What do you ES kids do these extra snow days ?

[Anonymous]

I actually wish my now teens were still in elementary school. Back then snow days were full of fun and now they’re on their phones a ton. For the record my teens did sled and do homework and practice their instruments and bake and make dinner, but they also spent way too much time on screens.

When they were little we would spend an hour making play doh then using the playdoh was another couple of hours (split up). We would bake muffins or cookies. They would build forts out of pillows and throw blankets and spend a long time making it like their house. We sometimes did science experiments using household items. Make birthday gifts or cards for upcoming parties. FaceTime grandparents. And yes watch tv and movies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them to go play with their toys! Jfc!!! When I was younger (90s) we didn’t go anywhere for break and didn’t have playdates during snow days. Let the kids get creative. You don’t have to entertain them every minute.


-a teacher

Are you a parent?

Yes! My kid is now 17. She used to play with her monster high dolls or color or watch a movie. We would of course do some special things together but she could never be hyper dependent on me for entertainment.

No offense, but it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison when you dismiss current parents of elementary/preK school battling this week's snow versus your teenaged daughter or in the 90s. Even when your daughter was young enough to be a burden during snow days (at LEAST 10 years ago!), phone/screen usage wasn't quite as pervasive as it is now. You definitely had snow days, but those were for actual blizzards, not a moderate snow event like this was for most.

Every generation of parenting has struggles, so please don't downplay what parents are going through during snow days, especially the ones that are debatable for at least half of this county.

Oh honey. I have teens. Screen usage was just as pervasive when my kids were young. They had iPads at your kids’ age. We had closures for snow that are no different than this one. In fact, we had an entire pandemic where my elementary school kids were home from school for over a YEAR. Camps did not open that summer. It is definitely not an apples to apples comparison that your kids are home for 3 days.
-DP

Are you (and the PPs above screaming "jfc") okay? OP is struggling and asking for ideas. Relax.

I’m just fine, thanks.
Ideas: Lego sets, puzzles, give them a huge piece of paper to make a snow day mural, have them choreograph a dance to a song, bubble baths, perler beads, create a scavenger hunt around the house, cut out pics from magazines and make a mood board collage, write letters/notes to mail to relatives, jump rope, build a fort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gave mine a big list of chores to do before screens since the house is in chaos from days of being at home. Loading/unloading dishwasher, vacuuming, making breakfast and lunch, taking out trash/recycling, laundry packing bags and lunches for tomorrow (McPS willing they make it back to school).

That all can be done within an hour or two. Then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them to go play with their toys! Jfc!!! When I was younger (90s) we didn’t go anywhere for break and didn’t have playdates during snow days. Let the kids get creative. You don’t have to entertain them every minute.


-a teacher

Are you a parent?

Yes! My kid is now 17. She used to play with her monster high dolls or color or watch a movie. We would of course do some special things together but she could never be hyper dependent on me for entertainment.

No offense, but it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison when you dismiss current parents of elementary/preK school battling this week's snow versus your teenaged daughter or in the 90s. Even when your daughter was young enough to be a burden during snow days (at LEAST 10 years ago!), phone/screen usage wasn't quite as pervasive as it is now. You definitely had snow days, but those were for actual blizzards, not a moderate snow event like this was for most.

Every generation of parenting has struggles, so please don't downplay what parents are going through during snow days, especially the ones that are debatable for at least half of this county.

Oh honey. I have teens. Screen usage was just as pervasive when my kids were young. They had iPads at your kids’ age. We had closures for snow that are no different than this one. In fact, we had an entire pandemic where my elementary school kids were home from school for over a YEAR. Camps did not open that summer. It is definitely not an apples to apples comparison that your kids are home for 3 days.
-DP

Are you (and the PPs above screaming "jfc") okay? OP is struggling and asking for ideas. Relax.

I’m just fine, thanks.
Ideas: Lego sets, puzzles, give them a huge piece of paper to make a snow day mural, have them choreograph a dance to a song, bubble baths, perler beads, create a scavenger hunt around the house, cut out pics from magazines and make a mood board collage, write letters/notes to mail to relatives, jump rope, build a fort.

Obligatory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gave mine a big list of chores to do before screens since the house is in chaos from days of being at home. Loading/unloading dishwasher, vacuuming, making breakfast and lunch, taking out trash/recycling, laundry packing bags and lunches for tomorrow (McPS willing they make it back to school).

