EARLY YEARS: From boredom to bonding, families can make the most of these snow days together

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Our hometowns are in the deep freeze, and kids are out of school.

So, what should families do with so much time on their hands?

We asked Macaroni Kid Roanoke publisher Shelby Phelan that question.

With three kids of her own, ages 15, 13, and eight, she offers some helpful suggestions.

“We are doing all the things inside, outside, just trying to keep the kids entertained. So, you know, it’s been really cold and they want to still go out and play in the snow. So, I mean, we’ve even had some science projects where we can scoop the snow up and bring them inside and make a little volcano with the snow or learn different things. So we’ve done that. We’re cooking, we’re baking, we’re making our own board games,” says Phelan.

If you didn’t hit the craft store before the storm hit, no worries.

Phelan says to just utilize things already around your home.

“I mean, I found even with my 8-year-old, it is the simplest, like, give her some paper, give her some ribbon, some yarn. It’s amazing to see the creations that they can come up with,” says Phelan.

She had made her own little puppet, actually, yesterday, and it was just out of random household things.

Also, take a virtual trip, or learn remotely together.

“And I know something even locally that we have, like Taubman Museum, this kind of goes back to COVID days, but they have, like, a virtual, like, museum tour online,” she points out. “So, whether it’s a parent that gets bored or a kid that gets bored, I mean, even engaging them and finding those unique little things online to kind of... They’re learning.”

Check out Macaroni Kid Roanoke’s website anytime for more fun family ideas.