Fifteen inches of snow arrived in one day — it just kept coming!
For a city that gets ten inches of snow in a whole year, it was quite the sight. Our days snowed in gave me lots of time to think about what we could do to enjoy snowtime and not go stir-crazy. If winter weather prevents your normal plans, and the kids have an unexpected day off from school, here are a few screen-free ideas to make it a fun and memorable day.
Blanket forts and reading nests
My favorite part of cold weather is the need for blankets. I have tried to conjure up all of the possible games I can involving snuggling together in blankets. Build a blanket fort and let everyone play or just relax under some strategically placed tables and chairs with a sheet or comforter roof and walls. Another blanket strategy is to create a blanket nest and then have some quiet time looking at books or listening to music (try the song “Hibernation Day” by Jars of Clay) while tucked into a cozy circle of blankets on the floor.
I always enjoy playing hospital—where I pretend to be sick as my children doctors take care of me. This enables me to close my eyes while lying under blankets on the couch. It only lasts so long but is wonderfully restful while it does.
Outside games
Nothing makes staying cozy inside more enjoyable than a jaunt outside into the snowy wilds. Bundle up and spend as long as possible in the snow. Try identifying animal snow tracks. Take a walk and marvel at how different the world looks. Build a snow fort (this can happen while shoveling, killing two birds with one stone).
Save a snowball fight or snow angels until the very end so that you can go in quickly to warm up afterwards. As your wet clothes dry, enjoy a warm drink -- and then get back to your blanket nest!
Learn how to pray
Snow makes the world quieter and opens up a natural way to talk about silence and prayer.
One way to try teaching your kids how to pray on a snow day would be to start by reading the book Ten Ways to Hear Snow (most libraries have it). In the story, a girl walks to her grandmother’s house on a snowy morning. Her grandma, who is blind, tells her the ways she could hear that it had snowed outside even though she can’t see the snow. The main way she “hears” the snow is that she listens to the world outside and hears silence. The snow has muffled all the regular, daily sounds of life.
Next, you could turn to 1 Kings 19:11 in the Old Testament. This is when the Lord tells Elijah to go outside because He, the Lord, is going to pass by. Elijah witnesses a violent wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But the Lord is not in any of these. Instead, He is in a still, small sound. Elijah recognizes the Lord in the stillness and goes out to meet Him.
After reading the passage together, you could take a minute together to practice sitting in silence, asking the Lord for His help, and then listening for His still small voice. If you or your child is frustrated because they don’t hear anything, remember it takes time to learn to hear God’s voice. Read about Samuel and Eli (1 Samuel 3-10). Jesus Himself went off many times to be alone to listen to His Father.
For more practical help on prayer, including a chapter on teaching kids to pray, this book is fantastic.
