The 7 Activities for the Ultimate Cozy Snow Day: A Complete Guide

From sports practice and rehearsals, to dentist appointments and errands, there never seems to be enough meaningful time with your loved ones. And that’s not the worst of it. With everyone getting older, your time with family under the same roof is limited. A cozy snow day is just what you and your crew need.

Luckily, Old Man Winter is known for putting the freeze on busy schedules. Although this may halt your packed to-do list, take advantage of the extra downtime to be intentional with those who mean the most to you.

This article covers seven activities you and your family can do to have a cozy snow day. Pick a few things off our list to thaw the ice and make some lasting memories.

1. Create a Cozy Atmosphere

The first step to having an enjoyable snow day is to create a cozy atmosphere. Warm blankets, candles, and rugs are your friends. If you have a fireplace, go ahead and light it. And if you don’t, consider streaming a cheerful fire online.  You get extra cozy points if you have a pet curled up on the couch.

2. Family Photo Challenge

Once you’ve made your home feel a bit cozier, it’s time to bring your family together for some fun. Pick a few categories such as winter, fire, snow, nature, and have everyone take pictures of items that best fit that category. Get back together and see where everyone’s creativity took them.

Here are a few more examples:

• Winter: snow, snow balls, snowmen, winter décor, holiday colors.
• Fire: candles, fireplace, stove top, oven, incense.
• Warmth: fire, sun, warm colors, hot drinks.
• Comfort: blankets, scarves, bundled up pets.
• Homemade/handmade: baked goods, a cooked meal, craft project, holiday cards.

3. Reading Aloud

With cheerful music and a cozy environment, you’re ready to make the most of your snow day. Gather everyone together and crack open a family favorite book. If you don’t have any family classics on hand, that’s no problem. Any book can become a family favorite when read aloud.

If your family isn’t into reading aloud, bringing everyone together for some silent reading will do the trick as well.

4. Make a Time Capsule

After reading for a while, people may start to feel drowsy. Putting together a time capsule is a perfect way to get everyone moving. Find a durable box, and fill it with an assortment of pictures, keepsakes, and other meaningful objects.  When the ground warms up, bury it for future generations to find and appreciate.

Here’s our no-nonsense guide to setting up your time capsule:

1. Find a durable container to hold your items. The type of container will depend on whether you are burying the capsule in the ground or keeping it stored in a closet. For outdoor use, we recommend metal or other solid materials, so your objects can weather the tests of time.
2. Collect the items you would like to include in the capsule. These can be sentimental objects, or anything that might be interesting after a few years tucked away. Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
   • Family photos
   • Favorite recipes
   • Guesses about future events
   • A newspaper with today’s date
   • Memorabilia from family vacations
   • A letter to whoever finds the time capsule
3. Decide where you want to store your capsule. If you have access to a yard, burying the capsule in the ground is a ton of fun. But if you live in an apartment or an area without a yard, consider keeping the capsule deep in a closet, attic, or under a bed.
4. Set a time to open the capsule. Time capsules are a lot like a pair of jeans. The longer you have them, the better they are. You can decide to keep your capsule buried however long you like, but we recommend at least 3-5 years. This allows you to forget what you put in the capsule and be surprised when you crack it open.
5. Bury it for good. Another option is to bury your capsule and forget about it. Who knows how long it will sit in the ground. But whoever finds it will be in for a treat.

Remember, every family is unique so don’t worry if you deviate from our list.

5. Set Up a Hot Drink Bar

With the capsule hidden away, it’s the perfect time to head to the kitchen for something warm and tasty. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and hot apple cider are a must. But if you want to discover some new family favorites, give our Christmas Mocktails a try.

Setting up a drink bar:

1. Ingredients – If you are snowed in, then chances are you won’t be stopping at the store anytime soon. It’s always a good idea to keep drink mixes like hot chocolate or apple cider on hand . Boil some water and you have a tasty drink in only minutes.
2. Mugs – Sure, your family can grab any old glass from the cupboard, but if you have winter-themed mugs, now is the time to break them out.
3. Drink Garnishments – This isn’t your “rush out the door to work” kind of beverage. Take the time to class up your drink of choice. Set out a variety of drink condiments that’ll add that extra dose of warmth to your snow day. Here are some ideas:
   • Marshmallows for hot chocolate
   • Cream and sugar for tea or coffee
   • Milk
   • Honey
   • Lemon or lime juice
4. Enjoy – With a tasty drink in hand and surrounded by family, your snow day is off to a wonderful start. Stick with your favorite drink, or give each beverage a try until you find that perfect drink.
5. Make a list – If you’re expecting more snow days down the road, write down what everyone’s favorite drink was. Now you can make sure to have the ingredients on hand for snow days to come.

6. Family Board Games

Now that everyone has a drink in hand, it’s time for some fun and games. No matter the family, there’s a board game out there for your crew. You can pull out a family favorite game, or a simple deck of cards.

Here are a few games to get you started:

• Candy Land
• Chutes and Ladders
• Guess Who?
• UNO
• Clue
• Ticket to Ride
• Scrabble

7. Re-Watch Family Favorite Movies

One of the best ways to end your cozy snow day is with a good movie. Every family has a movie or two that has special meaning to them. Pick out a few movies and have your family choose one to watch. Bring out some snacks and enjoy time with your favorite people.

If you don’t have any movies in mind, here are a few choices:

• E.T. (1982)
• Toy Story (1995)
• Shrek (2001)
• Home Alone (1990)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Frozen (2013)

Conclusion

Being snowed in can seem like an inconvenience. But with a little creativity you can transform your snow day into a cozy family experience.

Pick a few ideas off our list and enjoy spending the day with the people that matter most. Let us know in the comments which ideas you and your family loved the most!

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