Experiment: Can I entertain my kids with a pile of snow?
Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 01.15.09
Materials Needed: Please see The Homespun Heart for the full instructions.
Results: It has been brutally cold here with blowing snows and blizzards and the usual Midwest winter fun so it makes playing outside in the snow difficult. We have also been battling bronchitis and the winter bugs that make their way from school to our home so going outside hasn’t been in the cards lately.
Luckily, I saw Monica’s brilliant idea for having an indoor snow adventure and thought that would be just the ticket for the kids. I found a small tote in the basement, filled it up with snow, found some random spoons from the kitchen, and gave them the Little People to make snow angels. I put some jazz music on, and got some work done while they played.
I will admit, the quiet was quite lovely. And then the giggling. And then the chatter. And it pulled me away from my work.
And I plopped on the floor and enjoyed their sweet little selves for an hour.
And Emily wrapped her icy cold hand over mine and said, “Mommy, you are my best friend.” And I admit it, I teared up.
But by dinnertime I was told, “Mommy, you are not my best friend.” It didn’t phase me.
I just held that moment in my heart because for that one hour, we held hands over the snow and pledged our friendship for that moment.
Conclusion: Playing in snow INSIDE is our new favorite winter activity and I look forward to doing it again…and just maybe I will be back on the friend list! I encourage you to put this on your activity list this week. Thanks to Monica, at The Homespun Heart, for the brilliant idea!
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I am so excited to open our Notebook Experiments up to everyone and I hope that you will be able to participate this week or in weeks to come! I will be posting this each Thursday so please mark your calendars if you plan to participate. You can post your entries at any time throughout the week and then leave your entry in the links below.
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1. Choose anything from any of our notebook entries (past or present) to do with your family. We have hundreds of bookmarked links of crafts, ways to save money, and organizing ideas.
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My son’s ECFE preschool class does this periodically and the kids love it. They also fill a spray bottle with water and a bit of food coloring so that the kids can “paint” the snow. It’s pretty fun.
I also saw a mom who had filled her bathtub with snow and let the kids put on snowpants and play in it. Looked like fun!
Thanks for reminding me that snow play is possible even when it is too cold to go outside!
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How cute is that? I’ve never heard of such a thing! Great idea… we might have to try that at my house! Although, we are more lovers of warm weather, we might make a beach!
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I LOVE that idea! Why didn’t I ever think of it? We have plenty of the white stuff, but it’s too cold to let them be outside. Guess what we’ll be doing today?
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One Frugal Lady- We do tubs of popcorn kernels for the kids in the springtime to survive the rainy days. That might be a little easier to clean up than the sand
Christina- What a fun mom to fill her bathtub- WOW! That is so cool!
Sarah- Let me know how your snow day turns out. I hope your kids love it as much as mine have!
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Cute idea! I just wrote an article about ways to make saving money a little more fun, and this is a great example of something that doesn’t cost anything but is a lot of fun. Thanks!
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awww, I loved how Emily said you were her friend!! Those moments are so dear indeed! Keep enjoying them!
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How precious! I love that they stuck with it so long, had such a great time and that it was memorable for all of you!!
I’m sorry I’ve been so out of touch lately – I’ve missed keeping up with you!!
Love,
Monica
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Thanks for the brilliant idea – I’ll go check out her post (love Monica)! I’m at Day 2 of snow here in Texas and am cold!! It’s getting even colder, so this is perfect because I really don’t want to go out in the freezing temps.
Yea!! Fun!!
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