Snow Days: 7 Fun Ideas for the Family

With winter, in some places, comes snow days. The kids don't have to go to school. Sometimes, parents are even lucky enough to join their kids at home. Some parents might not find that thrilling. It's easy to imagine kids cooped up inside running amuck around the house, while the parent sits with their head throbbing wishing the snow day was over. It doesn't have to be like that, though. Snow days are a great opportunity to have fun with your children and even to show them things they might not know. Here are some ideas for a snow day of fun.

1. Snowball fight! Kids love to be able to throw snow at their parents and run away without getting yelled at. Not only are they fun, but snowball fights can be educational as well. They can be used to teach strategy and work on motor skills. They can also be a source of mechanical and engineering skill building. How to make a good snowball or making a good fort. Make it a game of capture the flag.

2. Snow angels. There is just something amazing about lying in the snow making angels together that really makes us feel good. Making snow angels is also an opportunity to discuss our faith with our children.

3. Snow people. Whether you make your basic snowman or maybe you go all Calvin and Hobbes and make an entire battlefield of snow creatures, it is fun! Parents can use snowman building as a way to share their own beliefs about the rise of mankind. Or to teach them about art, creating a scene with their snow people. This could also be a good source of mechanical and engineering. Figuring out how to make a good snow person. Or design, if you are creating a scene.

4. Build a hill out of snow, if there aren't any near you, and go sledding down it. This can be a good way to teach children about the rewards of hard work and resourcefulness.

5. Create an avalanche. What kid doesn't love to see snow fall in giant clumps? By showing them an avalanche you can teach them about nature and about winter safety.

6. Follow the tracks. Print off a sheet with the tracks of local animals and see if the family can figure out which animals have been nearby. This is a good opportunity to teach the kids about animals. Where they live. What they eat. When they sleep. It's also a chance to encourage the kids to be observant of their surroundings.

7. Find a science project to do with the kids using the snow. It's a good opportunity to teach them about weather, the different stages of water, and why we have snow at all.

After sharing one or more of these, or other, snow day activities with the kids, set them free. As good as it is for them to have those memories that will be made, with their parents, kids also need time with their friends to just be kids. And, parents need time to just relax and enjoy some quiet t