That all can be done within an hour or two. Then?

It took mine about 3 hours (they are easily distracted and have many techniques to procrastinate). Then we hung out together at my lunch hour from work and did food prep for dinner (1 hr), called grandparents (30 minutes), built snowman (30 minutes) and then they get 2 hours of screens and then some of their after school activities are open today...

[Anonymous]

Pinterest has endless ideas. Endless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them to go play with their toys! Jfc!!! When I was younger (90s) we didn’t go anywhere for break and didn’t have playdates during snow days. Let the kids get creative. You don’t have to entertain them every minute.


-a teacher

Are you a parent?

Yes! My kid is now 17. She used to play with her monster high dolls or color or watch a movie. We would of course do some special things together but she could never be hyper dependent on me for entertainment.

No offense, but it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison when you dismiss current parents of elementary/preK school battling this week's snow versus your teenaged daughter or in the 90s. Even when your daughter was young enough to be a burden during snow days (at LEAST 10 years ago!), phone/screen usage wasn't quite as pervasive as it is now. You definitely had snow days, but those were for actual blizzards, not a moderate snow event like this was for most.

Every generation of parenting has struggles, so please don't downplay what parents are going through during snow days, especially the ones that are debatable for at least half of this county.

I doubt that PP is the same person that posted above about the 90s. Strains credulity. But either way, most parents don't really remember what it was like to parent when their kid was 10 years younger.

I am the person that posted about the 90s and having a teen. *I* grew up in the 90s. Yes, I do remember what it’s like to parent someone under 10. I did say I was a teacher did I not? Elementary and middle school. I’m well aware what they’re like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP. When we were young, we did not have playdates and had to figure out what to do with our time. I watched some tv but mostly did other things to entertain myself with my sibling. My parent did not have to restrict screentime. When I got bored I would stop watching it and do something else.

This week, my kids sled and hang out in our backyard, play with each other, play with neighbor kids they would run into, do chores, read, have snacks, and go to sports practice.

Agree. Kids go sledding down, build snowmen, do snow angels, have snowball fights. Switch off houses to dry off, rest, and get refuels.(Sometimes we even planned between the parents based on who had to be at work or had critical meetings while WFH). Kids play while trying to keep the noise down as best as possible. Back outside. TV/Video Games/Books/Toys. If kids are small throw in a nap because they will be tired from the snow.

[Anonymous]

Schoolwork. Teachers have been emailing assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have been at a sleepover , which is pretty ridiculous because the parents are driving everywhere and the buses cant?

MCPs doesn’t bus everyone. Secondary kids walk 2 miles and elem kids walk a mile

[Anonymous]

My kid went to work with me for a few hours and then got super bored at home because their usual play dates were already booked. We need to extend our network as my child is super extroverted

[Anonymous]

My kids played in the backyard, with toys/legos, read, and worked on some math. Was a fun and productive few days! Stop over scheduling your kids, giving into screens, and let them be bored - a no screen household (just the occasional movie on Friday nights)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell them to go play with their toys! Jfc!!! When I was younger (90s) we didn’t go anywhere for break and didn’t have playdates during snow days. Let the kids get creative. You don’t have to entertain them every minute.


-a teacher

Are you a parent?

Yes! My kid is now 17. She used to play with her monster high dolls or color or watch a movie. We would of course do some special things together but she could never be hyper dependent on me for entertainment.

No offense, but it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison when you dismiss current parents of elementary/preK school battling this week's snow versus your teenaged daughter or in the 90s. Even when your daughter was young enough to be a burden during snow days (at LEAST 10 years ago!), phone/screen usage wasn't quite as pervasive as it is now. You definitely had snow days, but those were for actual blizzards, not a moderate snow event like this was for most.

Every generation of parenting has struggles, so please don't downplay what parents are going through during snow days, especially the ones that are debatable for at least half of this county.

I doubt that PP is the same person that posted above about the 90s. Strains credulity. But either way, most parents don't really remember what it was like to parent when their kid was 10 years younger.

I am the person that posted about the 90s and having a teen. *I* grew up in the 90s. Yes, I do remember what it’s like to parent someone under 10. I did say I was a teacher did I not? Elementary and middle school. I’m well aware what they’re like.

You sound knowledgeable! But also extremely smug. Glad you enjoyed your snow days.