North Shore Pediatric Blog, North Shore Teen & Young Adult Blog, Play Pals North Shore Blog, Madison Pediatric Blog, Play Pals Madison Blog
We are officially in the midst of the winter season and that means snowstorms, icy roads, and the possibility of school cancellations. Snow days are widely celebrated by some, but to many families, a snow day means extra hours at home with kids who may be thrown off by the schedule change and are in need of activities to fill their time safely and creatively. Here are 4 ideas for how to make the most from a snow day!
- Bake
- Spend the day baking a desirable dessert or favorite snack! Your kids can help with tasks such as: stirring, rolling dough, and pouring in pre-measured ingredients. You can even incorporate language activities into this activity by having your child name the various known ingredients or getting them to request for missing (but necessary!) items.
- Build a fort
- Grab some blankets and rearrange the kitchen chairs to make a fort for you and the kids! Make this a fun and different space for you and your kids to play in. Try reading books and playing with preferred toys inside the fort!
- Obstacle course
- Obstacle courses are a great way to get rid of some built up energy while practicing motor skills and obtaining sensory input. Get creative! Set up some pillows to jump to, some chairs to weave between or crawl under, and maybe a ball to bounce a few times. You can also time your child going through it or build in a number of repetitions to perform each element of the course.
- Scavenger hunt
- Hide a preferred secret prize somewhere in the house along with clues as to where to find it. Just make sure to develop clues that are at an appropriate level for your child to understand. This can be a creative way to practice language skills and to build anticipation for searching for a desired item that, once found, can be played with!
*This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used to replace consultation with your doctor or qualified healthcare professional.