the stick stays rooted in the same center spot. Soon, you've built a nice circle on the ground, and it will also help keep your igloo round as you move upward. For maximum stability, add a coat of ice when you're done.
Reply