Once the thick of winter sets in, the occasional snow day will disrupt typical routines for families in the path of severe weather, canceling school and work until it’s safe to travel. Anxiously — excitedly even — waiting to hear which schools are canceled for the day is practically a rite of passage for school children.
After the excitement of the canceled school day, however, the energy winds down and boredom creeps in. Once the worst of the weather passes, Donna Whittaker, VP of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy, says getting outside can be one of the best ways children can spend their time. “Touching and playing with natural objects helps them to feel grounded,” explains Whittaker. “If you have a young child and a bed of rocks, you have hours' worth of entertainment.” She explains that just the physical act of being outdoors can stimulate a child’s creativity. “There are many benefits of playing outdoors,” she says. “It helps to limit children’s screen time and allows them to create, imagine, problem-solve, and explore in the real world.”
Until then, we have a few ideas for you to fill the hours with fun, no matter what your definition might be. From memory-making little-kid activities with mom and dad in the kitchen to thrilling big-kid games to creative crafts and projects, there are endless ways to fill the time at home without resorting to endless hours of screen time.
Bookmark this page for the next snow day, and you’ll have a slew of exciting activities to choose from that the whole family can enjoy!
The Offbits
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The Offbits
Offbits is the world's first open-source construction toy. The brand has turned the familiar bits and pieces we all have on hand into the next generation of toys. Kids can build these kits themselves from recycled proprietary connectors and standard hardware components and tell their story through brightly colored robot characters with inspiring backstories. A perfect solution to keep creative little minds busy when the outdoor conditions keep them inside!
Level Up by Greenlight
Through story-driven gameplay, kids can earn virtual coins and engage with real-life money lessons that go beyond national standards for K-12 personal financial education Level Up, an interactive game on the Greenlight app. The financial literacy game blends education and entertainment, providing a worry-free activity for older kids and teens.
TableTopics
These handy conversation starters break the ice with ease, and bring out the curious side of your siblings and friends. Suitable for kids, teens, and adults, TableTopics bring flavor to the table in the form of thought-provoking conversational topics.
I’m the Chef Too!
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I'm a Chef Too!
This adorable baking kit was created by a mother/educator. The kit infuses educational concepts into recipes to make learning fun, engaging, and tasty! Available for purchase as a monthly subscription or a single box, you can choose from newly released adventures each month that blend food, STEM, and the arts into a fun indoor activity. Kids can learn about outer space as they whip up galaxy donuts, engineer erupting volcano cake as they learn about chemical reactions, or even discover geology as they bake cupcake geodes, and so much more. Hours of endless fun and entertainment, and perfect for a snow day.
Buddha Board
Next time you’re stuck inside on a snow day, help kids tap into their creativity with this screen-free mindfulness tool from Buddha Board! The all-ages set helps kids (and adults!) get into a relaxed state of mind by doing something creative. The board provides a unique set that lets you paint with water. Simply paint the surface and watch as the water slowly evaporates, leaving you with a fresh slate and a clear mind over and over.
Head Spin
In this new fast-paced family game from Project Genius, players try to crack the color code and dial it in on their fidget spinner. The first player to show the correct answer on their spinner wins the round. Head Spin is brain-bending fun for even the quickest minds and fastest hands. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Blobby's Pizza
This after-school game is a perfect addition to the snow day lineup. Kids love the game's bright colors and cute monsters! But here's the kicker – it also doubles as learning! The strategy teaches fractions, decimals, and percentages to kids by way of — wait for it — a pizza-eating contest! Ages 9 and up.
Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles
$17
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Melissa & Doug
Puzzles are a fantastic screen-free way to pass the time indoors, and the oversize floor puzzles from Melissa & Doug are the best. Made for little hands and curious minds, these floor puzzles are cute, classic, and perfect for a day inside.
BāKIT Box
This baking kit offers unique recipes with labeled, pre-measured ingredients and easy, kid-friendly, step-by-step instructions. Kits are delivered right to your door with everything needed to bake, so kids (big and little!) can spend time getting creative in the kitchen. Craft confections like red velvet cinnamon rolls and classics like English muffins. Order as a subscription or as a standalone kit.
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