Isn’t it wonderful to see the magic of snow days through the eyes of your kids? Waking up to a world covered in snow, finding out school is canceled and getting an unexpected day at home is so special!
Snow days are a perfect time to think through and do some special things that become family traditions and core childhood memories! And the good news is, creating meaningful snow day traditions doesn’t have to be complicated.
All you have to do is choose something fun, talk about it (give it a name!) and keep doing it each time. That’s a tradition!
You might say things like:
- We always pop popcorn on snow days.
- We always make hot chocolate.
- We always work on a puzzle.
- We always make a snowman.
- We always watch a movie together.
- We always go sledding.
- We always make snow ice cream.
Whatever your family enjoys doing can become your tradition. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, perfectly planned or worthy of a picture on social media. There is no pressure—the things you already do together are what make your family special.
Easy Snow Day Traditions for Families
The best family traditions are often the simplest ones. They’re easy to repeat, your kids look forward to them and they create a feeling of familiarity.
Here are a few easy snow day traditions to try:
- Make hot chocolate with marshmallows.
- Pop popcorn and watch a family movie.
- Work on a puzzle at the kitchen table.
- Bake cookies or cinnamon rolls.
- Build a snowman.
- Go sledding.
- Make snow angels.
- Read books under a pile of blankets.
- Play board games.
- Make an indoor blanket fort.
- Have a snowball fight.
- Make snow ice cream.
You don’t need to do everything on this list. Pick one or two things that sound fun and manageable for your family. When the next snow day arrives, do them again!
Our Favorite Snow Day Tradition: Snow Ice Cream
One thing I love to do with my kids is make snow ice cream. It’s incredibly simple, and my kids think it is so much fun!
The main ingredient you need—besides fresh snow—is sweetened condensed milk. I try to keep a few cans in the pantry throughout the cold season because they actually sell out at my local stores when snow is in the forecast!
How to Make Easy Snow Ice Cream
When it starts snowing, I put a large, clean mixing bowl outside where it can collect fresh snow.
Once the bowl fills up, I bring it inside and scoop some of the snow into each child’s bowl. Then I add a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk to each bowl and mix everything together.
That’s it! The snow and sweetened condensed milk create a quick, creamy snow-day treat. The snow melts pretty quickly, so don’t worry about perfect mixing, just barely mix it up and serve as-is! The kids will love the clumps of snow AND the clumps of sweetened condensed milk, trust me!
You can adjust the amount of sweetened condensed milk until the snow ice cream reaches the consistency and sweetness your family likes!
Easy Snow Ice Cream Ingredients
- Fresh, clean snow
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Dye-free sprinkles, if desired
Snow Ice Cream Directions
- Place a large, clean bowl outside while fresh snow is falling.
- Allow the bowl to fill with clean snow.
- Bring the bowl inside and scoop the snow into individual bowls.
- Add a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk to each serving.
- Mix until creamy, adding a little more condensed milk if needed.
- Top with sprinkles and enjoy immediately!
Sometimes we add a few dye-free sprinkles. I love the Supernatural brand because they make our snow ice cream feel extra festive!
Use freshly fallen, clean snow collected away from roads, driveways, roofs, trees and areas where animals may have been.
Snow Day Traditions Don’t Have to Be Extravagant
Your children don’t need a perfectly curated schedule filled with elaborate activities. They’re going to remember how it felt to be together.
They may remember that snow days meant warm popcorn, pajamas and a movie. They may remember that you always made hot chocolate after sledding or that everyone worked on a puzzle while the snow fell outside.
Whatever you do is your tradition.
If you repeat it and your family begins to anticipate it, you’ve created something meaningful. It really can be that simple.
Make Your Own Family Snow Day Traditions
The next time snow is in the forecast, don’t put pressure on yourself to create the perfect day. Grab some sweetened condensed milk, choose one easy activity and enjoy being together.
Make it fun. Talk about it. Do it again next time.
Just like that, it’s a tradition.
How to Prepare for a Kids Snow Day
Kids Snow Shovels – These sell out around the holidays every year! If you are reading these and they are in stock, get them while you can!
THE BEST SOFT BLANKET – For an unbelievable price! This is a dupe for a popular brand that costs 5x as much! We have 2 of these at home and they are the blankets we reach for every time!
DIY Popcorn – This is another one of our favorite family traditions! This inexpensive popcorn machine works so well and we pull it out at least once a month through the year, and definitely on every snow day! Don’t forget the popping corn! We love to use an avocado oil spray + salt, or butter drizzle, or the popcorn salts from Just Ingredients!
The BEST Snow Sleds – Trust me! These work great for kids but they also work for an adult + kid. We have used these so many times and I’m always so glad I have them on hand! These sell out online and in local stores every year too! Get them before you need them!
Actually waterproof kids gloves. The fun will last longer and they will be safer/happier! You really do have to get the ones that are waterproof!
Waterproof snow bibs – These make a HUGE difference! Jeans do not work, this is not the 90s :) These snow bibs are a must! They cost less than you’d think and come in lots of colors. I buy one size too big and my kids wear the same pair for 2-3 years!
Puzzles – Puzzles are an easy family snow day tradition! We love to pull out puzzles on snow days. I have found 100-piece puzzles to be a perfect sweet-spot for kids 8 and under!
Kids Card Games – This is a perfect set of card games for kids under 10!
This is another family-favorite easy game for the whole family!
Don’t Forget to Join the Fun
Sometimes, as moms, we can become so focused on preparing the activity, getting everyone dressed, cleaning up the mess and taking the pictures that we forget to participate.
Don’t forget to join in on the fun! Your kids want to see you laugh and join in!
Go down the hill on the sled. Make the snow angel. Drink the hot chocolate. Take a few pictures—and then put your phone down. Laugh with your family and let yourself enjoy the day with your family.
These ordinary moments are the ones that become the sweetest memories and traditions!
Stay Connected
Want more family fun ideas, mom hacks, organization tips, and every day life? Follow @Courtney_Lundeen on instagram! That’s where we have the most fun!
