Snow day! Here are some ways to make the most of it

Well, it’s a snow day in Greater Sudbury, which means a good chunk of you probably kept the kids home from school.

Now, you could let them spend the day playing video games or flipping through the channels — and that’s perfectly fine. But if you’re feeling a little more industrious, here are some ways to keep the kids, and yourself, entertained on the first snow day of the year.

Blanket fort!
It’s an old standard, but come on, how much fun is it to make a blanket fort. Grab every blanket you can spare, strip the cushions from the couches for walls (heck, flip the couches on their fronts and use the back rest as a roof). Use the episode “Pillows and Blankets,” the 14th episode of the third season of the NBC hit “Community,” for inspiration.

Hot chocolate
Now, you can make hot chocolate from a powder or a syrup — and that’s good and tasty — but you can also get creative by melting your favourite milk chocolate (Aero bars are yummy) and creating a delectable, steamy treat of chocolate, milk and cream. The kids can help with the stirring and the pouring. And, if it’s not too treacherous out there, you can burn a little energy walking with the kids to the store to get the chocolate. That way, you can all feel like you’ve earned the treat.

Paper snowflakes
Who can forget folding up a clean sheet of white paper into a small square, cutting little shapes out of it and opening it slowly with anticipation, wondering what strange snowflake-like pattern will be revealed. It’s snowing outside, so why not make it snow inside by creating dozens of paper snowflakes and decorating the house?

Read a book
If the kids are small, snuggle up on the couch (or better yet, in the blanket fort you already made), sip hot chocolate and read a few books. Snuggle time is the best! A classic like Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is the perfect way to while away a snow day.

Make a pie
A pizza pie, that is! Grab a Kraft Pizza Kit from the cupboard or look up a simple dough recipe online — like this easy one — and throw your favourite toppings onto it. Et voila! It’s a fun thing to do together and a tasty way to spend an hour.

Watch a movie
If you can make the blanket fort more like a lean-to or blanket cave, you can snuggle up inside and watch a movie while enjoying the pizza and hot chocolate you already made. If you’re lucky, the kids will get a little drowsy after lunch and you can all take a nap in the blanket fort.