How Parents Can Prepare for Snow Days

That 5 AM notification hits: school is closed. For kids, it's a celebration. For working parents, it can be a scramble. But with some advance planning, you can handle snow days without the stress. Here's how to prepare before winter even starts—and what to do when the snow day arrives.

Before Winter: Build Your Snow Day Plan

Establish Backup Childcare Options: Don't wait until 5 AM to figure this out. Before winter arrives, identify two or three backup options. This might include family members who don't work traditional schedules, neighbors or friends with flexible arrangements who'd be willing to swap days with you, local drop-in daycare centers (check which ones take school-age kids), or parent co-ops where families trade off hosting groups of kids.

Talk to Your Employer: Have the snow day conversation early in the season. Know your options: Can you work from home? Use PTO on short notice? Make up hours later in the week? Understanding your flexibility (or lack thereof) helps you plan.

Create a Contact List: Make a list of other parents from your child's class or neighborhood. When snow days happen, you can quickly reach out to see who might be available to help or coordinate group childcare.

When a Storm Is Forecasted

The Night Before: When a significant storm is in the forecast, take these steps the evening before:

• Check weather forecasts and school communications
• Alert your backup childcare options that you might need them
• Notify your boss that a snow day is possible
• Set out snow gear (boots, pants, gloves, hats) so it's ready to go
• Make sure devices are charged if kids might use them
• Prep easy breakfast options—you may be up earlier than usual

Have a Family Meeting: Briefly discuss what will happen if school is closed. Who will be home with the kids? What are the expectations for the day? Even young children do better when they know the plan.

Working from Home on Snow Days

If you're working remotely while also caring for kids, accept that it won't be a normal work day. Here's how to make it work:

Block Your Calendar: As soon as you know school is closed, block off chunks of time on your work calendar and set expectations with your team. Most colleagues understand—many are in the same situation.

Work in Shifts: If two parents are home, trade off. One parent works 8-12 while the other handles kid duty, then switch for the afternoon. Even imperfect coverage is better than trying to do both simultaneously.

Strategic Screen Time: Yes, screens. Snow days are not the time for strict limits if you need to be on an important call. Identify when you'll most need kids occupied and save the screen time for those windows.

Set Up Activity Stations: Before you start working, set out several activities: coloring supplies, LEGOs, playdough, puzzles. Kids can rotate through them with minimal assistance.

Take Advantage of Outdoor Time: If weather permits, bundle kids up and send them outside. That 30-60 minutes might be your most productive work time of the day.

Keeping Kids Productive

Snow days don't have to mean lost time. Some ways to keep things semi-productive:

Create a Loose Schedule: Kids do better with some structure. Consider something like:

• Morning: Outside play (if conditions allow)
• Late morning: Indoor activities/crafts
• After lunch: Quiet time (reading, educational shows)
• Afternoon: Free play or second outdoor session

Assign Helpful Tasks: Snow days are great for tackling projects. Depending on age, kids can sort their toys, organize a closet, help with baking, prepare lunch, or do extra chores for bonus allowance.

Educational Activities: Many educational websites offer free content. Library cards often provide access to digital resources. This isn't "school," but it keeps minds engaged.

Emergency Supplies to Keep Stocked

Before winter, make sure you have these on hand:

For Kids: Art supplies, board games, puzzle books, backup activities for when boredom hits, ingredients for simple baking projects

For the House: Easy meal ingredients that don't require a grocery run, extra batteries and flashlights, medications and first aid supplies, extra pet food if you have animals

For Going Outside: Full sets of winter gear for each child, extras of gloves and hats (they always get lost or wet), hand and toe warmers for extra-cold days

Multi-Day Closures

Sometimes schools are closed for several days in a row. This requires extra planning:

Vary the Routine: Each day should feel slightly different. Day one might be heavy outdoor play, day two could be a baking project, day three might include a video call playdate with friends.

Get Out if Possible: Once roads are clear, even a short trip—to a grocery store, to a friend's house, to get coffee—breaks the monotony.

Lower Expectations: By day three, everyone's patience is wearing thin. That's okay. Sometimes survival mode is the best mode.