How to Make a Snow Day Work (Without Being ‘On’ the Whole Time)

I loved snow days when my kids were little… most of the time.

I loved snow days when my kids were little… most of the time.

Not because they were easy, but because we had a rhythm that made them feel good, cozy, and mostly manageable.

Enough structure that the kids could settle into something without needing me every five minutes. Enough space that I had the energy to join in, or not, depending on the moment. That balance made it possible to enjoy them, even when everyone was inside, and the snow gear was still drying from round one.

This isn’t a step-by-step plan. Just some things we did that helped make snow days feel doable and, dare I say, fun. Take what you think would work for your crew, and leave the rest behind.

Here’s what you’ll find inside this post:

• What it looked like to create just enough rhythm to make snow days feel good

• Why structure and space helped my kids settle in (without needing me constantly)

• A diner walk tradition that became our favorite way to start a snow day

• Indoor play setups that gave me breathing room — and kept them busy

• How we stayed outside longer (and why the best snow day sometimes comes later)

• One thing to do ahead of the storm

  Share this with another family in the line of the incoming snowstorm!

The diner walk

On the rare occasions that we knew about a snow day ahead of time, and the weather was mild in the morning, we used to walk to the diner in our pajamas and snow pants.

It sounds kind of extra, but when I really think about it, I can dissect exactly why it became a copy-and-paste move every time we had a mild morning.

We’d bundle up in coats and snow pants over pajamas as the first flakes swirled. I always tried to save screens for when I needed them, and I knew I’d need them badly by mid-to-late day. That walk would kill time, burn energy, and take care of round one of “I’m hungry.”

I’d baby-wear my youngest while the big two ran ahead, catching flakes, slip-sliding on icy sidewalks, and generally being loud and wild. It was a fifteen-minute walk, and they were good and hungry by the time we got there.

The diner would be basically empty because of the forecast, so I could count on hot food, fast. Hot chocolate and waffles all around.

After, we’d wander home slowly. I’d let them roll down the big hill at the center of town, watch the train come and go, do whatever they felt like. By that point, my toddler would be ready for a good romp and would happily trail behind them.

The indoor rhythm

When we got home, I’d strip them back down to jammies, and we’d light the fireplace, pull out the play couches, blankets in the living room, and mountains of stuffed animals.

They’d play. I’d clean up the kitchen or answer a few emails. Sometimes I’d join. Sometimes I’d sit…. Well, mostly I’d sit.

Bringing all the toys into the living room felt novel enough to get them into a game of pretend quickly. My youngest would flit between her big sibling’s game, and following me around.

S’mores for lunch was a must. A snow day promise. It was so exciting for them to make ooey-gooey chocolate sandwiches in the fireplace.

After that, it was quiet time upstairs for the big two and a nap for the youngest.

I’d give each big kid a snack tray with cheese, crackers, fruit, salami, nothing fancy, just a hearty snack spread they could pick from. It kept them from coming down every 10 minutes for snacks and made me feel slightly better about the chocolate-heavy breakfast and lunch they’d already had.

On the days we couldn’t kill a morning by walking to the diner, we usually played inside in the morning so that I could do a little work and get the house running smoothly. Once they were six or so, I could send them out without me, but littles? Inside for the morning.

Ideas for indoor play (that don’t require your constant participation)

• Shaving cream in the shower or kitchen sink
  Put a bucket of water, some small animals/cars/dinosaurs, and a pile of shaving cream in the empty tub, sink, or shower. Give them paint brushes and a small towel to wipe their fingers. This kept my youngest busy forever.

Bring a big tub of snow inside and let them wear their mittens and play inside. They LOVE this. Lay the tub out on a towl, or fill their sensory table and give them small scoops and cups

Play couch slide on the stairs
If you have a Nugget or something similar, build a ramp down the stairs. My kids LOVED this. They’d slide for ages, send stuffies down, and make up challenges. Totally worth the mess.

Snow day forts. Grab a king-size sheet or blanket and drape it over your kitchen or dining table. Give them flashlights and battery-operated tea lights. Let them colonize it with their stuffies, snacks, and a tub of magnetic tiles. You’re welcome.

Getting outside and staying outside

It used to frustrate me to no end when I’d get everyone bundled, out the door, finally playing — and 10 minutes later, someone was crying and ready to come in.

Here’s what helped us extend outdoor play:

• Keep a dry washcloth in your pocket.
  Sounds simple, but it can be a game-changer for a crying kid. Use it for tears, runny noses, snowballs to the face… trust. It helps so much.

• Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and little paper cups.
  Makes things feel special and warms up their little tummies just enough to extend play.

• Say yes to bringing toys outside.
  My kids loved building forts and playing pretend with stuffed animals in the snow. Kept them engaged, and we just threw everything in the dryer with the snow gear later. Toys are meant to be played with.

Try not to micromanage.
“Don’t throw that!”
“Careful, you’ll slip!”
“Don’t take off your hat!”

Let them play. Let them wrestle, throw snow, be feral.

And when you have a kid who doesn’t want snow thrown at them or wants to play more quietly, help them speak up — not you. It made a huge difference in the kids finding their groove in play.

When the snow day you want isn’t the snow day you can do

When my oldest was in kindergarten, I had a newborn and a toddler at home. He was desperate to go to the sledding hill on a snow day, but I knew there was no way I could manage all three of them on an icy hill by myself.

So we didn’t go. We stayed home. We played inside. He was disappointed, but we made it work.

A few days later, when the roads were cleared and everyone had gone back to school, I got a babysitter for the little ones and surprise picked him up early. We went to the sledding hill—just the two of us. It was empty. No lines, no crowds. Just him and me and a quiet hill covered in snow.

Core memory. Well, core memory for me. He’s eighteen now, and I’ll have to ask him if he remembers… (update: I asked him. He doesn’t. Womp. Womp.)

Sometimes the snow day magic doesn’t happen on the actual snow day. And that’s okay. You can make your own version when the timing’s better and you have what you need to actually enjoy it.

One last thing to do ahead of the snow day. Trust. You’ll thank me later.

Have your kids practice putting on and taking off snow gear when you’re not headed out.

I used to start bedtime early, and after bath and pajamas, I’d say,

“Want to stay up a little extra and practice our snow clothes?”

Sometimes we’d race the timer, other times we’d go slow and practice zipping while I read them book after book.
They felt like they were staying up late. I felt like I was preparing for tomorrow.
And it made gearing up on snow days so much easier.

That’s it. I hope you have a safe and manageable snow day

Thank you all for your support around the book launch. If you haven’t ordered, But I’m Bored, what are you waiting for?! It makes a great gift for your child’s teacher.

If you have bought it, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on Amazon? It would only take a minute or two and it would mean the absolute world to me.

I appreciate you all so much.

x. Lizzie

PS We put together a Spotify playlist of some of the podcast interviews I’ve done, where we chat all about boredom and play. Listen in here.