Ask A Baltimore Expert: 5 Best Snow Day Activities
Fortunately for your sanity, we have contacted a Baltimore mom with years of experience and creativity to spare. Follow her suggestions and you're sure to get through a snow day relaxed, with the kids looking forward to the next one.
The Baltimore Life Companies
10075 Red Run Blvd.
Owings Mills, MD 21117
(410) 581-6600
www.baltlife.com
Lisa is a mother of two who has lived in northern Baltimore County, in the White Hall area, for her entire parenting career. Both of her children are boys, and they have been keeping her hands full for twelve years now. Although she works full-time as a Project Manager in Information Services for Baltimore Life Companies, Lisa manages to remain a creative and dedicated mother, and has weathered many a snow day with her boys using the tips she includes below.
Start The Day Healthy
The first food that a child puts into their body in the morning kicks off their metabolism for the day. A healthy and hearty breakfast will fuel them up for a day of activities so that they aren't lethargic and out of sorts. Moreover, your kids will love waking up to the smell of a good breakfast cooking, and enjoy the bonding experience of sharing an unhurried meal together with their parents and siblings. Why not take this time to plan the day ahead with them?
Get Them Outside!
Get the snow gear out and send them out the door to clean off the cars, walkways and steps. If they are younger (my boys are 12 and 7), this may seem like a lot of work. By the time you get them ready to get out the door, they are frozen within 10 minutes. However, in years ahead, it pays off because they don't need help with snow pants, boots, gloves, scarves and hats and they never want to come in no matter how cold it is!
Get The Neighborhood Involved
Text all the neighbors and set up a time for sledding, building snow forts and snowball battles. In our neighborhood, we have the hills, so all of the kids play here. However, if you are not so blessed, find a nearby friend or neighbor with the right property, and see if you can arrange for them to host a day of snow time activities. Kids tend to entertain one another, so not only will your children enjoy being outdoors with their friends and neighbors, you will have some quiet time inside your house. Meanwhile, your neighbors are going to be enjoying the same benefits as you!
Related: Ask A Baltimore Expert: Keeping Your Kids Entertained On A Snow Day
Come Back Inside For Treats
After sledding, warm up with some hot chocolate and have the kids help make snow ice cream, using this recipe:
- Mix one cup of milk, one-half cup of sugar and one teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Find some clean, undisturbed snow, collect a big bowl, and bring it inside.
- Add about eight cups of the snow you collected into the mixture you made.
- Top with whatever ice cream toppings you enjoy, and eat immediately (it melts very quickly).
Game Time
Play lots of games! Whether you like board games or card games, spreading out games on the table in front of you and your kids is a great way to keep children engaged and having a good time! And playing board and card games builds relationships and memories in a way that video games and television watching never do.
Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.
