6 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids on a Snow Day

Snow days are every kid's dream. School is out, and it's time to celebrate in a winter wonderland. Discover ways to get creative and use your imagination. Children of all ages will enjoy this list of fun activities.

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1. Pretend You're Camping

If it's too cold to go camping, why not camp indoors instead? Create a cozy adventure with the help of comfy sleeping bags and festive family-matching holiday PJs. Build a campsite or fort in your living room with big pillows and plush blankets. Then, hang fairy lights or add camping lanterns to create a warm, toasty ambiance.

You can make a pretend fire with art supplies or construction paper. Use colorful tissue paper to make delicate campfire flames or bring in twigs from outside as make-believe kindling. You can even tell stories or sing songs at your pretend campfire.

Hungry kids will love snacking on trail mix or eating s'mores for an after-dinner treat. Delicious, camper-friendly recipes like campfire nachos or skillet French toast will keep everyone full and happy. Take a thermos and fill it with hot cocoa to share.

2. Watch Movies

Movies are a fun way to relax and enjoy a snow day. Create a family watch list, and then let the streaming fest begin. Find a comfy place on the couch to wear your coziest plaid Christmas pajamas. Feel free to bring all the plush animals and add plenty of soft blankets!

Serve fun, healthier snacks like popcorn or baked apple chips. Hot chocolate and warm apple cider complement a movie and the cold, wintry weather. Of course, everyone will need a stretch break. A brisk walk outdoors feels refreshing and can help energize everyone between movies.

If you're unsure what to watch, classic holiday films and family comedies will keep everyone smiling and laughing. Let the kids check out a list of the best Christmas movies or most famous cartoons. Who knows? They may create a family tradition or find something new.

3. Make a Winter Craft

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When you have creativity and time on your hands, you can do almost anything. Use your snow day to make an inspiring winter craft. Find a project that suits your child's interests and age group, and then gather your art supplies for a fun seasonal project.

There are festive crafts for everyone! Smaller children will love making a paper plate snowman using stickers and construction paper. Popsicle stick snowflakes use paint and stick-on jewels to create a beautiful decoration for adorning your tree or living room. Cute handprint penguins with cotton ball snowflakes are fun for kids of all ages.

Let your older children show their artistic side with a gorgeous winter paper lantern featuring a soothing forest skyline. Mixed media projects like this silhouette winter trees art help your kids try new skills and create a beautiful piece they can frame or hang in their room.

4. Bake a Tasty Treat

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Some kids like to show their creative side by baking. Find a fun recipe to capture their imagination and let your fun snow day begin. If you need suggestions, apple crisp is easy to make and a crowd-pleaser on a chilly day. Chocolate crinkle cookies look festive and taste delicious, but kids will even love creating a classic cookie recipe like oatmeal or chocolate chip.

If you're in the mood for breakfast, there are plenty of festive recipes. Make homemade cinnamon rolls or moist apple butter pancakes. Fruit lovers can whip up a batch of DIY turnovers using crescent rolls and pie filling. You can even get creative with different flavors of DIY doughnuts.

When it's time for winter decadence, a chocolate peppermint cake or traditional apple pie will make everyone look forward to dessert. Try something new with chocolate bread pudding or gingerbread cakes featuring cream cheese frosting. Experienced bakers can look for a challenging cookie recipe that takes baking skills to the next level. Create sugar cookies shaped like ugly Christmas sweaters or cute holiday PJs. Let tweens and teens show their artistry with designs to look like fun Fair Isle pajamas or the cutest holiday sweaters.

5. Read Your Favorite Books

Bibliophiles will love using their snow days for reading. Let your kids find a comfy chair to enjoy a few chapters. You can even let them read their favorite book in bed. Cozy holiday pajamas and a fun book light or bookmark will inspire their reading experience.

Create a soothing ambiance with nature sounds or soft classical music playing in the background. You can even make it a family activity by reading aloud. Gather around the fireplace or choose a spot by a window to watch the snowfall.

Choose a holiday story or a funny winter tale for everyone to enjoy. Bring snacks and stay a while! A hot chocolate bar or fondue bar creates a hands-on experience to go along with your reading session. Let everyone choose their favorite treats and then listen together to some of the best children's books or lines of winter-themed poetry.

6. Play in the Snow

If the weather is tranquil enough for venturing outdoors, make the most of the snow. Build a snowman and take pictures. Use water and food coloring from your pantry to create paintings and have fun decorating the snow with artwork. Go sledding or make snow angels. You can even play a game of hide-and-seek in the snow!

Are your kids eager to use their imaginations? Work together to create a family scavenger hunt. Choose items to find in the snow and then check off everything on the list to get a special reward. Some of our favorite prizes include cookies or hot cocoa.

Older kids can try making a snow fort while the little ones play in the snow with dolls or trucks. If your family is up to it, a snowy day can be the perfect time to capture a special family photo. Dress for a festive holiday card, or have fun taking photographs in your matching holiday pajamas.

Capturing Family Magic on a Snow Day

On a snow day, Mother Nature always supplies the magic. Your family will capture the beauty and joy of a winter day with a fun indoor or outdoor activity. Choose one of the ideas on our list and start creating or crafting. An exciting project or a relaxing rest day will be just what your family needs for a memorable winter season.