Snow Lessons in Slowing Down

A snowstorm brings playful creativity and lots of vitamin D for you and the kiddies.

Ever notice how a snowstorm gets us to slow down? Peel back the inconvenience of it all and you'll find a gem you can share with the kids. Snowstorms invite us to stay in our pajamas, watch old movies, read a book or even play a game.

Even if you have to rally to action stations because of the storm you can do it together. Maybe you all go out together and shovel the drive or the walk, and explain to the kids how they are part of being the Big Family Help. I have memories of doing this when I was little and there is something really powerful about working together toward one goal. 

When the weather stops our regular routine, it is proof that life is not going to crumble if we veer away from all the plans and schedules. It is also a poignant reminder of how quickly time is moving - at lightning speed as a matter of fact– and though it sometimes feels like it, the kids are not going to stay little forever.  Stop and study an intricate snowflake.

Take some time to curl up by the fire, unfold some blankets and build a fort in the living room together, or just watch the snow come down and write poetry about it or draw pictures or tell silly snowy stories, but make it magical and playful when the regular things have to come to a pleasing pause and...breathe with your child, check in with your little person. To a kid there's nothing quite as fantastic as crawling under the canopy of a blanketed hide-a-way with you for some special one-on-one.

Now that there's no school bus to catch, no lunches to pack, and you won't be loading little ones into the car to drive them to daycare to drop them off in time, or rushing out to work yourself, think about all those things that you might do together to turn the day into creative fun. Pull out the cookbook,  or go online and find a recipe, pre-heat the oven, give a yummy lesson in chemistry and measurement and bake some cookies, (let your child complete all the steps - trust me they will love this very tactile and hands on activity) make a mess in the kitchen, and when the cookies are baking, fill the sink with bubbles and let the kids help you wash the dishes. Put on some music! Have a tea party and invite all the stuffed animals and the dolls and the lego people, crank up the music and dance to Jabula world music or Mozart or ACDC, (empty oatmeal containers make great drums) but have fun, your sense of creativity and joy will be catchy. 

And when the storm winds down,  bundle up and go out into the snow together and play – play like a kid yourself - build a fort, have a snowball fight, make snow angels and a snow man or lady or a snow dog!  Feel young again, catch some vitamin D and get some exercise, and remember it is one way to hold onto those moments for just a little bit longer - until the next snow day - yay!

Don't forget to take some pictures.

Good Luck!! Good Parenting!! And thank you for reading - pass it on.

Bon :)