“Lazy” Indoor Snow Day Activities

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Hurray! It’s a snow day! Which in many cases actually means MORE work for parents.

Personally, the LAST thing I want to do is be outside when its freezing, I’m NOT a cold weather person. So, besides bundling the kids up (twice – because someone will need to pee 3 minutes after they’re fully dressed) and sending them outside hoping for the best, what can a lazy Momma do on a snow day?

I’ve put together a list of my best *least prep required* Indoor Snow Day Ideas.

#1 – Enjoy the snow, INDOORS!

This one can get messy, but if you’ve got a few towels handy you’ll be fine (bonus lazy hack: they don’t need to be clean if you’re using them on the floor to catch drips)

Just grab some bowls, cake pans, cooking utensils, play dough toys, whatever. Scoop up some big chunks of snow and let the kids go crazy!

#2 – Convince your kids to do Zumba

I bought some Zumba games this summer for the Wii, with the best of intentions… but we barely use them. A snow day would be a great day to shake things up and have a dance party! (bonus again: the instructor is on the TV, so you don’t have to participate if you’re too exhausted – but it could be lots of fun if you do!)

There’s plenty of free YouTube videos you can use as well, you don’t need Zumba DVDs or a game console for this one.

#3 – Bake something – from a box

If you’ve got the energy to make something from scratch – AWESOME, DO IT! But for those who were up all night nursing a fussy baby (ahem, me!) a boxed mix will do just fine!

This is our favorite gluten and dairy free quick brownie mix. You only need butter (or oil if you’re dairy free), water, and two eggs. These brownies don’t have that “gluten free taste”. I’ve passed them off at parties and received plenty of compliments from people who run away from the words gluten free, and they were none the wiser 😉

#4 – Build a fort or “movie theater”

Pick a fun place they don’t usually hang out in, make it comfy with some pillows and blankets, pop some popcorn, and throw on a movie. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an hour and a half of quiet time. (bonus tip: it could be fun to let them eat lunch in there as well. But that could get messy – your call)

#5 – Play a board game

Not a complicated one, something easy like Sorry or Chutes and Ladders should entertain them for a while.

Dash has been super into board games recently and those are two of our favorites. Even Sunshine (2) can play if she’s on a team with one of us.

#6 – Create with play dough

In our house, this ends with Momma cleaning up little play dough pieces and tools all around the dining room. So if you’re children are border-line feral, like mine, maybe skip this one.

#7 – Make paper snowflakes

Or another simple craft that doesn’t involve a week of planning and 16 different art supplies from 4 different stores.

Same as above, it could get messy. But maybe doing it with a garbage bin right next to the table could save you a headache.

#8 – Marie Kondo their rooms!

This one might not feel easy or realistic to you, but Since January 1st “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” (a new show on Netflix) is all over my newsfeed. I am 100% guilty of staying up way past my bedtime to binge watch it.

The kids may think it’s fun to sort their stuff in a new way, introducing the whole idea of items “sparking joy” could make it fun. Or not, and you’ll end up in a battle of wills with your 7-year-old over keeping a paperclip creation because it’s “so special”. You know your kids better than I do, if you don’t think they (or you) are up for it, don’t stress yourself out.

#9 – Color on a massive scale

Got a big cardboard box laying around? Maybe a few feet of wrapping paper you don’t mind sacrificing? Give them some art supplies and let them create a masterpiece.

Keep it for a few days and then, when they’re back to school, make it disappear (just don’t get caught if you’ve got kids who are attached to everything they make). I sometimes feel like I’m on a top secret mission throwing things away in the dumpster outside and creating a distraction, hoping they wont realize it’s gone.

I ended up attaching a big roll of paper to the kid’s art table <<- see how I built it here]] for just this kind of activity!

#10 – Try to have some quiet time

Some of you may be scoffing and thinking “yeah, right!” and I totally get you. My kids don’t usually do “quiet time” well. But I still try. Put on a show, give them a device, bribe them to stay in their rooms – I’m not judging. Get you some quiet time, Momma!

Tell me, what are your go-to activities on a snow day?