By: Esther Pransky, Lubicom Marketing Staff

It’s a snow day!

The room erupts in cheers. The kids are whooping, dancing, shrieking. And you’re wondering how you’re going to make up time at work, do your errands, and, most of all, keep the kids busy.

Those same children who had the school weather hotline on speed dial will be stir-crazy by the afternoon.

But help is on the way with our list of fun snow day activities. Plan with your kids in advance or whip one out when you hear the first, “I’m bored.

1. Kosher.com To The Rescue

Your kids have been begging you to watch a cooking show, right? Let today be their lucky day.

Cozy up on the couch with blankets, hot cocoa, and popcorn.

If they haven’t watched Nosh & Nibble yet, that’s the place to start. The kids will love spending time with Rylee. Plus, they can try one of her cooking or crafts projects after they watch the show.

For older children, try Skill’it. From “The Battle Begins” to “Trial by Fire,” the competition will keep them hooked.

2.  Snow Painting

Awaken your children’s inner artist. If they can get outside, this fun activity can keep the kids busy for a long, long time.

Here are the instructions, but feel free to experiment with whatever you have at home:

• Pour some water paint/washable tempera paint/food coloring into a spray bottle.

• Add water until you get to your desired color and thickness.

• Go outside and spray! Draw pictures. Write messages. Play tic tac toe in the snow.

If you don’t have spray bottles, you can use buckets and syringes or whatever is on hand.

3. Snow Volcanoes

Do you remember making volcanoes in elementary school?  It’s just as much fun as you remember, and when you do it outside the mess melts away.

• First, make a big pile of snow.

• Hollow out the top of the pile, volcano style, and put in a shallow plastic bowl.

• Fill the bowl with white vinegar, a drop of dish soap, and some food coloring or liquid watercolors. Red and orange are the most realistic colors, of course, but let the kids experiment.

• Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the bowl, mix, and stand back as the “lava” flows.

The more snow you have in your yard, the more volcanoes your kids can make. The best part is that explosions NEVER get old.

4. Bake Homemade Treats

What is it about snowy days that make us head to the kitchen?

The warmth? The memories? The chocolate?

Probably the chocolate. Get your RDA of chocolate and keep the kids occupied, too, with these recipes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies – The name alone makes it fun, and this recipe is super easy.

Nut Butter Rice Krispie Treats – Who can resist peanut butter and chocolate?

Coconut Chocolate Fudge Squares – Healthy AND fudgy!

Mocha Cinnamon Hot Cocoa – Take your hot cocoa to the next level.

Chocolate-Cinnamon Rolls–Yum! Cinnamon buns with chocolate, too.

Tip for teens: Stage a cook-off. Give them three to four “must use” ingredients and see what they come up with.

5. Indoor Picnic Or Campout

If you’re stuck in the house, then bring the outdoors indoors.

For a picnic, start in the kitchen. Prepare sandwiches, cut veggies, fruits, and cookies. Pack it all up in a cooler or picnic basket. (Yes, the idea is to make it take as long as possible.)

Spread a blanket or tablecloth on the floor and enjoy your picnic. Fan yourself from the heat. Brush away imaginary ants.

(And if you lost power, a picnic can be a fun way to make do without hot food.)

For a campout, start in the kitchen again. Grill some hot dogs or hamburgers. Make s’mores.

Then gather in your living room around a pretend campfire built from flashlights. Turn off the lights and tell spooky stories. If you’re feeling daring, let the kids make blanket tents and sleep there.

6. Indoor Obstacle Course

When done right, this activity can take HOURS and HOURS.

You need to start with an empty space. After that, you’re only limited by your imagination, but here are some ideas:

• Drape sheets or blankets over chairs and have the kids crawl through the tunnels.

• Throw couch pillows on the floor for the kids to jump from one to the other.

• Scatter small toys in one area of the room. Children have to pass through that area without stepping on a toy.

• Create activity stations like rolling a ball with your nose from point a to point b or balancing a book on your head while eating a pretzel.

If you have older children, let them set it up for the younger children and run the show. They can do it as a race or to “beat your own best time.”

Before you know it, the snow will be melting, and the kids will be going back to school.

Yes! Another day of carpools and homework.

Hmmm. Maybe snow days aren’t so bad, after all.