Snow Days!

If you're in our situation, you're either shoveling through many inches of snow or huddled inside the house with the kids after a snowstorm has spread its white, icy goodness from the U.S. Midwest to the East Coast.

Remember when snow days were FUN??  Here are some ideas for indoor and outdoor activities that will make you feel like a kid again:

Playing in the Snow!

We all know how to make snow angels and your standard snowman.  Why not step it up a notch by trying your hand at snow sculpting, or caring for your neighborhood critters?

Snow Sculpting - author, Jennifer Yap, suggests grabbing a shovel, box or bucket, a large clear plastic bag and a scraper.  Line whichever container you choose with the plastic bag then fill it with snow and tamp it down.  Turn the container upside down, peel off the bag and you've got yourself a block of snow ready for sculpting with your scraper!  You can also use this as your first block for part of an igloo!

Feeding your feathered and furry friends - Wildlife photographers, Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick put together a heart-warming, award-winning children's book, entitled, Stranger in the Woods that depicts different woodland creatures gathering around a snowman.  Why are they curious about the snowman?  Because he offers them lots of tasty treats to help them survive through the frosty winter.  After you read this wonderful story to your kids, follow the "Recipe for a Snowman" at the end of the book and run outside to build your own snow person, using shelled nuts for eyes and a mouth, a carrot for a nose and sprinkled corn and seeds to lead the way. 

Inside Fun!
Beat cabin fever with a rousing game of Hide the Button or a landlubber Treasure Hunt.

Hide the Button - This is a great game for antsy young children.  Find a button, or another small object that is easily recognizable and hide it somewhere in the house.  Kids learn to work together by searching for the object and taking cues from you on whether they're cold (nowhere near the object), warm (closer to the object) or hot (practically right on top of the object!).

Treasure Hunt - older children will enjoy this slightly more complicated version of searching for an object.  Write out clues on maps or small pieces of paper.  Hand your kids the first clue, then hide the other clues and the treasure.  Each clue will lead to the next until the treasure is discovered at the end of the game.



Sequence board and card game





After running everyone ragged, including yourself, take a moment to relax in front of your computer with a hot cup of cocoa and treat yourself to some online shopping!  Bubbadah's Toys offers 40% for the snowbound using coupon code, Snow.  Why not purchase a puzzle or game for the next snow day? 



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