7 Snow Day Tips

Snow days are something that a parent either dreads or loves. Snowstorms in Northern Michigan can hit unexpectedly but are usually called by 5am-6am by our local superintendents. This leaves a little wiggle room for planning your day. If you need to check for school closing, you can tune into our local news channels, 9 and 10 News, and UpNorth Live for updated closings. If you need to prepare for a snow day, check out the 7 snow day tips below. 

7 Snow Day Tips

1. Make sure you have your snow scraper and shovels. The first snow is always the worst. We usually aren’t prepared for it or are in denial that it’s coming. Make sure you dig out and dust off the scraper and shovels for easy use. Shoveling isn’t most people’s favorite past time but a necessity in the winter. Whether you get stuck in your driveway or need to shovel off the porch steps, it’s a staple in Northern Michigan.  
2. Stock up on snacks and snow day food – Make sure you have the essentials: for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time. Stocking up before the snow hits will be safer for you and the family. It keeps you off the snowy or icy roads and helps save money because you won’t have to shop at your local party store.  
3. Make sure you have some FUN essentials – The kids are probably going to want to enjoy playing outside on a snow day. At our house, we always have fun essentials, like hot cocoa and ingredients for making cookies. A good mug of cocoa and a cookie is a staple after building a snowman or sledding.  
4. Rent some movies – Pop some popcorn and check out Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, or another streaming channel for a good snow day movie. For all of us older folks, dusting off a DVD from the shelf is a great option too.  
5. Play Games – Snow days are a great time to play board games and enjoy electronic-free family time. We love to play monopoly, Tenzi, and Life. A good game of Uno or SpotIt is a great option too.
6. Have all your snow gear ready. Just like the snow scraper and shovels, having your snow pants, gloves, helmets, hats, sleds, and other snow gear prepared makes for a less stressful and fun snow day. 
7. Have a backup child care plan – A lot of parents are working parents, and snow days can be a cause for concern. It’s always beneficial to have a list of friends, family, or an on-call daycare provider that can help in an emergency.